By Tara Fischer

Staff Writer

Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services, located in Berlin, is collecting food and toiletry donations for the Helping Hands Pantry in Pocomoke City.

Worcester Youth and Family is looking for products like toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, bandages, chapstick, diapers, and baby wipes to offer the distribution center. The organization is also asking Worcester County residents to donate food. Suggested items include easy-to-open cans of soup, beans, tuna, and chicken pouches or cans, protein bars, peanut butter, shelf-stable milk, juice boxes, mixed nuts, and instant or regular oatmeal.

“There is a need for toiletries and food,” said Christine Felix, a coordinator at Worcester Youth and Family. “Toiletries are not covered by food stamps, and with the increased cost of living, people struggle a lot with affording all of those items. So food, hygiene products, and cleaning products are all encouraged.”

Felix added that donations can be dropped off at boxes located at the Worcester County library branches and the Worcester Youth and Family’s Berlin office at 124 North Main Street, Suite C.

According to the coordinator, she was inspired to facilitate the food drive when she went to the Pocomoke pantry to pick up some food for a local family and discovered they had less than what she expected.

“[Helping Hands] hardly had anything,” she said. “They had pancake mix and maybe some rice. It was not a lot at all.”

According to Felix, these types of facilities are necessary for the community.

“Families really do rely on food pantries as supplemental help,” she noted. “It’s not only families. It’s also for single adults and elderly people. They often don’t get as many food benefits, so they rely on pantries. There is a need, so I figured we could raise a little bit of awareness and try to contribute.”

Helping Hands Outreach Ministry is located on 1101 Market Street in Pocomoke and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WYFCS is a nonprofit group that serves vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in Worcester County. Its programs center on mental well-being and remediation of financial hardship to reach those who need help the most.

“Through programs that include comprehensive Mental Health Counseling, Youth Mentoring, Family Resource Navigation, and Youth Camps and Groups, WYFCS is increasing awareness about mental health, providing community resources and education, and truly making a difference in the lives of the people in the community,” the organization’s website reads.

Worcester Youth and Family helps these individuals by working with them on budgeting, establishing self-sufficiency and referring them to additional resources.

Felix said that items for the food and toiletry drive will be collected through April 15.