In this screen shot of an educational video released by Our Community Food Pantry, volunteers Deb Herath (left) and Kirk Sanders help a pantry client. They are two of many volunteers featured in the video which reaffirms the pantry’s mission.
Reminder Publishing screen capture
SOUTHWICK — With the need growing in town, Granville, and Tolland for food assistance, Our Community Food Pantry has released an educational video to explain its mission, needs, and reaffirm to the community it is a standalone organization that relies solely on the charity of those who want to make a difference for those who are less fortunate.
“We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing food insecurity in our three communities, but want to emphasize we are not affiliated with, and shouldn’t be confused with any other nonprofit in town,” said Sally Munson, who is the pantry’s director.
She said the pantry’s assistant director Meg Raggio and the many volunteers who give their time to give back to the community hear all too often that the towns of Southwick, Granville and Tolland provide financial support.
“That’s not the case,” Raggio said. “We operate independently from other charitable organizations in our communities.”
“That distinction allows donors and volunteers to understand the impact of their contributions which keeps us, and them, focused on our mission to reduce food insecurity,” Raggio added.
The video, which can be seen online at ourcommunityfoodpantry.org, highlights the daily impact of the pantry and introduces to the community a few of the dedicated volunteers who keep it running and allows them to share their reasons to help.
“I was a police officer for 40 years. And the reason I do it … it’s just me. It’s what I do,” said Kirk Sanders, who retired from the Southwick Police Department.
Volunteer Deb Herath talks about what drives her to volunteer.
“What I enjoy most are the clients. They are people that are having a rough patch and we’re here to help,” she said.
The video also offers a glimpse into what volunteers provide to the pantry, like picking up food from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, stocking the shelves, delivering it to those who don’t have a way to get to the pantry, and helping those clients who visit once a week.
“The people who use our services at the pantry are basically low-income to moderate-income families. We have seniors and single people. We make sure that when they come here, they’re served with dignity and respect. Nobody chooses to come to a pantry. You know, life happens, and so that’s what we’re here for … to help them,” Munson said in the video.
One of the goals of the video project was to “enhance community engagement” and “raise awareness about the ongoing need for donation, including monetary and in-kind contributions,” Raggio said.
The video was made possible by a grant from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and the generosity of Penfield Productions Ltd.
“We are deeply grateful to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts for believing in our mission and providing the financial support that made this project possible,” Munson said. “Their continued partnership ensures we can keep our shelves stocked and our doors open to anyone in need.”
She also offered a “heartfelt thanks” to Penfield Productions Ltd.
“Their willingness to collaborate with us was instrumental. Their team not only created a beautiful video but also went above and to capture the spirit of our community,” Munson said.
Right now, the pantry needs more volunteers to help as drivers, taking care of the trash, and inspecting expiration dates on food, Raggio said.
Munson wanted to remind the community that the cost of living continues to strain household budgets across the region.
“The Our Community Food Pantry remains a crucial safety net for many and thanks to community-minded partners like the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and Penfield Productions Ltd., our story — and its mission — can now reach even more people.”
For more information or to get involved, visit ourcommunityfoodpantry.org.
