FAITH Food Pantry Needs Donations

By Nancy K. Crevier

Three months ago, the shelves at the FAITH Food Pantry in the basement of St John’s Episcopal Church on Washington Avenue were stacked to the ceiling with donated goods. This week, those same shelves showed gaping holes, where depleted stock created a grave concern for the volunteers who staff the free food pantry each Tuesday morning and Thursday evening.

“Typically, in summer, donations slow down. Everyone is away,” said volunteer Barbara Gates, Tuesday morning, July 24. But the needs of the more than 120 families that frequent the food pantry do not slow down.

“There are more and more people needing to take advantage of the pantry,” said pantry Director Lee Paulson. “We need those in a position to help, to continue to help,” she said, adding that FAITH has seen an uptick in need since January.

“Right now,” said Barbara Lynch, another volunteer, “we are down about 70 percent on our stock. I’m not sure we can accommodate the needs of everyone this week.” The FAITH Food Pantry is open to any Newtown/Sandy Hook resident who comes through the door, she emphasized.

“We are neighbors helping neighbors. We take the pressure off,” Ms Lynch said, but without more donations, soon, FAITH Food Pantry will be limited in the help it can provide.

The food pantry is especially in need of dry cereals, juice, peanut butter, jams and jellies, canned tuna and chicken, pasta sauce, rice and pasta, regular ground coffee, black or green tea bags, canned tomatoes, macaroni and cheese, hash, stew, complete pancake mix, and canned fruit. Fresh fruit and vegetables are always welcomed. A substantial supply of canned soup and canned vegetables is on hand, at this time, so volunteers are not seeking those items.

“Please,” begged Ms Gates, “we do not want out-of-date items. Please check the expiration dates before donating.” Sorting through expired items takes valuable time, and those items must go directly to the dump, said Ms Paulson.

Cash donations are welcome, as are any Big Y coins. Botsford Post Office collects Big Y coins for the FAITH Food Pantry, Ms Paulson said.

“I had hoped to wait until September to ask for more donations, but we really can’t wait,” said Ms Paulson. “It’s frightening , seeing the new families with children who come here.”

Because the high schoolers who have in past years collected nonperishable items to donate to FAITH during the annual Labor Day Parade have graduated, Ms Paulson said they will be down that large donation, come September. Additionally, the closing of Andrea’s bakery means that the food pantry no longer receives the generous bread and pastry donations that Tony Posca provided to them each week.

The FAITH Food Pantry would be most appreciative, said volunteers, if anyone wants to set up a parade collection site and deliver the goods to the pantry after the parade.

“We are hurting now, that’s certain,” said Ms Paulson, and with the next townwide collection not until November, the food pantry is hoping that community members, always generous in the past, can help now.

Donations are accepted between 9 am and noon, each Tuesday, and between 6 and 7:30 pm, each Thursday, in the basement of St John’s.

For more information, contact Lee Paulson at 203-426-5604.