What does the Pantry Need?

One of the most asked questions that we get is “what do you need?” The short answer is pretty easy, but as you delve into the details, it gets complicated.

The easy answer is money. You hate to say it, but it is true.

We purchase about over $11,000 worth of food every month. This includes twice weekly deliveries of produce and twice monthly deliveries of pantry staples and frozen foods. We are able to purchase food at cheaper prices through our wholesalers and from our partner agency Good Shepherd Food Bank. By purchasing ourselves, our money goes a long way.

We  have to raise all of the funds to afford all of these purchases. In addition, we need to pay rent, utilities, payroll, and other expenses.

The more complicated answer.

We get a lot of pantry staples donated. Think, pasta, rice, tomatoes, beans, canned veggies, and soups. It is great to get these items and they do add a bit of variety to our shelves. But most months we are able to purchase these through Good Shepherd at a greatly discounted rate.

Generally, we are unable to purchase condiments, dressings, spices, jams and jellies, feminine products, and cleaning supplies. While these are not considered staples, they do help round out the pantries of our customers.

In short, we are always grateful for any in-date, shelf-stable food that is given to us. Rest assured, it helps more than you know. We are also grateful for any monetary donation you can afford to give us. It helps us keep our community fed, our staff paid a fair wage, and our lights on.

Yours,

Tom

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