For families in need, food pantries are a crucial part of the local community.
Would you be surprised that the Berlin Food Pantry serves 24 families, or 96 people a month? Or that CARE Food Pantry, in Clinton, serves 55 families a week? Or that WHEAT serves between 720 to 800 people per month through its food pantry and hundreds more through the Community Cafe and other services?
Hunger and families struggling to put adequate food on the table are hidden problems in all communities.
There is a real problem with “the stigma of using a food pantry for a family in need," said Fran Gill, manager of the Berlin Food Pantry. "Cruel remarks and whispers by children and adults cause a lot of unnecessary pain and humiliation to already broken hearts.”
Volunteers all talked about needing compassion.
“Try to remember the folks less fortunate than you and your families," said Dean Patrick Driscoll, coordinator of St. Richard's Food Pantry, in Sterling. "Remember the times when you needed help. There but the grace of God go I."
Mary Eley, coordinator of the CARE Food Pantry agreed.
“It can happen to any one of us at any time that we need help to get by,” Eley said.
Jodi Breidel, director of WHEAT, which is a division of the United Way of Tri-County, said that while many of WHEAT's clients were unemployed or homeless, many other clients are disabled or underemployed. Many families have parents who work who simply don’t make enough money to make ends meet every month.
The need at food pantries is year-round. All the food pantry volunteers agree the influx of volunteers and donations over the winter holidays are important, but when asked about which months are most difficult for the food banks, all the seasons of the year were mentioned.
“We typically see an increase (of clients) in October once people receive their first oil bill,” said Kim McCarthy, president of the Wachusett Food Pantry.
Gill explained it was when “the holidays are over and people are paying their bills and forget others are still in need. In cold weather, limited budgets cannot afford heating oil or electricity, plus food and health care.”
They also all agreed it was difficult to meet clients’ needs in the summer due to school being out and no access to free breakfast and lunch programs, and less donations.
“While the holiday season always proves to be when people volunteer or donate the most, please remember that your friends, family and neighbors are struggling throughout the year and we need your help during those times as well,” Breidel said.
All the food pantry representatives said they were in need of basic packaged food like pasta, beans, cereal and soups. Many said a need often overlooked is “personal care items,” such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, dental care products, razors, toilet paper, and sanitary products. People don’t think to donate them. McCarthy added, “These items are not covered by food stamps or EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer).”
Dozens of your friends and neighbors volunteer to make sure these food banks have enough donations and run efficiently. Breidel said volunteers are what WHEAT needs the most.
“If I could ask the community for one thing, it would be to get involved at WHEAT in some way,” Breidel said.
“Having pantries available is a life line for many so keep donating and know you are making a huge difference,” Eley added.
All of the food pantry representatives said they are thankful for generosity of their local communities, and couldn’t continue the important work without the support of the communities in which they serve.
If you are in need of food assistance and/or holiday programs (which tend to require registration in advance):
WHEAT Community Cupboard and Cafe: http://ift.tt/2A79hgh
Serves: Residents of Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Lancaster and Sterling who are at or under the federal poverty guidelines
Location: 272 High St., Clinton
Hours: Client registration from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by appointment only after 1 p.m. Food Pantry is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays from 5 to 6 p.m.
Offers: Up to one week’s worth of groceries once per month (every 28 days), including fresh produce, fruit, and sometimes meat and fish; personal items; seasonal programs, include Tools for School, Feed a Family Thanksgiving Program, Hope for the Holidays toy program and many other programs through other interconnected WHEAT services
CARE Food Pantry: http://ift.tt/2hEhvpc
Serves: Clinton and all surrounding towns; no pre-registration or proof of residency, income or need required (CARE asks for first name and town)
Location: St. John’s Gym, 149 Chestnut St., Clinton
Hours: Every Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m.
Offers: food, sometimes personal items and diapers; Christmas and Easter dinners
Food Pantry of Saint Richard of Chichester Church: http://ift.tt/2A75lfz
Serves: Sterling and the surrounding areas (no specific residency or proof of income requirement; “anyone who needs or is short of food”)
Location: St Richard’s Church, 4 Bridge St., Sterling
Hours: Monday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Offers: Canned and pre-packaged food; Thanksgiving dinner
Berlin Food Pantry: http://ift.tt/2hEhwtg
Serves: Berlin residents only who qualify under federal financial guidelines
Location: On the first floor of the Berlin Town Office Building
Hours: Tuesdays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. by appointment only
Offers: Food including special dietary needs, baby food, diapers, Thanksgiving & Christmas dinners
Wachusett Food Pantry: wachusettfoodpantry.org
Serves:The Wachusett towns of Sterling, Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland; no proof of income required
Location: 50 Worcester Road, Sterling
Hours: Once a month distribution always held on the third Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. for families and the Friday before, from 9 to 11 a.m. for seniors 65 and older
Offers: Food including special dietary needs, personal care items, often diapers; Thanksgiving and winter holiday dinner
Bread of Life Ministry Pantry: http://ift.tt/2A63asA
Serves: Based in the Seventh-day Adventist community, but will serve anyone
Location: SDA Village Church, 75 Sawyer St., Lancaster
Hours: Every Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m.
Offers: Food (produce, frozen, packaged, canned)
Additionally, the Worcester Food Bank serves some contiguous towns in The Item region. Both the Worcester Food Bank and Acton Community Supper will serve gluten-free clients with a documented medical need from any town with gluten-free food from the Gluten Free Food Bank.
