PALMER – To assist individuals in the community experiencing food and housing insecurity, the Palmer Public Library launched a “Community Kitchen,” which accepts and disperses non-perishable items.

Stephanie Maher, library director, said they began these efforts about three or four months ago. Although there has always been a drop-off location for the local Food Share on Walnut Street in Palmer, Maher said one of their board members, Cyd Melcher, heard about a similar set-up to what they have now at the Wilbraham Public Library.

“We knew that some of our patrons were experiencing food and housing insecurity, so we decided to keep the drop-off box in place for the Food Share, but to [also] offer some easy to open [and] eat options in our Town Square area,” said Maher. “It quickly became evident that there was an interest and a need for these types of items.”

Maher continued, “We are looking for non-perishables that are easy to open [and don’t require a can opener] that are ready to eat and do not require preparation.” This includes pull top cans of vegetables, spaghetti and meatballs and pasta; canned soup that is ready to eat; pre-packaged snacks such as peanut butter crackers and individually wrapped granola bars; reusable water bottles; packets of tuna fish and salmon; juice boxes; boxes of shelf stable milk; baby food; and personal hygiene products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, baby wipes, deodorant, diapers, menstrual pads and tampons, said Maher.

By collecting and offering these types of items at the pantry, Maher said they are hoping to meet the needs of those who have “unstable living situations,” which might mean they don’t have regular access to a kitchen or a proper way of storing food. “The idea is to provide easy, grab and eat meals,” she added.

The Community Kitchen is open to anyone and everyone, whenever the library is open for patrons.

The Community Kitchen is in the Town Square area of the Palmer Public Library, near the water fountain, public bathrooms and Community Room. “We welcome patrons to stop at one of our café tables and have a snack or eat a meal,” said Maher. “Food has always been welcomed in this section of the library.”

Now that the Community Kitchen is underway, Maher said donations have recently started to pick up. “Our staff and library board have been extremely generous, and we recently teamed up with Food Share on this project as well,” said Maher. “They are sending over bread and pastries once a week.”

She went on to say, “We have noticed that patrons are stopping by to drop a few items each day as well to keep the kitchen relatively well stocked.” Currently, Maher said they are asking that folks only take two to three items per day so that they can make sure everyone has a chance to take what they need. However, if donations continue to increase, Maher is hopeful that they will not have to limit the amount a person can take each day.

She added, “If anyone would like to donate, they can just bring their donations to the circulation desk during our open hours. Please no food donations in the book drops.”

The Palmer Public Library is open Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The library is closed on Sunday.

The library will also be collecting monetary donations toward the food pantry at the circulation desk.

For additional information, contact Maher at 283-3330, ext. 105, or smaher@palmerlibrary.org, or contact Borrower Services Librarian Rich Clark at 283-3330, ext. 126, or rclark@palmerlibrary.org.
More information on the Palmer Public Library can be found on their website at https://www.palmerlibrary.org/.