The First Presbyterian Church of Gouverneur Fruit Bags Program had its first distribution on Wednesday, July 29. The bags were packed in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church of Gouverneur. From left: Volunteers Susie Spilman, Carol Amberg, Terry Streeter are pictured with the packed bags that are tagged and ready for distribution. The bags are resting on the picnic tables that were recently built and made available for the North Country community members to use. (Rachel Hunter photo)
by Rachel Hunter
The First Presbyterian Church of Gouverneur on Wednesday, July 29 distributed the first round of “Fruit Bags” to shut-ins and senior citizens in the Gouverneur community. This was made possible due to the generosity of a $1,700 grant distributed from the Elks National Foundation to the First Presbyterian Church of Gouverneur by the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035. Its purpose? To serve community members – especially senior citizens – in need during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
A selection of fruit, including such fruit as peaches, apples, oranges, bananas, plums, nectarines, and clementines, were put in paper bags. A tag with an explanation of the program along with one of four Bible verses was included (I John 4:11, Psalm 133:1, Proverbs 17:17, and Galations 6:2). Volunteers who assisted in putting the bags together included Jim Mosher, Terry Streeter, Carol Amberg, Barb Laidlaw, Joe Laurenza, Judy Brown, and Susie Spilman.
A total of $244.84 was spent on the first round of the Fruit Bag Program, and a total of 70 people throughout the Gouverneur community received the Fruit Bags.
Seniors citizens throughout the Gouverneur community received the Fruit Bags, including those who were shut-in, and those at Cambray Court and Kilkarney Court.
Much gratitude is extended to the Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035 for making this program through the $1,700 ENF grant.
The First Presbyterian Church of Gouverneur also invites the North Country community to enjoy sitting at the picnic tables in front of the church building. Organizer Susie Spilman said the idea to build and position a couple picnic tables under the tree’s shade when church members spotted that several motorists had their cars parked along Church St. and were eating their lunches in their vehicles. She supervised the project, while the pressure treated wooden tables were assembled by Teddy Markwick and Kyle Spilman. The project took a couple hours to complete, but now the First Presbyterian Church of Gouverneur hopes the community will make good use of the tables in the future.