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Food pantry
seeks more donations, looks for new home
By Mary Ann Price
Citizen Staff
Despite the
limited amount of packaged food on their shelves this summer,
the Canton Food Pantry has managed to supply food to people in
need this summer. The pantry, however, is now facing a challenge
beyond dwindling supplies. Keith Properties, which has allowed
the pantry to use the space rent free, recently sold the
property. The Canton Food Pantry needs to find a new location by
September 30 in order to continue meeting the needs of hundreds
of citizens.
Realtor
Janet Pratt of the Canton Helpline said that a space of 1,000 to
1,200 square feet is just what the pantry needs.
“We are
looking for someone to donate the space to us,” she said.
In the
meantime, pantry co-directors Mary Ellen Hudner and Carolann
Browne are hoping that generous townspeople will again help
senior citizens and families get through the next few months
until returning students and community groups begin their annual
food drives.
The food
pantry is currently located at 715 B Washington Street in the
rear of the building. The space is furnished with rows of
stackable plastic shelving units designed to hold canned goods,
packaged food items, personal care items and breads.
The pantry
serves a diverse group of citizens, including, Browne said, “a
large number of senior citizens, people on disability, a fair
number of single moms, regular families who have lost their jobs
and individuals.”
To qualify
for the pantry, a customer must present a current utility bill.
Three customers may shop at a time, using regular grocery carts
from supermarkets. A color-coded chart hanging near the first
aisle indicates how many items a customer may choose from each
group. For example, an individual may take one can of beans,
while someone shopping for a family of four may choose up to six
cans.
But many
shelves on a recent Tuesday morning were empty or held few
selections for customers. There were three dozen jars of peanut
butter and far fewer of jelly. Another shelf held about a dozen
boxes of cereal. A sign on the shelf holding toilet paper read
“one per customer,” no matter the size of the family.
The pantry
is open on Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for senior
citizens and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for others.
Approximately 35 to 40 people, some shopping for families and
children, shop on each day. However, they may only shop once
every other week.
The pantry
is also open the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to
10:30 a.m. for people who can’t make the other hours.
“The numbers
[of food pantry patrons] are growing and growing,” said Hudner.
Browne
agreed. “We see one to two new people every week,” she said.
The food
pantry receives food from a number of sources. Many groups
collect food and donate it to the pantry. Individuals give both
food and money. Many people give food to the pantry during the
holiday season. Starbucks sends pastries and Brookwood Farm
donates fresh produce. But the biggest one-time donation of food
is the drive sponsored in the spring by the Post Office. On May
10, Canton citizens left enough food at their mailboxes to fill
the food pantry as well as the entire storage space in the lower
level.
“But not a
morsel of food was left by the end of June,” Hudner said. “That
should have lasted through the summer,” Browne added.
Hudner also
orders food from the Greater Boston Food Bank. Janet Pratt has
loaned her van to the pantry on a weekly basis so that 2,500
pounds of food could be picked up.
Hudner pays
for the food with donations. Recently, Allied Waste and Nick
Marathas donated the use of a truck and driver once a month,
allowing pallets of food to be loaded up for Canton. Hudner went
to the Food Bank last week with Allied Waste.
“It was
great,” she said. “In 30 seconds, 3,600 pounds of food were on
that truck. It’s huge.”
The order
cost $235.51.
The pantry
is primarily dependent on food from the Food Bank at the moment,
but Hudner and Browne are hoping that more donations will come
in.
“We need
everything,” Hudner said. “A jar of spaghetti sauce and a pound
of spaghetti make a meal.”
“Anything
you get at the supermarket, we can use at the food pantry,”
Browne said. All food must be packaged, not fresh produce or
dairy products. Canned and packaged food should not have reached
their expiration dates. There is a need for soup. The pantry can
also use toothpaste, shampoo and soap — things not covered by
food stamps.
Donations
may be brought to the food pantry on Monday mornings, or left at
the Bank of Canton, Canton Cooperative Bank, Janet Pratt Realty
on Washington Street and the Canton Public Library, when those
businesses are open. Monetary donations may be sent to the
Canton Food Pantry, 715B Washington St., Canton, MA 02021.
August 21, 2008
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