Spring Fundraisers Benefit Caring & Sharing Food Pantry
The Caring & Sharing Food Pantry held two significant fundraising events this spring: the Meijer SimplyGive program in March and the Sweet Shop in April. Together, they generated over $16,000 for the pantry.
Through the SimplyGive program, customers who shopped at Defiance Meijer from Dec. 29 though Mar. 29 were encouraged to add a $10 SimplyGive donation card to their cart. These donations are converted into a Meijer food-only gift card and given to the food pantry.
The program included two double match days on March 1 and March 22. That’s when Meijer gave $20 for each $10 SimplyGive donation, and together $10,600 was raised to purchase food for the pantry’s shelves.
Pantry board president, Dan Bulau, explained how it works, “The pantry uses the funds from SimplyGive to buy food at wholesale prices, multiplying the impact of each person’s gift again. We are thankful for all who participated in this program, because it was a simple way to support our neighbors with food insecurity.”
Keep an eye out for the next SimplyGive campaign and help support the the pantry.
In April, Sweet Shop bakers and candy makers made more than 50 types of handmade sweets including varieties of chocolates, cookies, pies, yeast and sourdough breads, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes and more. The event, hosted by the St. Paul Lutheran Church, raised nearly $6,200.
Shoppers arrived early for a great selection, and the event nearly sold out in 90 minutes. Karen Steffen, winner of a Chief raffle basket, said, “It was fun to shop all the different areas of sweets and help the food pantry at the same time. I look forward to next year.”
Mark your calendars for the 2026 Sweet Shop on March 26, 2026.
Businesses and organizations donating items to the event included: Bean Creek Farms, Farmer’s Wife Cupcakes, Grounded Coffee & Crumbs, Paulding County Hospital, Paulding County Senior Center, Paulding Exempted Village High School Nutrition and Wellness class, Setser’s Sourdough and Sweet A.S. Cakes. More than 60 bakers and candy makers also donated.
Sponsors for this event were: Boyd Automotive; Bashore, Reineck, Stoller & Waterman Inc.; Chief of Paulding; Dooley Funeral Home; Fat Pig Smokehouse; First Christian Church Outreach of Paulding; First Presbyterian Church of Paulding; MCK Leasing, LLC; Midwest Community Federal Credit Union; Paulding Ace Hardware and Rental; Paulding Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2405; Stahl Stoller Meyer Insurance; St. Paul Lutheran Church and Walmart Supercenter in Bryan.
For more information about the pantry, volunteer opportunities and fundraising activities, follow the Caring & Sharing Food Pantry on Facebook. If you have questions call the pantry, at (419) 399-9562 or send an email to info@caresharepantry.org.
