Lorraine’s seeks donations to make goal of $35,000

Date: 12/12/2014

CHICOPEE – The photos on the website for Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen tell a story that is all too common.

Andrea Marion, the director of development for the Chicopee food pantry, explained to Reminder Publications the photo story of Victor (his last name was not used) illustrate challenges not only do people face, but also the funding issues that confront the emergency food pantry.

Marion said, “The moral of the story is that it could happen to anybody.”

The photo essay details how Victor, a legal immigrant, came to this country for a better life. He was accepted at Boston University and became a licensed drug and alcohol counselor. In 2012 he suffered from a series of strokes that have prevented him from working in his field. Evicted from his home, Victor and his ten-year-old daughter live in a hotel room and he has used the services of the food pantry.

The photo essay quotes Victor saying, “Lorraine’s saved me and my girl,” [They] treat everyone with respect and dignity. They made my situation better just by caring.”

The photo essay is “not only putting a face on [the people who use Lorraine’s] but is telling a story that is relatable to others,” Marion said.

Marion said the Community Development Block Grant funding for the food pantry has decreased over the last three years from $20,000 to $6,000.

“We really feel it [the decrease],” she said.

Marion added the food pantry has seen about 100 additional families come in for groceries to supplement what they are buying. Over the course of a year about 5,000 families use the services Lorraine’s offer, she added.

She stressed that people “come in only when they need to,” and the clients are not taking advantage of the system.

“It is hard for people to walk through that door,” Marion said.

The food pantry has set a goal of raising $35,000 through its annual appeal which is now on-going, Marion said.

Although donations of food items are welcomed, Marion said cash donation enable to buy food from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts at the rate of 19 cents per pounds – much less expensive than the cost of groceries purchased at retail.

Donations maybe made online at www.lorrainessoupkitchen.com or by dropping off a check or food items at 170 Pendexter Ave.