The Ossining Food Pantry voted on March 23 to accept Heather McArdle as their new President. A 30-year resident of Ossining, McArdle has served as the Ossining Food Pantry’s Volunteer Coordinator for five of the last 10 years. She will assume the role immediately.
In operation since 1988, the Ossining Food Pantry is a charitable 501(c)(3) not-for-profit “public” corporation, and member agency of Feeding Westchester. The organization relies on over 110 volunteers to purchase, organize then distribute fresh and shelf-stable foods to over +450 Ossining and Briarcliff families in need every week.
McArdle has recently retired from a thirty-year career as an award-winning high-school geoscience teacher. The skills she brings to the Ossining Food Pantry are broad.
She has won multiple New York State awards and one at the national level for her teaching. She is also a published author of multiple scientific and educational papers, as well as three science laboratory manuals.
“Ossining is the best town to live in in all of Westchester.” said McArdle. “Not only do we have a vibrant and diverse community of thoughtful and interesting neighbors, but generosity and kindness fuels our work in assisting families who need the help. We are grateful to our many volunteers and the generosity of our donors who support our efforts.”
Fluent in Norwegian, McArdle now studies Spanish with the goal of becoming more skilled with holding a conversation in a language more in tune to the needs of Ossining’s diverse communities. McArdle stated: “Words are wonderful things – and being able to converse with someone in their native language can really help to create positive bonds and outcomes.”
The Ossining Food Pantry is a 100% volunteer organization – with multiple programs that are facilitated by volunteers to feed +450 families each week.
Ossining Food Pantry clients include local families, veterans, homeless, single parents, the homebound, seniors on fixed incomes, the underemployed and the unemployed.
If you are interested in making a donation or volunteering with the Pantry, please visit the website at OssiningFoodPantry.org.
