Petrova Middle School student Coral Palyswiat started helping with the Bloomingdale Food Pantry in July during her summer vacation. (Provided photo)

BLOOMINGDALE — The Bloomingdale Food Pantry recently welcomed Coral Palyswiat, 12, as its latest student food pantry coordinator.

The Saranac Lake seventh grader took over the position from Mitchell Ellsworth in July upon Ellsworth’s graduation from high school. Palyswiat is busy year-round with school and extracurricular activities such as soccer, lacrosse, figure skating, church, theatre, school band, chorus and other musical activities. She still finds the time to include trips to evaluate and restock the local food pantry.

“I haven’t had to change my schedule too much,” said Palyswiat. “We go in between activities and in those free windows of space. It makes me feel good to be able to help. The thought of people being hungry makes me so sad.”

Palyswiat first became aware of food inequality when she was just a toddler. She and her family continue to support and participate each year in the CROP (The Christian Rural Overseas Program) Hunger Walk through their church. Funds raised for each CROP Hunger Walk combat local and international hunger.

The Bloomingdale Food Pantry was started in April 2020 by Saranac Lake High School student Dellice Chase due to the need for food during the coronavirus shutdown and pandemic. Chase and her family continue to oversee the organization and donations to this food pantry with the ongoing help of Hex and Hop Brewery, The Saranac Lake Interfaith Food Pantry, Saranac Lake students and numerous individuals.

The Bloomingdale Food Pantry is volunteer run, but would not exist without the help from the Saranac Lake Interfaith Food Pantry. The Saranac Lake Interfaith Food Pantry continues to support the project by donating goods and educating the Bloomingdale Food Pantry organizers and coordinators on safe food pantry practices. Bloomingdale helpers dispose of expired food, check expiration dates, and restock shelf-stable food, as the Bloomingdale Pantry is not refrigerated or insulated.

“When I first started helping with the pantry, I noticed a lot of pasta, but when I added (a jar of) sauce, the items began leaving the shelf,” said Palyswiat. “Now I gather ingredients that go together so people can make a meal. I also continue to make sure food hasn’t expired.”

This local food pantry is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to supplement any emergency food needs when the regular area food pantries and other food services aren’t available. The Bloomingdale Food Pantry is not a replacement for anyone needing food assistance.

For anyone wishing to donate shelf-stable items during the winter months, Palyswiat requests that only dry goods be donated. Canned goods will be available once again in the spring. Anyone wishing to donate any other way may call 518-569-2610.

Hex and Hop Brewery and Meadery continues to donate the use of its parking lot for both the Bloomingdale Library and Food Pantry. The Bloomingdale Food Pantry is in a section of the freestanding library located at Hex and Hop Brewing, 1719 state Route 3, Bloomingdale.