It’s tough to keep the shelves fully stocked during the summer and early fall, but the need for supplies at the West Hartford Food Pantry is greater than ever.

By Ronni Newton

Supplies are low on the shelves of the West Hartford Food Pantry. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

The shelves of the West Hartford Food Pantry’s storeroom in Town Hall are nearly empty, and the non-profit organization is concerned about keeping up with demand at a time of year when donations are typically slow.

“It’s not unusual for the pantry to be low in September,” said Community Partnerships Manager Suzanne Oslander. Although people generally think of the holidays as a time when many rely on donated food, the summer and early fall are actually a tough time for the pantry.

“We go through more food than usual in the summer, and that surprises people. Many families rely on free and reduced lunch programs for the children in school, and in the summer there are more in need of food,” Oslander said. In addition, many organizations don’t think about having food drives during the summer, or they may be on hiatus during that time.

Bugbee Elementary School’s “Fill-a-Bus” drive last June, which resulted in a donation of approximately 4,000 non-perishable food items, was very helpful, Oslander said, but before the summer ended the pantry had to purchase additional supplies by using financial donations it had received.

This past August the Food Pantry gave out 450 bags of food to West Hartford residents – about 60 more than in August 2013, Oslander said, and July was up as well. For the past fiscal year, which ended on June 30, 2014, the Food Pantry gave out more than 5,000 bags of food, an increase of about 600 bags over the past fiscal year according to Oslander.

There are multiple reasons for the increase, Oslander said. Reduction in SNAP benefits and unemployment running out are factors, she said. “Also, food costs have gone up. If you’re living on a strict budget, it doesn’t go as far,” said Oslander. She said that these days it’s not unusual to add 25 to 30 new families per month, and in the past fiscal year a total of 730 households were given assistance.

The self-select Food Pantry is open on Wednesday mornings, and eligible residents can use it once a month. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

There are several ways that the Food Pantry provides for those in need, including distributing pre-packed bags of food, allowing families to “shop” in a designated area in the West Hartford Human Services Department on Wednesday mornings, and at the senior centers and the Hillcrest Heights Neighborhood Outreach Center. The West Hartford Food Pantry also partners with Foodshare, which distributes perishable items once a month at three different sites in town through the Mobile Foodshare program. Those numbers are up in West Hartford as well as on a regional basis, said Oslander.

The West Hartford Food Pantry has been reaching out to schools and faith organizations, and hopes that will spur the organizations to hold food drives to help re-stock the shelves. Oslander said that there are many ways that individuals can help as well.

“Non-perishable donations!” she said. Donations of unexpired food can be left in the lobby of Town Hall, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The products most needed includes boxes and bags of rice, baked beans, pasta, tuna, canned fruit, soups, cereals, and peanut butter. Oslander asks that donations be “regular-sized” rather than economy-sized since food is handed out by the bag and a greater variety of food will fit in the bag if it’s not oversized.

Items in glass containers are okay, she said, but please don’t donate expired food.

Anyone interested in organizing a food drive can contact the Food Pantry at 860-561-7561.

The Food Pantry also accepts finanial donations, and uses those funds to re-stock when supplies run low. To donate, make your check payable to “The Town That Cares Fund” (West Hartford’s umbrella organization that includes the Food Pantry) and send it to Department of Human and Leisure Services, Room 306, 50 South Main St., West Hartford, CT 06107, or donate by credit card through this link to the Town That Cares Fund on West Hartford’s website.

Most importantly, Oslander wants residents to know that the Food Pantry is there to help West Hartford residents. “It all goes to help people. If they are in need, call us, or come to Human Services.”