EAST LONGMEADOW – The Pleasant View Senior Center’s open pantry serves around 90 families each year that reside in East Longmeadow.  According to Carolyn Brennan, Executive Director of the Council on Aging (COA), every year in April and August the pantry shelves begin to run dry.

 Regardless of age, families are able to go to the East Longmeadow COA and meet with the Community Service Director who makes sure that they are in need of this assistance.

“One of the really good reasons for someone to come in and talk with her is technically there’s other things we can help with. If someone is coming in and their income is really low, they might be eligible for MassHealth or for fuel assistance,” Brennan added, “It isn’t to police the pantry, it’s more so to make sure they’re getting all of the services they need.”

Once it’s confirmed that a family is eligible to receive goods from the pantry, they’re allowed to come in twice a month and fill up two large bags full of food and personal care items.

“If there are extenuating circumstances, we’re always flexible with that,” Brennan noted.

During the holidays the COA has found that their shelves are overflowing.  However, when the spring and summer months roll around the shelves tend to be sparse.

“People are really generous during the holidays, because people are generous during the holidays.  Sometimes we have an overabundance of some things, and other times, like right now, it’s just very empty,” Brennan said.

Currently, the pantry is low on canned fruit, pasta, cereal, tuna fish, peanut butter and canned meals such as ravioli or soup.  Additionally, the pantry welcomes personal care items including toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and more.

“We’ve finally gotten this general geographic area realizing that in East Longmeadow there are families who are struggling.  One of our volunteers said for some reason, people think hunger goes on vacation.  We’ve got to get the word out that we’re low on food,” Brennan said.

The Pleasant View Senior Center is located at 328 N. Main Street in East Longmeadow and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The COA accepts food donations during that time.  To drop off goods, simply enter the Senior Center and place them on the pantry bookshelf next to the entrance and the volunteers will take care of the rest.  Brennan encourages those who donate to check the expiration dates, as the center does not hand out expired goods.  For more information regarding the pantry, call Pleasant View Senior Center at 525-5436.