West End Food Pantry to open stand at fair

There is going to be a new food stand at the West End Fair this year and they are bringing something old and something new.

The West End Food Pantry was recently given the opportunity to take over one of the food concession stands at the upcoming West End Fair.

“This could be our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said WEFP Director Karena Thek. “If we are as successful as we hope to be, this one fundraiser could be all we need to feed the less fortunate in our area for the whole year.”

Thek said that they took possession of the booth with just three weeks until the opening of the fair, and it has been a whirlwind of activity getting the space ready to go.

“We have had the most amazing carpenters and electricians and painters in here totally renovating the space,” Thek said. “And it looks great and is all ready to go.”

The menu is going to be unique and will feature steamed little neck clams in butter, chicken and lamb gyros, crabbie pattie platter with coleslaw and garlic potatoes, and a Mac N Cheese Joe.

The Mac N Cheese Joe is a sloppy joe sandwich topped off with macaroni and cheese. There will also be hamburgers, cheeseburgers and hot dogs to round out the menu.

“We are so lucky that we have the best volunteers in the area, and everyone is looking forward to making this undertaking a great success,” Thek said.

Thek added that the pantry can always use new volunteers, not only during the fair, but at the pantry as well. Anyone interested in helping out can go to the pantry webpage at www.westendpantry.com and click on the volunteer pull-down menu.

“The profits from any purchase that you make at the stand will go directly toward buying food for the needy in our area,” Thek said. “All of the money stays right here.

“It is so exciting to bring something new to the fair.”

The fair begins on Aug. 19 and runs through Aug. 25. The fair opens daily at noon.