Food pantries dealing with increased demand
GALWAY (Oct. 9) — From Clifton Park to Mechanicville, Jonesville to Galway, area food pantries are seeing dramatically increased demand this year.
At some of the pantries, this has meant empty shelves. Others are doing OK but are eagerly awaiting supplies from the food drives that normally occur around holiday time. And all wouldn’t mind some preholiday donations.
Galway Food Pantry copresidents Judy Knowlton (left) and M.L. Kopper have seen a big increase in the amount of families the pantry is helping.
While Kopper said the pantry is doing OK because of community support — like the children who raised $500 with a bake sale, the farmer who raised an additional 25 chickens just to provide eggs for the pantry and Lions members who lend a truck and their time to pick up goods from the regional food bank in Latham — she added “by the end of the month, we’re down to the bare necessities.”
Galway’s pantry is fortunate. Pantries in Clifton Park and Mechanicville have bare shelves.
“As soon as we get food in it goes out,” Mechanicville Area Community Services Center assistant director Holly LaTorre said. “Our shelves are constantly bare.”
Even products that normally aren’t in high demand are flying off the shelves.
“We thought we had canned peas to last for years,” C.A.P.T.A.I.N. family assistance coordinator Robin Kennedy said.
Kennedy says the problem isn’t decreased donations.
“The people in the community are being just as generous,” she said, “but we’re having twice as many people come to us.”
Both shelters could use donations now. Kennedy said the “things that fly off the shelves” are:
- Easily prepared meals, such as canned soups and stews, boxed and canned macaroni and cheese, Hamburger Helper and Chef Boyardee;
- Canned fruit;
- Pasta and rice;
- Cereals.
The Helping Hands Food Pantry at the Jonesville United Methodist Church has plenty of food, but with the holidays coming up, it could use cash. It gives each of its client families a $10 gift card to buy a Thanksgiving turkey at Price Chopper. Plus the pantry is able to buy good from the Regional Food Bank for 17 cents a pound.
“At 17 cents a pound, we can shop better than you can,” said Sandy Konsella, one of Helping Hands five codirectors. Thanks to the donations, the pantry is able to give its clients butter, cheese, milk and meat.
At Grace Church’s food pantry in Waterford, Fay Catallo said there’s a need for things food stamps can’t be used to buy — dish soap, paper towels, hand soap, toilet paper. And Galway recently had a shortage of bags for clients to take home their food in.
Not only has the economy increased the pantries’ usage but has also brought a different type of user.
“We have seen an increase in older couples without children — people in their late 40s through early 60s,” Waterford’s Catallo said.
“Now we’re seeing a lot more working people,” Mechanicville’s LaTorre said. “It’s either put gas in your car or buy food.”
“We’ve had a couple of gentlemen come in suits; they seemed so embarrassed to be here,” Jonesville’s Konsella said. “They shouldn’t feel like that. We’re here to help.”
For more information:
- Galway food pantry, 2167 East Street, Galway, 882.1316
- Helping Hands Food Pantry, Jonesville United Methodist Church, 963 Main Street, Clifton Park, 877.7380
- Grace Episcopal Church, 34 Third Street, Waterford, 237.7370
- Mechanicville Area Community Services Center, 6 South Main Street, Mechanicville, 664.8322
- Karyl’s Kupboard, C.A.P.T.A.I.N., 5 Municipal Plaza Suite 3, Clifton Park, 371.1185
- Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
