Newsletter—May 2022
FISH of Clarke County
Serving the Clarke County community for over fifty years
36 East Main Street, P.O. Box 1154, Berryville, VA 22611, 540-955-1823
GIVE TODAY!
A Message From Our President…
Heartfelt thanks to you for your concern for those in need in Clarke County! We have seen an increase in our food pantry use, as well as in financial requests in the last few months. With increased shortages looming in the near future, our pantry will play a vital role in meeting the felt needs in our community. In addition, we look forward to partnering with Habitat for Humanity in helping fund repairs for the elderly in Clarke County, so these loved ones can “age in place”.
Many blessings for your support!
— Mary Veilleux
Donor Appreciation
Throughout the year FISH receives donations from local residents, churches, businesses, and organizations.
We are always so thankful for our partners who help us continue to serve the Clarke County community.
Thank you to Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, Berryville Baptist, Clarke County Rotary Club, Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Marvin Chapel, Dollar General, Mountain Baptist, St Bridgets, St Marys, The Tree of Life, Veterans of Foreign Wars, our local Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, Clarke County High School Latin students, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, and Berryville Martins.
And, we are grateful to our local resident donors who come by the pantry weekly bringing eggs, fresh produce, and other food items our friends and neighbors may need. The generosity of our community knows no limits.
If you would like to make a donation to the food pantry and are wondering what to give, here are some “always needed” nonperishable items:
Cereal, soup, rice/sides, boxed pasta, canned meat, canned pasta, canned vegetables, canned potatoes, canned fruit, pasta sauce, coffee, sugar, tea, personal care items, toilet paper, tissues, and toothpaste/brushes.
We also have refrigerator and freezer space for fresh and frozen food.
Occasionally specific items that are in low supply are posted on our Facebook page.
You can give a monetary gift HERE.
Many thanks!
Attention Amazon Shoppers!
Don’t forget that FISH is now taking part in the Amazon Smile program, where you can choose a charity to receive a donation when you shop.
Signing up is easy! You can search for us by typing FISH of Clarke County. Each time you shop at smile.amazon.com, they will donate a percentage of your order to FISH.
Thank you!
Our volunteers are the backbone and heart of our day-to-day operations. Even as we changed our ways to meet the needs of the community during the pandemic, they all stepped up to allow FISH to continue to serve our friends and neighbors.
Thank you to Nancy and Julia who come every Tuesday and Wednesday morning to organize and help clients find clothing for their families, to Beth and Deloris who tirelessly give the financial help and guidance our clients need, to Mary who makes sure there is fresh produce every week for our community, to our Board of Directors guiding our mission, and to all our helpline workers who answer the call all week long.
Thank you to these loving hearts and giving spirits for filling the community’s needs.
Calling Avid Gardeners…
It’s the gardening season and once again FISH is calling out to our Clarke County gardeners of all ages to come help plant flowers and food for our community.
If you are interested, call our helpline, 540-955-1823, for more information.
Volunteer of the Year 2020
Deloris Hausenfluck
Clarke County will always be home to me!
I was raised in Clarke County from birth and lived there until I was married at 22.
When I was a child growing up in Clarke County you never walked down the street and did anything you should not have as your parents would know it before you got home. That was not a bad thing because I felt the village of Berryville and the greater county community watched out for each other, young and old. We were safe in school and on our school buses.
If God would ask me today how I would want to be raised, I would say just like I was. We never had a lot of extras, but we never went without necessities! We were taught to respect older people and use our manners. We never had the fears of today and that is much to be THANKFUL for.
My Mom always remembered the less fortunate when she got something new or had extra vegetables from the garden. My Aunt was one who would stop and help anybody that needed something done no matter what else she was doing.
My Dad was a dairy farmer and worked seven days a week! Our vacation was at the CC Fair with our entries. And farmers helped each other even though no money was ever exchanged. I just found some of my ribbons from the early 1960s that my Mom had kept for me.
We were taught to do chores, not for money, but for the learning experience and for our future.
The three people above inspired me to do the things I do today as a volunteer in many organizations for over thirty years, to help other people in so many ways, including FISH.
Thank you, Deloris, for all the ways you serve our organization and our community!
Volunteer of the Year 2021
Mary Veilleux
Mary Veilleux not only serves in the executive position as President of FISH, but she is also a dedicated and tireless volunteer.
Mary was raised in Berryville with her five siblings. She credits her work ethic to her dad, who owned the Berryville Lumber Company.
Mary committed her life to Christ while in college, then went on staff with The Navigators. It was through her involvement with The Navigators that she met Bill Veilleux. They married and together served the Lord in Iowa, Germany, Florida, and Virginia. They returned to Berryville, after Mary’s mom died in 2002, to care for her dad in her childhood home. Mary and Bill have five adult children, eight grandchildren with another one on the way this month!
Mary got involved with FISH in 2004 when she started as a Helpline volunteer. She enjoys opening her home for meals and ministry and caring for children.
Her motivation for life can be found in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Thank you, Mary, for the many ways you help and love our community. You are a treasure to us!
And our other Volunteer Spotlights…
Clothing Room - Diane Gum
Helpline - Rhetta McLarney
Pantry - Beth Hanrahan
FISH HELPLINE: 540-955-1823
Our Officers and Board of Directors
President - Mary Veilleux
Vice President - Anne Cushman
Treasurer - Taryn Bell
Secretary - Nancy Daugherty
Jonathan Bunker, Diane Gum, Beth Hanrahan, Sharon Harrison, Deloris Hausenfluck, Betsy Hill, Katie LoMonaco, Scarlett Royce, Terry Schafer, Elizabeth Stup, Marie Walton
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
