Rising fuel prices are responsible for both an increase in clientele at the Loaves & Fishes food pantry at Devens, and a drop in donations of food and clothing that come from the community, board member and past president Judy Grande said in an interview Monday, Nov. 12.
Facing increased need as winter nears, Grande said she is somewhat relieved that the donation rate seems to be picking up with the approach of the holidays, but remains concerned that need will outstrip inventory.
While it is not unusual to have low stores over the summer months, she said, regular donation levels usually resume in September. This year that did not happen until mid-October, leaving the pantry vulnerable to turning clients away with unmet needs. Recent community food drives have been very helpful, Grande noted, including the delivery of 200 bags of groceries collected by the fourth grade at the elementary school.
One of the greatest concerns facing staff and board members at the pantry right now is the fact that even the Greater Boston Food Bank might not be able to cover any shortfalls, as they have in the past. Stephanie Nichols, public relations manager for the GBFB, said one of the major factors affecting food inventories is the notable increase in fuel prices, which has inflated the cost of food an average of 4.5 percent in recent months. “Food travels west to east,” she said, “And the increased cost of gas is directly related to the increased cost of food.” In addition, the GBFB has experienced a 30 percent decrease in the delivery of USDA commodities like cheese, and tighter inventory controls at supermarkets have resulted in less salvage food being available for pantry shelves.
Nichols sees continued challenges for food banks well into 2008, as the legislature recently approved a cut of one million dollars to the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program. That loss of funding translates to the loss of 820,000 meals a year, Nichols said.
Neither Nichols nor Grande wants to see a client have to make a choice between heat and food this winter, and both urge local communities to contribute food, time, or money. In addition, Grande said, Loaves & Fishes will be seeking help specifically for four special holiday events within the next month. The first is a distribution of food for Thanksgiving Monday, Nov. 19, for which donations of food and time are needed. The second event, “Shop for Your Parents” day, will take place Saturday, Dec. 8. Now in its seventh year, “Shop for your Parents” day served 250 children last year and allowed them to choose a special gift for a parent from a collection of donated items like gloves, hats, mittens, and books. In a similar vein, “Shop for Your Kids” day will be held at the pantry Thursday, Dec. 13. There is a strong need for donations for both events, Grande said, and lists of specific suggestions—most of which cost between $10 and $15—can be found on the Loaves & Fishes website, www.devenspantry.org, by clicking on the “most wanted lists.” Finally, there will be a special holiday food distribution Friday, Dec. 21. Donations of food, gifts, and wrapping paper and ribbon can be brought to the pantry during open hours, Grande said, or placed in the donation box at the post office. Civic or school organizations are always encouraged to hold food drives as well, and may contact Kathy Stamski at the food pantry to make arrangements to do so.
Grande said she was optimistic that local towns would continue a long tradition of pulling together for the holidays to feed everyone and keep them warm at home.
“We’re very grateful to the communities for all the support they give us,” she said.