Food Pantry “Re-Opens” More Than A Year After The Flood

by Ann LoBue

(May 15, 2008) More than a year after 2007’s devastating floods, the Larchmont-Mamaroneck Hunger Task Force this week “re-opened” its Food Pantry in the newly renovated basement of the Community Action Program (CAP) Center at 134 Center Street in Mamaroneck.

Roger Weiss, left, Ken Silbergleit, right, and Stu Barish moved Food Pantry’s supplies into the newly renovated basement of the CAP Center. Photo by Carol Cauley

Volunteers were enthusiastic about their new quarters, which include a dedicated pantry storage room, a meeting room, additional storage, and a large open area for community use. The renovation also included new stairs connecting the basement to the building’s first floor entryway, new sheetrock and paint, and bright, new linoleum tile floors.

“Who would have believed something so good could emerge from a dire situation! Now, area residents have a more welcoming, accessible place to access CAP Center services,” said Sarah Duffy Edwards, who volunteers at Tuesday afternoon bag-packing sessions and is vice president and volunteer coordinator for the Food Pantry’s board.

“Our refurbished space is bright, well-lit and spacious and we are thrilled to move back in,” commented Carol Cauley, president of the Food Pantry. “We thank the CAP Center for use of these great new facilities.”

Food Pantry volunteers gathered in their refurbished space to celebrate coming “back home”. Front (l-r): Iraci DiBuono, Dawn Provencia, Robbin Weston, Ken Silbergleit, Carol Cauley; (second row) Jenny Geer, Rita Plansky, Abby Katz, Stu Barish; (back) Roger Weiss, Marc Rozansky, Betty Guerin, Bruce Meighan. Photo by Melinda Lehman.

The renovation work began in February of 2008. The entire basement level of the CAP Center was stripped to the studs. The heating system was replaced and new windows were installed.

A new refrigerator and freezer, sturdy metal wire shelving, and storage bins will soon be added to the pantry’s new storage room. The refrigerator and freezer will enable the organization to once again store perishable food rather than give it away to other agencies after each distribution. After the flood, the Food Pantry operated out of a play shed in the CAP Center’s yard without any way to store perishable food items.

The flood’s other unanticipated positive effects included the arrival of more volunteers and the generosity of local financial supporters, whose contributions resulted in a budget surplus for the year.

“Over the past year, what impressed me most was the adaptability, flexibility and resilience of the volunteers,” observed Stephen Bartell, a Steering Committee member and long-time volunteer. “We adjusted to the “shed” environment quickly and effectively. Everyone stepped in to help anyway they could. And, having new volunteers, like the several who’ve joined recently, re-charges all of us-- and the clients.”

The community’s generosity after the flood enabled the Food Pantry to add new items to its bags, such as sliced cheese, frozen meat or chicken, and a jar of jelly once a month. Bags for large families got a second box of cereal.

After the flood, from May to December 2007, the Food Pantry saw a 25% increase in the number of people served in its bi-weekly food distributions, and a 29% increase in the number of children. The average number of families served at each distribution in 2007 was 230.

On a darker note, in what may be a sign of the effects of rising food prices and the slowing economy, since early spring 2008 the average number of families served at each distribution has risen to 250.

The budget surplus of 2007 may not take the Food Pantry through 2008. “Given the dramatic rise in our client numbers on top of increased food prices, last year’s surplus may be spent much more quickly than planned,” said Ms. Cauley. “We are analyzing our first quarter food expenses to make whatever adjustments are necessary to get us through the year.”

“As we rely on local food drives to keep our costs down, we ask that anyone planning a food drive consider collecting some of the higher-priced items in our bags, including cold cereals, dry milk, peanut butter, mac and cheese and canned tuna,” she added.

Want to Help?

The Food Pantry distributes groceries twice a month on Tuesday nights between 7 and 8:30 pm and on Wednesday mornings between 9 and 11 am. Volunteers are welcomed on Tuesday mornings from 9:15 to 10:15 am to unload provisions from delivery trucks, late Tuesday afternoons from 5:30 to 6:30 pm to pack groceries, and on Wednesday mornings from 9 to 11 am to help carry groceries as clients are served. To volunteer for one of these shifts or to learn more about the pantry, you can call 698-3558 and leave a message. Calls are returned in one week.

Ann LoBue is a Food Pantry volunteer.

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