By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
A few years ago, Alicia Baldwin and her mother, Treyonne, came across an article in the Messenger about the Veterans Food Pantry at VFW Post 153 in Baldwinsville. They brought the food pantry to the attention of their Girl Scout troop and decided to hold a food drive.
Upon seeing the jars, cans and boxes of shelf-stable food jammed into the food pantry’s tiny closet at the VFW, Alicia knew she had found her Gold Award project.
The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve. Senior and Ambassador level Girl Scouts (in grades 9-12) must complete a “Take Action Project” that improves their community in a measurable, sustainable way.
Over the years, Troop 10043 has held several food drives for the Veterans Food Pantry. The Baldwin family offered to store items for the pantry.
“A lot of the food we sent them they couldn’t even fit in their food pantry,” Alicia said.
“We actually stored about 50 cases of food here in our bonus room,” Treyonne Baldwin said.
VFW Post 153 freed up an office for the food pantry, and the space needed some serious TLC. The Baldwins contacted Charleen Gratton, director of the Veterans Food Pantry, about renovating the space.
Alicia, her fellow Girl Scouts and VFW volunteers spent the weekends between Jan. 12 and Feb. 7 working on the food pantry.
“They had wood paneling in there, so it had to be sanded first and patched and sanded and primed,” Treyonne said.
They painted the pantry a sunny yellow and installed new shelves as well.
“Everything was stripped out of the room. They did the ceilings, they did the walls, they put in new electricity,” Gratton said of Alicia’s work. “It’s wonderful.”
The pantry’s assistant director, Kelly Kelly, said the previous space was a “logistical nightmare.”
“Now we don’t have to worry, It’s just so much nicer, so much more functional,” Kelly said.
Troop 10043 raised nearly $2,000 to fund the renovations. Alicia sold pies to help the cause. She also put together a cookbook highlighting items that the pantry needed.
“I baked 57 pies, so if you need a chocolate cream, I’m your girl,” she said at the grand opening of the revamped food pantry Sept. 3.
The troop held a contactless pickup food drive in the Candlewyck neighborhood of Baldwinsville ahead of the ribbon cutting.
“It was fabulous. We had such generous contributions from the neighborhood,” Treyonne said.
Gratton said the pantry serves about 52 veterans each month. She said many of the veterans are reluctant to sign up for food stamps or ask organizations like PEACE Inc. for help because they feel they would be taking resources away from other people.
“They’re tough guys but they’re very proud,” she said.
In addition to the food drives and renovations from Troop 10043, Gratton said the Veterans Food Pantry has benefited from the generosity of local Boy Scouts as well as the Baldwinsville Helping Baldwinsville – COVID-19 Facebook group.
“There’s no community that I know of that’s as kind and caring as Baldwinsville,” she said. “Baldwinsville is a blessing.”
While the new pantry was operational by Feb. 10, the coronavirus pandemic delayed the official ribbon cutting to Sept. 3. Alicia, her family, Troop 10043 and the VFW members gathered Thursday evening to celebrate. VFW Commander Jay Taylor presented Alicia with a challenge coin in honor of her service.
Before she read Sarah Hall’s 2017 article about the Veterans Food Pantry, Alicia herself was interviewed for a 2015 story about the beginning of Girl Scout cookie season. The girls of Troop 10043 — then at the Junior level — had recently earned their Bronze Awards.
When asked why she joined Girl Scouts, Alicia said in 2015, “I knew that Girl Scouts would give me the opportunity to help people that are less fortunate than me.”
As she begins her senior year at Baker High School, Alicia plans to continue giving back to her community by pursuing a career in the medical profession.
While Troop 10043’s scouting career is coming to a close, the scouts have expressed interest in continuing to volunteer at the Veterans Food Pantry, PEACE Inc. and Baldwinsville Meals on Wheels.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Albert Glenn Richardson Post 153 is located on the corner of Salina and Wood streets in the village of Baldwinsville. To learn more, visit vfwpost153.com or call 315-635-7370.
To support the Veterans Food Pantry, make checks payable to VFW Post 153 Food Pantry. Mail checks or drop off donations at VFW Post 153, 50 Salina St., Baldwinsville, NY 13027.