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Date: 7/30/2015
EAST LONGMEADOW – The Council Of Aging (COA) is seeking donations for its food pantry, which have reached a dire low.
The pantry serves more than 50 families within the community each month.
COA Director Carolyn Brennan told Reminder Publications people typically think that as the weather gets warmer there becomes less of a need for donated food items.
This couldn’t be further from the truth, she said. The worst months for the COA’s food pantry are April and the end of July. It’s an ongoing struggle during these months.
“They think for some reason that around the holidays is our worst time,” she added. “It’s actually one of our best times.”
There is also misconception that there aren’t families in need with the town, she noted.
Janice Michaels, the COA’s social service director, meets with families to find out what their challenges – most of which are financial,” Brennan, said.
“They get approved and they get registered,” she added.
Brennan said donations could be given to any individual with need regardless of age.
Brennan gave a tour of the pantry on July 27, which included at least a row of pasta, half a row of canned vegetables, a half dozen boxes of macaroni and cheese, more than a dozen boxes of cereal, eight rolls of toilet paper, and an assortment of other canned goods. A good portion of the panty consisted of empty space.
By the end of that week all the remaining supplies of the pantry would likely be depleted, she noted. Each family is allowed to take up to two full bags of groceries per month.
“We’re down to nothing,” she added. “These [shelves] are usually filled and we usually have a whole bunch of backup [supplies].”
Brennan said the pantry’s hygienic supplies such as toothpaste, shampoo, toothbrushes and paper towels are also nearly depleted.
The COA is seeking donations of tuna fish, personal care items, peanut butter, canned goods, pasta, vegetables as well as fruits.
Brennan noted that any donated items should be given to the pantry before expiration dates.
The pantry is operated on a volunteer basis, she said.
“They stock it, they check expiration dates, so it’s all run by volunteers, not the staff,” Brennan added.
Donations can be dropped off at the Pleasant View Senior Center at 328 N. Main St. between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.