Students from Pawling Karate studio delivered 665 pounds of food and other needed items last Friday to the Pawling Resource Center, from their annual drive for the fifth year in a row!  Studio owner Alexis Sterry started this project, and each year it becomes more organized and fun for the kids.   For weeks in advance, they collect food and receive a ticket for each item they bring; then, at their Halloween costume party, they can use their tickets to enter raffles for gift certificates provided by Alexis. 

Alexis has this to say about her students, “I’m constantly humbled and amazed by the generosity of our dojo family. All of our students, from the youngest to the oldest, believe in the mission of the Pawling Resource Center. One of our 4-year old exclaimed as they donated a package of pancake mix ‘Someone’s going to have a great breakfast!’ We are so happy to help a force for good in our town.”

Pawling Resource Center Executive Director Terry Ariano comments “I love the spirit and energy that goes in to making the act of giving such a lot of fun – it’s really teaching the children how to be good citizens and giving them something to be proud of.  The Resource Center shelves were pretty bare, and this food drive, which essentially kicks off the “Season of Giving”, is extremely helpful to us in starting out with well-stocked shelves.” 

The PRC operates a food pantry which is open 6 days a week to people who live, work attend church or have children in school in Pawling.  For more information please call 845-855-3459, or visit us at www.pawling resourcecenter.org.