Reservoir Food Pantry Begins Its Second Year
We’re STILL here! And, we’re doing better than ever.
Monday was a landmark day at the pantry. Last Monday, we moved our tables and chairs away from the parking lot of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and set up in our new shed.
WE’RE IN AN ADORABLE RED SHED WHICH IS PERFECT FOR US. We’re all so excited about this step forward. Our address is the same. The clients are the same. The food is the same. The only thing that’s different is the building. We’re distributing food from the building. We’re now indoors.
We all loved being outdoors last summer and may return there this coming summer. However, it’ll be nice to be working indoors over the winter.
As I opened the door of the shed, my thoughts were filled with trepidation. I had no idea what was going to happen or how the shed would be received by volunteers and shoppers. There was also a real question about whether or not the place would even work or not.
Well, shame on me. I shouldn’t have bothered. The whole pantry shift went off without a hitch:
Everyone was able to find the pantry shed even though it’s totally hidden from the road.
We were all able to get into the shed in spite of the step up. The few shoppers with mobility issues had no problem at all.
I was worried that the food wouldn’t fit. Well, that was a waste of time. The shed totally absorbed our entire monthly shipment as if it was just nothing. We weren’t the least bit overfull.
Sponsors who brought produce to our pantry had absolutely no problem bringing it to the shed. We get food from Migliorelli, Bread Alone, Shandaken Gardens, and Huguenot Street Farm every week. Everyone found us.
And, finally, we didn’t get any complaints about the shed being too small. It’s not too small. It’s perfect!
I send a heartfelt message of gratitude to everyone who worked to make this shed a reality. Bonnie, Sean, and Prasida chose the building after searching “high and lo” for just the right one. The board supported our shed with a unanimous vote. The Town of Olive had no problem with our idea and gave us a permit with no delay.
The only thing we’re missing still is the electricity. But, that’s coming. We didn’t need it Monday but we’ll be needing it when it gets colder.
The Reservoir Food Pantry couldn’t be more perfect. Thank you everyone who has helped make this pantry possible.
Thank you for reading this blog/book.
Please refer this article to your preferred social media network.
Please send a comment.
Don’t forget to sign the mailing list.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
What? You’re STILL Here!
Can you believe it? We’re STILL here!
Reservoir Food Pantry celebrated its first anniversary yesterday with an open house at our pantry shed behind Robert’s Auction in Boiceville. Even with the wet weather, we had more guests than I ever imagined would come by! We celebrated our new shed and now will begin to distribute food from this place beginning Monday afternoon at 2:00.
On September 9, 2013, a band of four people who barely knew each other embarked on an adventure. By the time we had our open house, we had fed 2810 households composed of 1874 adults, 2315 seniors, and 747 children.
THAT SAYS IT ALL.
But, wait! Look at those numbers a bit. We fed more seniors than we did the adults and children combined.
OKAY NOW, THAT SAYS IT ALL.
The 501(c)3 application was a joint effort with Sean putting in about 95% of the work. This was a successful first project. We received our approval!
I guided us through the Food Bank process. We’ve been an agency for several months now and, on July 1, 2014, we became eligible for a HPNAP line of credit offering food for the growing number of hungry shoppers.
Prasida tracked the funds from the very beginning.
Bonnie became the writer for all our activities including taking meeting minutes and writing press releases.
Bonnie, Sean, and Prasida inspected every empty building along Route 28 in the Ashoken Reservoir area. Many were perfect for our needs except for the rent. We simply couldn’t afford what they asked.
FINALLY, TOWNSPEOPLE CAME TO OUR RESCUE:
John Parete is extremely generous with his restaurant. Most of the people on our homebound list are fed from stock kept in the “Bodega”. We have a freezer and refrigerator there also. And, (very importantly), no one minds if we bring in food throughout the week. John always greets us with a smile and is donating the space. The only flaw in this scenario was that we didn’t ask him sooner.
The Wastewater Treatment Plant people in tandem with the Olive Town Board is supportive. We drive up to the parking lot on Mondays as if we own the place. And, for the short time we’re there, we really do own the parking lot. It’s a squatter’s rights kind of thing.
Beecher Smith is generously sharing his property behind the Robert’s Auction so we can have our sheds. We simply cannot distribute food from the parking lot through freezing temperatures and snowfalls.
FRESH FOODS COME FROM FAR AND WIDE:
Bread Alone
Migliorelli Farm
Shandaken Gardens
Huguenot Street Farm
Food Bank of Northeastern New York
Prasida and Francine drive up to the Food Bank every Monday morning for food. We distribute this food as if we’re at the entrance to the Versailles. As far as I’m concerned, we are at the entrance to the Versailles.
Canned, dried, and boxed goods come from the Food Bank. Volunteers have food drives at the Boiceville IGA one Saturday every other month. Monthly food drives are held at the entrance to the Kingston Walmart. Members of the Wesleyan Church had a food drive for us at Christmas.
Esotec beverages is generous with periodic donations of juices and other beverages.
Food from the Food Bank is recycled. The produce, dairy, and bread given to us at Latham is all on its way to the landfill when it gets diverted and sent to the Food Bank, then on to pantries, shelters, half way houses. The canned goods are diverted at the grocery store from the landfill. Cans are dented. Many are outdated. Some have no labels anymore.
As more people find us, 2015 promises to be more eventful than 2014. Each week, people walk, ride bicycles, drive cars to get to our pantry. It’s time to focus on developing systems and procedures given to me by my superiors at the Food Bank.
Most people who shop at our pantry are Resource Poor. They routinely choose between food and rent, food and medical expenses, food and transportation. Resource poor are also food insecure. They lack, at times, enough food for an active, healthy life for the household members. Food insecurity comes in 2 categories:
Food Insecure
Very Low Food Security
When we talk very low food security, we know some have limited access to grocery stores. Their food comes from gas station food markets, and convenience stores. I’m not running down gas stations and convenience stores. But it’s hard to find food that really nourishes there. Vegetables and fruits are scarce. When they are available, they’re expensive. Salt, grease, and sugar are in abundance. Fat is cheap, available, and filling.
The area surrounding the Reservoir Food Pantry is just such a place. A person, for example, living in Shokan is miles from the Boiceville IGA. This trip becomes very challenging if there is no car or other means of transportation.
Lack of transportation in the area makes for a very strong take out department. Many shoppers are unable to get to us. We’re seeking volunteers to pack and deliver food to yet more homebound households.
Disaster preparation looms large in our area – whether we’re ready or not. We’re the strongest pantry in the Reservoir area and may be called upon in the event of a disaster. The aftermath of Hurricane Irene and Superstorm Sandy was difficult for this area. Many lost everything: home, job, car.
We are all grateful for the sponsorship of the Zen Mountain Monastery without which we would never have even gotten to first base. The ripple effect of this generosity is traveling far and wide through both space and time.
So…we’re still here. We hope to be here in the future. We plan to be here in the future.
Thank you for reading this blog/book.
Please refer this article to your preferred social media network.
Please send a comment.
Please sign up on the mailing list.
Peace and food for all.
Thurman Greco
Pea
We’re
A Labor Day Celebration at the Reservoir Food Pantry – and, an Open House on the 11th!
While many of us in the area are out celebrating summer’s last weekend, the volunteers at Reservoir Food Pantry are celebrating as well…but in a different way.
THE PANTRY OPENS AT 2 P.M. ON MONDAYS, HOLIDAY OR NOT. We celebrate a Monday holiday by offering food to hungry people who do not otherwise have the funds to get the food.
This particular week in September is always an expensive one because not only are our shoppers trying to buy food for upcoming school lunches, they are out scrounging for school supplies and school clothes for the children. It’ll soon be time for sweaters and coats.
Prasida drove to Latham Friday for the produce.
OTHER FRESH FOOD IS DONATED, AS ON EVERY OTHER WEEK, BY MIGLIORELLI FARM, BREAD ALONE BAKERY, SHANDAKEN GARDENS ABD HUGUENOT STREET FARM .
,Volunteers at the Reservoir Food Pantry usually serve about 50 families and households on Monday afternoons. They serve an equal number of homebound households on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Food for Tuesday’s deliveries to homebound and senior neighbors is packed on Mondays at the end of the pantry shift. Distribution continues on Tuesdays and Fridays.
We’re celebrating our first anniversary on September 11th between 4 and 7. Please come join us. See our new pantry. It’s in an adorable barn located behind Robert’s Auction in Boiceville at 4073 Route 28. As someone recently said “You’re STILL open!”
Yes, we’re STILL open!
JOIN IN THE FESTIVITIES!
The Reservoir Food Pantry is now accepting volunteers to deliver food to homebound households and seniors in the area. A route delivery person is needed in the Olivebridge area. If you are interested, please call 845-399-3967.
If you want to support the Reservoir Food Pantry but cannot volunteer, you are invited to send a donation to P.O.Box 245, Boiceville, NY, 12412. Please make the check out to Reservoir Food Pantry.
We thank you in advance for your support of the Reservoir Food Pantry.
Peace and food for all.
Please share this article on your preferred social network.
Leave a comment.
Don’t forget to join my mailing list.
Thurman Greco
.
