Published April 30, 2020
NORTH READING — The North Reading Food Pantry has had to cope with new challenges in this time of social distancing, coupled with a rapidly rising client population. To meet present needs while operating in this new climate, the Pantry has made some significant and creative changes.
Pantry co-chair and Christian Community Service (CCS) Director Ellen Wiklanski recently explained to Nancy Parsons how the Food Pantry is operating at its present location — the gymnasium at North Reading Town Hall, 235 North St. — and how they have adapted to best meet client needs and keep volunteers and clients safe.
Parsons and Wiklanski are both members of the 300th Committee of the Union Congregational Church (UCC). The church has entered into a partnership with CCS to convert an old house on its property into the new home of the Food Pantry.
CCS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all-volunteer organization and a special fundraising campaign, The HOME Fund, was launched by UCC during the 2019 Lenten season in anticipation of its 300th anniversary in 2020. Renovations to the building got underway during the start of the 2020 Lenten season. The ribbon cutting will take place later this year.
Nancy Parsons: Has the Food Pantry seen an uptick in clients since this virus situation began?
CCS Director Ellen Wiklanski: Well, it’s more than an uptick. It’s more like a groundswell. We got 17 new clients in the past three weeks, and I’m pretty sure we’ll get more as the weeks go by. As financial pressures increase, more and more people will be depending on the Pantry.
NP: So how many clients are you presently serving?
EW: Now we are seeing more than 40 clients each Monday. Before the crisis our average was seldom more than 30.
NP: Apart from a heavier client load, how has the present situation affected your operation?
EW: Our whole routine has changed. Like everyone else, we’ve had to figure out new ways to get the job done without directly interacting with our clients. Teresa Sanphy, the co-chair of the Pantry, has a logical mind, and she always has a positive outlook and a plan. She worked out a drive-up solution where the clients stay in their cars and their orders are carried out to them.
NP: How does that work?
EW: We have a new order form. Teresa was quite sure we needed to offer food choices to our clients rather than simply packing the same item for every family. And I have to credit my daughter Beth Adams with creating the Google form. We email the form on Friday afternoons after we get our delivery of dairy, produce and meat from the Greater Boston Food Bank, and we expect the form to be submitted by 6 p.m. on Saturday. A few kinks still need to be worked out, but without this option, meeting our clients’ needs could be very time-consuming, and we wouldn’t be able to give people the food choices they want.
NP: What happens after the food orders are received? Is that when the volunteers go to work?
EW: The short answer is yes. But right here I want to talk about our volunteers. Normally we have 16 volunteers on Pantry mornings and 11 in the evenings, but only four of those regular Monday morning volunteers are under the age of 60. Four! Everyone over 60 is excluded from direct Food Pantry work. But with the drive-through operation, we only need six people when the pantry is open.
NP: And you’ve you been able to recruit new volunteers?
EW: We’ve had new help, yes. But it’s crazy at every level. Some college students have come forward and also “In This Together 01864” volunteers have stepped up. So we have four volunteers, including college students, packing the orders on Sundays to be ready for the Monday opening. As clients drive up and identify themselves, the “regulars” and some other helpers pack up the items from the fridge and freezer and get the orders out to the cars.
NP: You must have clients who don’t have email and can’t use the online order form.
EW: Oh, yes. And we try to make arrangements for them too. Volunteers from ITT01864 are calling those clients who can’t do online ordering and they’re collecting order forms over the phone. Then other ITT01864 volunteers make deliveries to folks who, for one reason or another, can’t drive to the Pantry. The Senior Citizens van isn’t running during this time, so we already knew there were people who couldn’t get to the pantry themselves.
NP: It must be gratifying, as well as exhausting, to do the work you’re doing.
EW: Well, yes—both, but it’s our job. Simply that. And I’m glad we can get it done. But a downside is not being able to see our clients—and I miss seeing them! And it’s difficult to remember the names of new clients when we don’t have to opportunity to interact with them.
NP: And there will be more new clients coming.
EW: That’s true. But we will be able to provide for them. And don’t forget, our assistance goes beyond food challenges. We are also able to offer short-term financial help to pantry clients when there are specific emergency needs.
NP: How can someone who needs the Pantry get in touch with you?
EW: No one should be concerned about their ability to feed themselves or their family during this crisis, and the Food Pantry is available to any North Reading resident with these concerns. Call us at 978-276-0040. We will respond with some preliminary information and a shopping list so you can shop on the following Monday.
NP: Which leads us to another subject—donations.
EW: Absolutely. We are depending more than ever on donations of food and dollars. And fortunately we are seeing a generous increase in both, but more is always needed, especially now when we don’t know when this crisis will be behind us.
NP: And soon the Food Pantry will have a new home?
EW: It can’t come soon enough. The HOME Fund is continuing to grow and the building’s remodeling is moving along as fast as virus conditions are allowing. It will be a brilliant day when this health crisis is past and the doors of the new Food Pantry are thrown open.
Donations to the North Reading Food Pantry and The Home Fund can be sent to: CCS P.O. Box 626, North Reading, MA 01864 or through its website: nrfoodpantry.org. Also, PayPal is now available along with major credit cards.