Christine Weber and her 7-year-old daughter Isla Henderson pose for a photo in front of the Royal Oak Community United Methodist Church’s food pantry on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The duo has been collecting items for the county’s only 24-hour food pantry for Isla’s 4-H project.
Seven-year-old Isla Henderson, center, holds a package of pudding alongside her St. Â鶹´«Ã½ Elementary School classmates. The school helped Isla surpass her goal of collecting 4,000 items for the Royal Oak Community UMC’s food pantry.
Hundreds of donations line the shelves in the storage portion of the Royal Oak Community United Methodist Church’s food pantry in this December 2023 photo.
Seven-year-old Isla Henderson flashes a smile as she takes a break from sorting through non-perishable goods donated to the Royal Oak Community UMC’s food pantry on Wednesday, Nov. 22.
Christine Weber and her 7-year-old daughter Isla Henderson pose for a photo in front of the Royal Oak Community United Methodist Church’s food pantry on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The duo has been collecting items for the county’s only 24-hour food pantry for Isla’s 4-H project.
ROYAL OAK — Isla Henderson did more than just reach her goal of collecting 4,000 items for the Royal Oak Community United Methodist Church’s food pantry — she surpassed it.
In late October, the ambitious 7-year-old set out with a goal to collect thousands of of much-needed items for the church’s food pantry as part of her Bay Hundred 4-H and Saddle, Paws and Steam 4-H Clover projects.
In just a few short weeks, she was a quarter of the way there.
And by Christmas Eve, she crushed it.
With the help of the community, Isla collected 6,157 items for the food pantry, according to Tonya Hammond, Royal Oak Community UMC’s food pantry coordinator.
Donations came from every direction, said Lisa Roemer, who is also a food pantry coordinator with the church.
Bags of groceries were dropped off, online orders were placed, and the National Honor Society at St. Â鶹´«Ã½ Middle/High School, along with St. Â鶹´«Ã½ Elementary School, chipped in with collecting items for Isla’s project.
In a text message sent by mom Christine Weber, Isla said she couldn’t believe over 6,000 items had been collected and thanked everyone for helping her.
“Phew, it’s a lot of work. Maybe we can get 10,000,†Isla told her mom enthusiastically.
Weber was also delighted with the community outpouring in helping her daughter collect items for the pantry.
“I am overwhelmed with joy and gratitude to everyone who helped Isla achieve her goal,†she said via text message. “We had so much help in this mission from the community. It has been a blessing in so many ways.â€
Not only did the much-needed donations come in, but the church has seen a rise in visitors to the pantry as well, Roemer said.
The Royal Oak Community UMC food pantry is the only 24-hour pantry in Talbot County and feeds an estimated 20 to 30 households per week.
Future donations are always appreciated. Items can be dropped off day or night at a donation box in front of Precision Mobile Service, located at 8692 Brooks Drive in Easton. Donations can also be ordered online and shipped to the same address.
Those in need can visit the food pantry, which is located at 6968 Bellevue Road in Royal Oak.
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