'Deposits for Food' spreads holiday cheer to area food pantries

Angelo Sarkees of Lewiston has begun his fourth year of "Deposits for Food" (D4F), a collection of returnable container and scrap metal to benefit three Niagara County food pantries: Community Missions, Heart, Love and Soul, and Care and Share of Ransomville.

D4F made its latest donation this week as a result of the fall 2016 collections. Checks for $2,000 total were presented to the three pantries this holiday season. The donations are a result of the deposit bottle and cans, and scrap metal collection efforts by Sarkees, D4F's founder. In slightly over three years since its inception, D4F has collected and donated over $30,000 to the food pantries.

Sarkees would like to thank his family, supporters, donors and sponsors, including Porter Empty Return Center, Modern Disposal and Sevenson Environmental. In addition, he would like to thank supporters Collision Enterprises, The Brickyard/Tin Pan Alley, Favorite's Pizzeria, The Spicey Pickle, Frenchy's Pizza, Somewhere, Art's Woodworking and DiMino Tops Lewiston.

During this sacred season of giving, Sarkees encourages all to consider supporting the local food pantries through volunteer work or donations, and acknowledges all those who work and volunteer at these pantries and similar groups, "they are the true patrons of the poor and less fortunate," he said.

Pictured, from left: Sister Beth Brosmer, executive director of Heart, Love, and Soul; Francis Giles, VP of community relations, Modern Corporation; Angelo Sarkees, Deposits for Food; and Joe Sbarbati, associate director, Community Missions.