Open Pantry is in demand and underfunded

Date: 12/3/2008

By Ayo Babatunde

Staff Intern



SPRINGFIELD The Open Pantry Community Services' Emergency Food Pantry (EFP), at 721 State St. is bustling with people. In EFP's large intake room on the second floor, families wait patiently to receive groceries, while the Pantry's small staff works to provide the much appreciated service.

According to the EFP's Program Director Candace Larger, the EFP has been consistently busy.

"We've seen a 17 percent increase since last year," Larger said.

All the activity at the EFP is a result of the serious reality that Open Pantry Community Services will face in the coming year. Executive Director Kevin J. Noonan said cuts to Open Pantry's operating budget, implemented earlier this year, have devastated the organization which is already starved for funds.

Open Pantry Community Services is a private, non-profit organization that receives most of its budget from state funds. The damaging cuts to Open Pantry's operating budget began with the closing of the Warming Place, the large shelter operated by Open Pantry. The Warming Place was closed in July 2007 because of demolition plans to its location at the former York Street jail. With the closure, the state contested continuing to pay for the Warming Place and cut more than $400,000 in funds to Open Pantry.

According to Noonan, Open Pantry has continued to keep its doors open at its own peril.

"We are operating now, and have been since April, on money that we borrowed from the bank and money that our employees have lent us," he said.

Noonan said the downturn of the economy has prompted an increase in the demand for Open Pantry's services.

"This economy is so difficult for everyone," he said. "Even though we have fewer resources and our ability to stay open is called into question, that hasn't stopped the people from lining up at our door...Project Bread [the Boston based anti-hunger association] estimates that almost 500,000 people in the state of Massachusetts are food insecure. This means that at some point in the month they don't have sufficient resources to put adequate food on the table...if this economy is really headed downward it is up to the government to step up and ensure that there is a safety net for organizations, like Open Pantry, doing what they can to feed people."

Open Pantry Community Services currently runs eight programs throughout the year. All of Open Pantry's programs aim to improve quality of life for people who are hungry, homeless, or disadvantaged. Open Pantry's largest program is the EFP. According to Noonan, in 2007 the EFP distributed enough groceries to feed over 27,500 people, half of whom were children.

Referring to the coming year, Noonan said, "We're operating on a shoestring...In one way this makes us a lot like the people we serve. We understand very much what families who are poor are going through because that's what we're going through. We've laid people off, we're down to a skeletal staff ...We're just grateful that we're still standing."

Regardless of what may happen in 2009, Noonan said volunteers and private donations have helped ensure that Open Pantry will function as normal during this holiday season. Big Y World Class Markets made a recent donation to encourage more environmentally friendly practices at Open Pantry by substituting over 600 plastic grocery bags with nylon re-usable bags. Big Y has also donated a loaf of bread and a bottle of water to each person using the services of the EFP.

For nearly 20 years, Open Pantry has hosted a traditional holiday meal for the community on Christmas Day. This year's Christmas meal will be served at the High School of Commerce, 415 State St.

"Volunteers are crucial to making our holiday meals a success and anyone wishing to volunteer will be most welcome," Noonan said, adding that contributions of dessert items are greatly appreciated. "Dessert makes the day that much more special." Contributions of desserts such as pies, cakes, cookies and fruit can be dropped off at the High School of Commerce starting at 9 a.m. on Christmas morning.

For more information on programs or how to get involved, visit www.openpantry.org or call 737-5537 for the Holiday Meals volunteer hotline. Financial donations may be sent to Open Pantry Community Services, Inc. P.O. Box 5127 Springfield, MA 01101-5127.