More space for Acton food pantry - Wicked Local Acton

More space for Acton food pantry - Wicked Local Acton

Molly Loughman mloughman@wickedlocal.com @MLoughmanWL

Acton Community Supper and Food Pantry clients can make themselves feel more at home since the pantry signed a 10-year lease to stay at its current location at 235 Summer Road in Boxborough -- where significant expansion and renovation efforts will soon begin.

 “I just signed that starting November, so we are safe here until 2026, so that’s a long time for us. We’ve been pantry-hopping for a while, so to know we can settle in here gives us the confidence to take money and invest it in upgrades to make this place more comfortable. So we’re happy with this situation right now and much relieved,” said Executive Director Kathy Casaletto.

 After searching and almost purchasing a couple of spaces, the pantry eventually chose to expand its 2,000-square-foot site with neighboring space after a tenant moved out. The pantry negotiated with the landlord to invest in renovating the entire space through a 10-year lease. Updates include handicapped accessible bathrooms, insulation, heating, air conditioning windows, expanding the waiting room, adding office space, and completely re-configuring the pantry's distribution and inventory areas. After upgrades, the pantry will total 3,000-square-feet, said Casaletto.

 Renovation costs for the pantry is estimated at $80,000.

 “We don’t need a flashy space -- we need a warm, comfortable space,” said Casaletto, explaining that once architectural affirmation is given for the project, renovation will begin in January and be completed by February. “Once it’s done, we might do a little reopening thing and the community might be interested to see what their efforts and donations have allowed us to do.”

 Fueled by a $120,000 annual budget, Acton Community Supper and Food Pantry serves around 200 families weekly.

 Pantry clients receive four days' worth of food, which clients pick with one-on-one help from pantry volunteers to shop from the pantry's stocked shelves. Donated items include canned goods, meat, eggs, dairy products, fresh fruit and vegetables, bread and dessert, along with clothing, baby food, formula, diapers and other basic household products for all families.

 “It’s a very well-run organization. I enjoy it very much. And our clients are awesome and the staff is just really nice. It’s fun to give your time here. I think it’s awesome we’re able to expand because we’re crowded here,” said pantry volunteer of six years, Sharon Labbe, of Acton.

 Since its establishment in 1984, the volunteer-based nonprofit has been located in a former fire station building off Windsor Avenue in West Acton. Between 2006-2007, as an economy still recovering from a 2001 recession started to relapse, the need grew. In 2008, the pantry moved to St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church, and as client list increased, the pantry formed its partnership with the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB). However, in 2010, the food pantry moved to its current location in Boxborough, equipped with an overhead door and a walk-in freezer. However, since 2012, the pantry has been eyeing other areas in order town in hopes of eventually owning its own space instead of leasing one.

 “It’s very nice, I enjoy it, I enjoy the people that come through the food pantry and they appreciate the food we give to them. And the staff is wonderful - they treat everybody equal,” said volunteer of 11 years, Eilen Janksy, of Harvard.

 According to Casaletto, the number of clients has dropped since the summer.

 “So we’re hoping that means maybe people are going back to work. We’re down about 10 percent consistently across the summer. It’s picking up again a little bit right now,” said Casaletto, noting last fall the pantry saw between 210-220 families weekly.

 Before shopping, every client checks in with a familiar face belonging to eight-year volunteer, Shirley Spencer, of Leominster, who lived in Acton for over 50 years.

 “The more room, the better,” said Spencer. “All the volunteers are nice, they’re friendly. I like it. That’s why I come down from Leominster twice a week.”

 Over the summer , Acton food pantry relies heavily on donations from one of its major contributors, the GBFB. During the fall and holiday months, the pantry depends on community food drives and donations. Helping to boost the distribution process was the pantry’s recent purchase of a 16-foot 2011, 75,000-mileage Isuzu Npr Box Truck - donated through a $10,000 capacity grant awarded by the GBFB last July.

 “This is always good, this time of year when we can start restocking our shelves,” Casaletto. “Something we’re very proud of here - we’d like to keep this an open, welcoming, easy process so we don't discourage anybody that might be concerned about food. It’s best to remember the people that come here are apart of our community.”

 Follow Molly Loughman on Twitter @MLoughmanWL.