PEMBROKE — As the government shutdown approaches a month, the town's food pantry, known as Firehouse Pantry because it operates from an old firehouse, is making sure that federal employees with no paychecks can put food on the table.
Those affected by the shutdown are invited to come to the pantry, 32 School St., Bryantville, every Wednesday between 2 and 4:30 p.m
Pembroke Town Clerk and pantry volunteer Peg Struzik posted the information to the pantry’s website Sunday night and received an immediate response about how extended hours would help families.
The pantry is normally open from noon to 2 p.m Tuesdays and from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays.
“We heard from a few asking if we would be open and this is why we decided to open an extra day for them,” pantry co-director Stacey Curtin said. “Until everything is straightened out in Washington, we will be open on Wednesdays for them.”
Curtin, Struzik's daughter, said she believes this is the reason the pantry is in town and “no questions will be asked.”
The only requirement is to show some form of identification that links their name to a federal paycheck. If the person visiting the pantry is a spouse or family member of a federal employee, that person needs to present a federal ID and something that connects them to a federal employee, Struzik said.
“What we aim for is to take that one burden away and ease the pain,” she said. “We’ve never done this specifically for a shutdown before. It doesn’t matter where you live, as long as you can provide some proof that you’re a federal employee. We are here for anyone who needs it.”
They plan to continue the effort for a period of time after the federal government is up-and-running to help families get back on their feet.
Struzik and Curtin credit the hard work of the volunteers at the pantry. Each Wednesday morning, volunteers drive to the docks in New Bedford to pick up food. Another set of volunteers spend Wednesday afternoon unloading the truck.
For more information call 339-933-8781 or visit pembroke-ma.gov/pembroke-food-pantry/pages/firehouse-pantry.
Reach Adam Silva at adsilva@wickedlocal.com.
