Happy Fall!  We hope that you and your family are doing well!    
 
Our annual Thanksgiving and December Holiday Food Drive is right around the corner and takes place October 24th – November 4th.  We’ve had a strong response from various school, community groups and corporations getting involved to get us off to a strong start.  Please see below for how they are supporting our efforts.  We still need your help to ensure we make this year’s drive even more successful than last year through food collection, financial contributions as well as volunteering for some of the critical roles that need to be filled.
 
The pantry usage is increasing this year and has been a valuable resource every week since the beginning of school.   Requests are coming from almost all 9 schools in the AK feeder pattern.  A huge thanks to our amazing school counselors/social worker who work with the families in need, to our pantry managers, Audi Naftzger and Erin Furey, who make everything happen, and to our many volunteers!   
 
Following the success of last year’s food pantry, we took inventory over the summer and realized that we had a surplus of several items. With these items, we helped start Sterling Elementary School’s food pantry and refill Quail Hollow Middle School’s pantry!  We’re so grateful to be able to share with our broader community!
 
With the pantry utilization increasing as more people become aware of this valuable resource, we see the demand continuing to increase as we move through the school year. There are several items that we are currently need. If you are interested in supporting, please find additional details below.
 
Lots of great things are happening in our community as we continue to help our neighbors in need. None of it would be possible without your help!! Please see below for more details.
 
Thanks so much for all your help and support!  Have a great weekend!
Heather
 
Ballantyne Families Helping Neighbors In Need
www.linktr.ee/ballantynefamilies

Pantry Shoppers and Delivery Drivers
Thank you for helping to get the word out about the food pantry!   Thanks to the following volunteers who have helped to shop the pantry requests and deliver the food to the schools: Susan Hicks, Tammy Menzel, Amulya Deepak, Lisa Janowicz, Sheilah White, Alyssa Cowell, Erin Furey and Audi Naftzger.
 
Sharing Surplus Food with Sterling Elementary and Quail Hollow Middle School Pantries
After taking inventory, we had extra food in the Ballantyne Families food pantry. Through our contacts with Jen Pattinson and REALL, a women’s group, we were able to use the food to start a food pantry at Sterling Elementary in Pineville and help support a food pantry at Quail House Middle School.  

• Our pantry managers, Audi Naftzger and Erin Furey, along with Community House Middle School students (Abigail Hayes, Connor Saemann and Mike Marcoccia), and Ardrey Kell High School students (Justin Fury, Cecilia and Andrew Bolling, Ansley Hayes) packed up the food and got is ready for delivery.
  
  
• Erin Fury, Heather McAfee, Liz and Maddie Emmett (an AK student) delivered the food to the Sterling Elementary and Quail Hollow Middle School pantries.

Grateful for our amazing volunteers and the ability to spread our resources to other school communities in need!
 
Merging AK’s Pantry with Ballantyne Families’ Pantry
At the beginning of last school year AK teachers, Jennifer Gallagher and Morgan Fell, started a food pantry at the school. After discussion and help from Jon Rochester, AK’s social worker, they decided to consolidate their food pantry with Ballantyne Families this year. 
 
With the help of Cans For Kids, a club at Ardrey Kell, a few other high school helpers (Daniel Kenny, Brynn Fogarty and Mason McAfee), Susan Hicks and Erin Furey, we were able to move over 300 items of food from Ardrey Kell to the BF food pantry.  We are grateful for everyone’s help!
 
If you or someone you know needs food and attends or works in one of the 9 schools in the AK feeder pattern, please contact your school counselor/social worker to get connected to the pantry. 

YMCA’s Leader’s Club
Twice in September, we met with the Morrison YMCA’s Leader’s Club , a year-long leadership-development program for our areas middle and high school teens. The first time, the Leaders learned about Ballantyne Families Helping Neighbors In Need and how they can help Ballantyne Families serve our neighbors in need. The second time, we did Crisis Assistance Ministry’s poverty simulator experience with them.  An enlightening experience for all.   We are excited to partner with this group!
 
Coldwell Banker
We are honored to be chosen as Coldwell Banker’s (Toringdon) 4^th quarter charity!  We will talk with their sales group next week about what is Ballantyne Families and how to get involved

A huge thanks to Sally Pickard who is helping with our social media presence and started Ballantyne Families’ Instagram and Twitter pages.  Please make sure to follow:

• Instagram: bfhelpingneighborsinneed
• Facebook: 
  • Ballantyne Families Helping Neighbors
  • Ballantyne Families Helping Neighbors In Need
• Twitter: Ballantynefami1

A huge thanks to Geoff Parish who is kindly sharing his time and talents on revamping our technologies and the website!!

We were in Ballantyne Magazine’s Fall Issue: