Our Community Food Pantry Director Sally Munson flanks some of the food items that are given to kids during the summer of 2018. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO)
Financial donations needed to help feed families
SOUTHWICK – The economic downturn as a result of COVID-19 has caused the loss of jobs and income. Serious food insecurity issues are cropping up daily. Children who usually get a meal at school are now at home for all of their meals.
“Our Community Food Pantry” is helping to bridge the food gap in the Southwick, Granville, and Tolland area.
“People are actually scared to go into stores; some of our most vulnerable clients are scared to go into supermarkets,” Our Community Food Pantry Director Sally Munson said. “People feel safer to come here.”
With schools closed and unemployment on the rise, the demand for free food and meals within the area communities is reaching record heights. According to Munson, Our Community Food Pantry had more than 800 visits to its 220 College Highway location in April, a 40 percent increase over the last two months.
Food pantry clients typically receive a grocery bag filled with either frozen hamburger or chicken, eggs, bread, fresh fruits and/or vegetables, canned goods such as tuna or chicken, pasta and spaghetti sauce, and some combination of dairy products such as milk and butter, all weighing somewhere between 45 to 95 pounds.
Clients are eligible to receive one bag of goods weekly.
Our Community Food Pantry has also been providing nearly 100 meals a week to area children as part of their kids’ meals program.
“If schools remain shut down and people are not back to work, our clients are going to need the services more than last year,” Munson said.
Our Community Food Pantry typically stocks its shelves with food from a food bank in Hatfield and local supermarkets, purchasing food with financial assistance from the United Way and donations from the community.
Munson said a shortage in produce and dairy products due to high demand across the region is making it increasingly difficult to keep its food fully stocked. Due to coronavirus concerns, she is asking for the public’s help in making financial donations to the food pantry rather than donate food until coronavirus-related restrictions are lifted.
“We have had an excellent response from the community,” said Our Community Food Pantry board member Deb Herath. “Even though we remain locked down, our heart goes out there to others.”
Volunteers for the Food Pantry have adhered to social distancing guidelines by wearing masks and gloves while keeping everything germ-free, cleaning with hand sanitizers and disinfectant after every client visit.
The Our Community Food Pantry is open four days a week: Mondays, 3-5 p.m.; Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-noon; and Thursdays, 5-6 p.m.
“We’re very blessed with the support of our community,” Munson said. “We are doing everything we can to keep people safe. We are doing everything we can not to close. People can feel comfortable coming here.”
Although Our Community Food Pantry does not deliver to clients’ homes, Munson said she is willing to help make arrangements between clients and volunteers as their policy states “no one will be turned away.”
The Our Community Food Pantry is available online at www.community-food-pantry.org or on Facebook.
