Milford's pantry feeds masses with donations - News - Milford Daily ... - Milford Daily News

Milford's pantry feeds masses with donations - News - Milford Daily ... - Milford Daily News

By Christopher Gavin Daily News Staff

MILFORD - Those who pick up their monthly groceries at the Daily Bread Food Pantry should bring a car, according to John DeAngelo.

They can expect to leave with their arms, er, trunks full.

“We’ve got 18 freezers and refrigerators and they’re always filled with food,” the pantry’s president and co-founder said inside its Exchange Street location Sunday morning. “Always.”

After 26 years, the operation is still going strong. More than 150 volunteers hand out food to at least 300 families across Milford, Hopedale and Upton every month, DeAngelo said.

So much so, in fact, the group has had to turn away local students looking to lend a hand simply because not everyone helping out can fit in the building at one time, he said.

“I never have to ask for any (volunteers).”

The pantry runs solely on local donations, including the Daily News Charity Drive each year during the holiday season.

The pantry and the Salvation Army received approximately $12,000 in monetary donations last year through the initiative.

According to DeAngelo, everything the pantry - which does not have any paid personnel - receives is spent only on its food supply and operations.

“If anyone comes from anywhere, even from Mars, you’ll get food,” DeAngelo said. “We never turn any body away at the Daily Bread Food Pantry. That will never happen.”

Since DeAngelo and his wife, Cheryl, opened the pantry’s doors in 1991, the shelves have never been empty.

Its clients receive everything from meats and veggies to grains and desserts. Every Thanksgiving, families are given a turkey and at Christmas, a ham, he said.

For the last two years, the pantry has received a $5,000 grant from a local organization to purchase jackets for those seeking some extra warmth during the winter.

“There’s homeless kids in Milford...that’s the next thing we’re trying to tackle.”

According to DeAngelo, who said he receives God’s help in managing the pantry, the organization counts on three things: prayers, contributions and volunteers.

“We are only dependent on the generosity of people,” he said.

Donations may be made payable to the Daily Bread Food Pantry or The Salvation Army. One check per charity is preferred. Donations may be mailed or dropped off at The Milford Daily News Holiday Charity Drive, 197 Main St., Milford, MA 01757. Checks may be delivered to the office during normal business hours Monday through Friday.

Christopher Gavin can be reached at 508 634-7582 or cgavin@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @c_gavinMDN