Santa’s Magic Forest raises money for Fish and Loaves Community Food Pantry

 

By SUE SUCHYTA

Sunday Times Newspapers

TAYLOR – Santa’s Magic Forest, an annual fundraiser for Fish and Loaves Community Food Pantry, found a new home this year at the former Eureka Heights Elementary School, 25125 Eureka Road.

The Rev. Geoffrey Drutchas, Fish and Loaves president, said Fish and Loaves is the largest food pantry in Michigan, with 3.6 million pounds of food distributed annually with the help of more than 300 community volunteers.

He said the proceeds from Santa’s Magic Forest funds about a month’s worth of the pantry’s purchases. 

Drutchas said that while the pantry benefits from food drives and financial donations, fundraising is critical, and community need has recently increased significantly.

He said that during the government shutdown, Fish and Loaves helped people with immediate food needs as well as their anxiety about what might happen next.

“People were in panic mode about ‘Am I going to have food?’ ‘I have food for these next three, four days, but what is going to happen thereafter?’ etcetera,” Drutchas said. “We just saw a huge explosion of people seeking assistance, which we try to provide.”

He said Fish and Loaves serves Taylor and six surrounding communities: Allen Park, Brownstown Township, Dearborn Heights, Romulus, Southgate and Woodhaven. The client choice pantry, 25670 Northline Road in Taylor, is open by appointment, and it has fresh market days 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays that are open to a wider geographical area, that provides up to 25 pounds of fresh produce and dairy products to those in need with a drive-through line, while supplies last.

Drutchas said that Fish and Loaves also receives food distributions through the Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, which provides food supplied by the government at 40 percent of its retail cost, and from Forgotten Harvest, a food rescue organization.

“Unfortunately, there is less food going into the pipeline, so we’ve seen changes,” he said. “But Gleaners has been an extraordinary partner,”

Drutchas said Forgotten Harvest redistributes excess food, especially product close to its expiration date, and Fish and Loaves is one of its largest recipients.

The Santa’s Magic Forest fundraiser uses former Hudson’s holiday window displays that Taylor used for its own decorations until the labor costs to set it up became cost-prohibitive. The city then provided a physical space and Fish and Loaves provides volunteer labor to set up the decorations for the fundraiser.

He said it has skilled volunteers who are able to repair the animatronics as needed, as well as deal with the electrical demands of large lighted displays.

Drutchas said it is rewarding to watch children discover the displays and to see their wide-eyed enthusiasm.

 

The group’s Santa, David Zyczynski, said he loves to see the joy on the children’s faces when they come to visit him.

“And, of course, when you come down to it, this is helping Fish and Loaves, which helps families throughout the Downriver community,” he said. “That’s our main focus, but it’s a bonus to be Santa for a few weeks.”

Mrs. Claus, portrayed by retired Taylor School District teacher Rhonda Damaj, who likes volunteering for a good cause, said she enjoys the joy that the children bring to each visit.

“It brings out a lot of love,” she said.

Drutchas said a year ago they were helping about 600 households, and now Fish and Loaves is helping twice as many. 

Volunteer Mike Cragg of Taylor, who runs a craft area as part of Santa’s Magic Forest, said he volunteers as a way of following in his late father’s footsteps.

He said he loves seeing the smiles on the children’s faces.

“The end result is what this produces for Fish and Loaves,” Cragg said. “It puts a smile on everybody’s face.”

The event continues noon to 8 p.m. Dec. 13, 14, 20 and 21, and 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 19, with $5 general admission, children 3 and under free. Photos with Santa are $10 with Rosecrans Picture Perfect Photography.