Donations needed for local food pantry

Nov. 23, 2016 | Chris Goudreau
cgoudreau@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW – With the holiday season nearly here, the Council on Aging (COA) is seeking donations for its emergency food pantry.

COA Director Carolyn Brennan told Reminder Publications four to five families or seniors come in on a daily basis for food and supplies.

“Our numbers are increasing,” she noted. “I used to say that it was 70 families [on an annual basis], which could be seniors or households with kids, but I think those numbers are going to be a lot higher this year. I don’t know why, but we’re definitely seeing an increase.”

She added the same families are not coming in each day – each family or senior receives full bags of groceries twice a month.  

Brennan said she hopes increased donations would also occur to help the pantry keep up with the needs of community members.

She added the pantry is seeking nonperishable canned food meal donations as well as canned vegetables and fruits, cereal, spaghetti sauce, and soups. Paper products such as toilet paper and paper towels are also sought after items.

Brennan said typically the pantry receives most of its donations around the holiday season.

“For some reason people think that that’s the hardest time for people, but it’s just as hard during April and August,” she explained. “But we appreciate it. People are in the mode to give.”

A handful of volunteers run the pantry, which amazes her, she noted.

“They’re here almost every day sorting through [items] because sometimes we get expired stuff and that’s one of the things [we can’t take]. They need to check the expiration dates because we can’t give out expired food. If it’s close to the expiration date, it’s too hard to keep up with it.”

Anyone interested in donating to the food pantry can drop off goods at the senior center from 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Brennan said.

Residents seeking financial assistance on their heating bills also have the opportunity to apply this year at the beginning of the fuel assistance season.

Brennan said a total of 40 households in East Longmeadow receive assistance.

How much assistance a household is given depends on income levels via the federal poverty level.

“You have to bring in verification of what your income is and what your rent is,” she said.
The program covers assistance for propane, kerosene, wood, and coal heating, she noted.

She added anyone interested in applying for the program could call the senior center at 525-5436 and ask for Jane Desilets.

Desilets is filling in as fuel assistance program coordinator after Janice Michaelis, who served in the position for 28 years, passed away recently.

Share this: