October 1, 2025

Pharmacy students from the Eshelman School of Pharmacy campus in Chapel Hill volunteered this past Saturday to offer Blood Pressure and Blood Glucose screenings.  Both screenings are available to all our pantry "neighbors" and volunteers. We are so appreciative for the mornings they are able to spend with us. "Roll Up Your Sleeve!" They will offer flu shots on October 15 and 18 at the pantry.

This past Saturday the Lions Club of Mills River offered vision screenings to our "neighbors" and volunteers. By providing this service, we believe the program is a valuable asset in finding vision concerns early. The screening reaches families that are transient, homeless, immigrants, and may not have insurance. Further, the Lions Club of Mills River welcomes all ages from children to adults the opportunity for screening.  Each person screened leaves with a print out of the eye scan and information should they need assistance with eye glasses.

Saturday, we welcomed 119 families representing 430 individuals. There were 12 new families representing 29 family members. We continue to need volunteers who can help with Spanish registrations. Once a month would be very helpful!

It is assistance from the students of Eshelman School of Pharmacy from the Chapel Hill Campus and clubs like the Lion's Club of Mills River vision screenings that make our Pantry so successful for individuals with food insecurity. We appreciate their professionalism and commitment to volunteering time to work toward a healthier America, one family at a time.  We are fortunate to have such caring individuals in our community.                      

-Kathy Noyes, for the Executive Committee

PS   An Opportunity for you.......

Sharing a class that is offered at AB Tech from Mary, one of our volunteers.....                                                           A B Tech offers an online Spanish class called Speed Spanish several times during the year.  It is only $89. I have just completed Speed Spanish I and am signed up for Speed Spanish II. It is flexible; they release a new lesson every Wednesday and Friday, but you can work on them whenever you like. You also have access to the course materials for a little while after the lessons end.  There are discussion boards, audio files, resources, etc. Very helpful!

 The Lord’s Acre of Fletcher – September 30, 2025

Harvest, etc. on Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. We switch to our fall schedule this week to accommodate shorter and cooler days.

First Lettuce Harvest -- On Friday, Martha and Doug harvested 150 heads of Salanova-type lettuce for Saturday distribution at the pantry. We’ll be planting lots more in the hoop houses over the next weeks to provide lettuce through the late fall and winter.