Updates on the Norwood Food Pantry

Exciting events heated up the Norwood Ecumenical Food Pantry this summer.
The organization opened its doors in 1989 at the Grace Episcopal Church, 150 Chapel St. Since then, volunteers have worked to service more than 2,500 families, and currently serve more than 350 families in Norwood and Westwood.
From the time of the organization’s inception, former Executive Director Ruth Taegar was a key component in ensuring the day-to-day operations at the pantry ran smoothly. Taegar recently retired from her position, and was honored for her efforts at the Norwood 4th of July parade this year where the theme was community spirit and volunteerism.
“Ruth dedicated nearly 30 years, and it’s taken many people to fill her shoes,” Norwood Food Pantry Chair of the Board Cindy Zafft said. “We are currently working to diffuse the work Ruth did among multiple volunteers.”
Two co-directors, Claudia Mackey and Nancy Maier, have been appointed to fill Taeger’s former position - a job Zafft described as both consuming and rewarding.
“It’s a very demanding job, which a lot of people may not realize,” Zafft said. “Over the phone, we collect information about individuals and their needs in their homes. However, there’s also the physical aspect of moving and delivering the food, and that can get pretty exhausting.”
The act of moving food means not only organizing within the pantry, but also delivering food to the clients who are unable to make it to the pantry during the pantry hours on Saturday mornings. These deliveries are made exclusively by volunteers.
“There are a number of opportunities here for anyone in the community looking to get involved,” Zafft said. “People think of helping clients on Saturdays, but there’s also stocking on Thursdays, and other jobs we can assign that match people’s skill sets and availability.”
Typical items that are in high-demand at the pantry include canned fruit, canned meat, dry milk and meat soups. There is also a constant need for dry cereal, which was addressed in a big way this summer.
“We were contacted by Fox 25 News before their ZipTrip to Norwood [in August]”, Zafft said. “We had a cereal drive where those attending were asked to bring a healthy box of cereal. We received more than 240 boxes.”
Volunteers at the food pantry encourage those who are in need of services, or who would like to donate their time, to reach out and get involved. For more information, please visit the Norwood Ecumenical Food Pantry’s website at www.norwoodpantry.org or call 781-291-FOOD (3663).