AUBURN - Nearly a hundred people snaked around folding tables, filling up their boxes with fresh fruits and vegetables on Monday. For some, this produce is the only thing they will get for weeks.

The Community Caring Center offers residents an opportunity to get produce the second Monday of the month at its outreach center, 151 Wall St.

Dozens of volunteers sorted through peaches, tomatoes and bananas from the truckload of food nearing their expiration dates donated by the Wegman's stores in Syracuse.

People lined up for an hour, some holding canes, others clutching babies, in order to get the cream of the crop.

“We don't turn anyone away without something,” said Carol Priest, who has volunteered off and on for two decades.

She said word of mouth brings the most people and she spreads the word each chance she gets. Her family and friends know they can turn to the center when times get rough.

Volunteers see both senior citizens and younger people, she said.

Lisa Pennell used to volunteer at the food pantry. That was years ago, before someone had to stay home with her three children. She's been a regular in the food line for 12 years.

Monday, she waited outside the center for an hour, carrying a box and praying the weather remained clear until she could work her way inside the building.

“You know what I say, I'm grateful to be on this side of the line,” said Peggy Kent, who has spent four years working for the center. She started lending a hand with her church, Auburn Alliance.

Auburn City Councilors Matt Smith and William Graney visited the center Monday to see the operations and assist elderly patrons with their boxes. Mayor Timothy Lattimore also stopped by.

“It's sad to see those young kids in that line,” Graney said.

“We don't know how blessed we are,” he added.

Residents of Grace House, a halfway house for substance abusers, also lent some muscle to the patrons and the volunteers, who are mostly senior citizens. At 6 foot, 7 inches tall, Brad Talbot's got two big hands to lend. Talbot spends about 25 hours at the center, more than twice the 10 hours of

community service the Grace House requires.

Talbot calls himself the right hand man to coordinator Nancy Murphy.

They bring boxes of groceries to the seniors in complexes and families in need during the week.

The center offers fresh produce and baked goods the second Monday of each month. This Friday, the center will give away canned goods and other packaged food. Because the food comes from a federal program for Friday's donation, people need to fill out confidential forms stating their age and number of people in their family.

Murphy applauds the work of her volunteers, some in their 80's - one woman is 91. But she hopes that a new wave of good Samaritans will flock to the center to help.

“We need the extra volunteers. I want to be able to pass the torch,” Murphy said. “I would love to see people in their 60's - recent retirees who can give a couple hours a week.”

The 12-year veteran knows the satisfaction and joy people can get from impacting people's lives.

Her favorite success story is when an elderly lady's granddaughter came in and told them the woman had no food. When they visited her with a carepackage, they found she lived in a slum with no furniture or clothing. Workers at the center moved her into the Boyle Center and found her furniture.

A worker who had no family later adopted her and took her shopping each week.

“She never had two nickels to rub together... and then she was living better than ever in the second part of her life,” Murphy said. “You can't change the world but you can make someone's life better.”

Staff writer Jessica Soule can be contacted at 253-5311, ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net