Lyn Gift Shop Raffle Raises $460 for Our Lady of Peace Food Pantry

Easter came early for one resident and for last Saturday as the raised $460 for the church food pantry through the raffling of a giant chocolate egg.

"It's a wonderful help to us," said Sister Barbara, who runs the church's community outreach program. "The money we got from the wonderful card shop will be put toward supplies we might be short on."

Sister Barbara said the food pantry serves Lynbrook residents — regardless of religion — living within the parish of Our Lady of Peace Church. The church often provides gift cards to area supermarkets to help those in need.

"I think [the raffle] is a wonderful thing because I think it broadens, it enables more people to know we are trying to help," she added.

Bill Gaylor, owner of the Lyn Gift Shop, organized a small ceremony at his store last Saturday to announce the winner and present the check to Sister Barbara. He said he was very satisfied with how many people purchased raffle tickets — $1 apiece — for the fundraiser, and even more so that people in need would receive assistance as a result of it.

"There are a lot of people in this village that are out of work — they're not as rich as they once were and they need this food," Gaylor said. "And it's a very important thing. We started this tradition last year and we intend to do this every year."

If you would like to make a donation to the food pantry at Our Lady of Peace Church, call Sister Barbara at (516) 599-7448.