HERKIMER — The Herkimer County Hunger Coalition’s monthly meeting took place earlier this week at the Herkimer Elks Lodge with Vice President Devin McDonald presiding. Among the topics discussed included:

• The Van Hornesville Food Pantry reported that its annual Easter Program distributed 20 baskets to area recipients;
• Laura Hailston reported that the Cpl. Michael Mayne Cookie Corps continues to successfully transport needed foodstuffs-toiletries to the Hospitality Room at Hancock Airport, Syracuse. She indicated that drivers are in need for future trips. If interested in participating and/or for more information, call Hailston at 315-894-0854;
• Vietnam Veterans Ron Schoonmaker will again conduct the Coalition’s Memorial Flag Placing at the Oak Hill and Calvary Cemeteries in Herkimer. The Saturday, May 20, event begins at 10 a.m. with a ceremony at Oak Hill’s entrance. Anyone interested in helping out can contact Schoonmaker at 315-894-0854;
• RJ Lenarcic reported that he and President Brown met recently with Herkimer College Foundation Director Rob Fowler regarding the status of Veterans Memorial Park on the college’s campus. Fowler indicated that a new wall is being shipped and any veteran (resides or resided in Herkimer County) or veteran’s family interested in having his/her name etched on the memorial wall can contact Herkimer County Veterans Service Officer Rich Louis at 315-867-1127. The park was dedicated in October of 2005 and was the brainchild Lenarcic and Brown;
• Lenarcic also reported that the Marine Cpl. David Mills (Mohawk) Memorial Golf Tournament scheduled for Saturday, May 13, at Mohawk Valley Country Club, still had several openings and encouraged members to go out and “beat the bushes” for possible golfers and sponsors. The event consists of 3-man/woman teams of golfers aged 50 and older, has a Captain and Crew format, entrance cost covers everything, and will benefit Feed Our Vets paying for etching indigent veterans names on a Wall of Honor at Veterans Memorial Park. Anyone interested in participating or sponsoring should call Kelly Brown at 315-867-7765;
• Little Falls Food Pantry Director Sue Tucker reported that all was well and that the facility will be available monthly on given Saturdays (call 315-823-1793 for the precise date); and
• Members unanimously voted to name the Little Falls Gram Lorraine Children’s Christmas Program after Kathy Lowery, a longtime volunteer in the program who passed away recently. Lenarcic said, “Kathy will be dearly missed. She was an incredibly nice, generous person and a main reason why the Little Falls chapter was so successful over the past two decades.”