Teen Volunteer Took Action to Re-Stock Food Pantry

Running track takes up much of 14-year-old Andrew Bertollo's time. But somewhere, in between meets and practice, Bertollo has found time to give back to his community.

In the wake of , the shelves of the were bare. With the pantry empty, and an emergency still in progress, Bertollo took action.

“Due to the storm, all the families who needed help cleared the pantry out. So, I sent an e-mail out to everyone in my Boy Scout troop,” Bertollo said.

Bertollo has been a volunteer for the food pantry since the sixth grade. Each week the freshman stocks shelves, distributes food and catalogues needs.

Scouts and adult leaders responded in force to Bertollo's e-mail. Many organized corporate and business food drives, collecting canned goods and other non-perishable items like cereals and pasta.

While the pantry saw increased demand following the storm, for some families, visiting the Kinnelon Food Pantry is a part of a daily or weekly routine.

One middle-aged Kinnelon woman, who wished to remain nameless, said without the pantry, she does not know how she would be able to feed her family of five.

The woman, a crossing guard in the borough, is a single mother of four children ranging from high school age to a 10-year-old. She moved to the borough six years ago with her then-husband, who she separated with a year later. The woman has been using the pantry every week for five years.

Before using the pantry, she said she ate differently than she does now.

"We have a lot of breakfast for dinner," she said.

The woman does shop at the grocery store for what she can get and supplements what she purchases with food from the pantry.

Last week, one of her children begged her to buy London Broil. Although she was concerned with the cost, the woman said she felt bad that she often cannot treat her kids to meals they want and decided to purchase the steak. She was pleased that she was able to turn the meat into two meals for her children.

"I was luck they weren't that hungry this time," she said.

Being a single mom has created challenges for the woman.

"If it wasn't for the food pantry, I don't know how I'd feed the kids," she said.

In addition to food, being a part of the food pantry has helped provide other things, such as school supplies and toys during the holiday season, that the family would have otherwise had a hard time obtaining.

"Sometimes I feel guilty because I know there's other families out there in need," she said.

The pantry regularly assists about 25 families weekly, but the storm affected about 25 more residents, placing them in need of assistance.

Thanks to Bertollo’s efforts the shelves of the Kinnelon Food Pantry are once again stocked.

Bertollo, who works at the pantry with , director of the , spent several hours organizing the items.

“There’re not too many people who need a lot of things,” noted Bertollo of Kinnelon residents. “But, people do need some help. I try to get them assistance by organizing things and getting them what they need.”

Bertollo runs varsity track and . He is also plays trumpet in the Advanced Wind Ensemble. He thinks that one day he might like to be a high school music teacher.

Currently, he is in the beginning stages of launching his Eagle Scout project. The teen also spends eight to ten hours each week volunteering at the and . However, the food pantry is a special project for him. He is amazed at people’s generosity and is happy to help others.

“I like to volunteer,” he said, “I like to help just organize the shelves. I feel better just knowing that people can easily find what they need. People who come here for food have enough problems at home.”

Recently Bertollo spent five days helping flood victims in Pequannock pump out basements and clean out debris.

“How many children do you get that are that dedicated?” asked Flammer.

A Kinnelon employee, Flammer has volunteered to run the pantry for nine years. Bertollo is one of her few steady volunteers. For three years he has been her assistant. She is impressed with his dedication, enthusiasm and work ethic.

“Andrew knows what he’s doing and how to do it,” she said, noting that she trusts that Bertollo will get the work accomplished without being asked. “I don’t have to worry about him.”

The Kinnelon Food Pantry is open during Kinnelon Health Department business hours. Contributions can be made at the Kinnelon Municipal Building, the Kinnelon Library and other locations throughout Kinnelon.

“It’s a way to help the town and other people,” explained Bertollo. “So, even if you can’t work for [the pantry], donating food is a way to help.”

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