Huntington Fire Department Deputy Director John McVeigh and Huntington Food Pantry Director Laura Gavioli are at the podium following a vote by the Huntington Fire Association to give $1,000 to the pantry.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
HUNTINGTON — At the start of a training on Nov. 13, Deputy Chief John McVeigh of the Huntington Fire Department called a special association meeting for a vote to support the Huntington Food Pantry with a gift of $1,000.
Present at the meeting was Laura Gavioli, food pantry director, who said there are increasing numbers of people coming every week, averaging around 80 people per day.
The Huntington Food Pantry, located in the basement floor of the Pioneer Valley Assembly of God at 63 Old Chester Road, is open on Thursdays from 9-11:30 a.m. and 2-4:30 p.m.
“It came to my attention, and I wanted to put it out in the chat to talk about it,” McVeigh said. “As a part of our bylaws, we are allowed to do this community outreach and help in any way we can. I know how I feel. We have it in our funds.”
During the discussion, several firefighters asked about holding a food drive for the Food Pantry.
Firefighter Alana Whitney said she had visited the Food Pantry that day on behalf of the association and another group that she partners with, and said she had visited pantres before.
“I fed my children out of them for many years. The pantry in Huntington is a really good pantry, with good supports in place,” Whitney said.
She said pantries often have staples such as rice, dried food and canned food, and Huntington also has a nice connection for fresh bread.
What all pantries need are fresh produce, coffee, tea, cooking oils, seasonings and spices.
“Things like coffee or tea make you feel cared for,” Whitney said.
She said at this pantry, people have choices if they’re available, and get to walk around choosing what they want, which is important to rehumanize the process.. “It’s kind of like a mini-store.”
Gavioli said the Food Pantry tries to bulk up on items not available through usual food sources.
After the firefighters voted unanimously to make a donation of $1,000 to the Food Pantry, they agreed that going forward, they would investigate doing a food drive.
Whitney suggested doing it during the dry times of year when food drives are not normally held, which Gavioli said is often in February or over the summer.
“Huntington residents have always supported us year after year, and we want to give back as much as we can to our community in their time of need,” said the post on the Huntington Fire Association Facebook page after the vote.
