Covid-19 has changed a lot of things, but it hasn’t changed the mission of the Holliston Pantry Shelf, even though its task has become a lot more challenging.
“The day we decided to close the pantry, we got on the phone and called every single one of our clients and talked to them about the delivery model and asked them if they (were interested),” says Keely Krantz, Holliston Pantry Shelf President. That’s 222 families.
The first week, she says, 91 families accepted help through delivery, and as of the second week in April, “it’s gone up incredibly,” says Krantz, “to about 140 families we’re delivering to weekly.” Krantz adds that some of the delivery additions include newcomers to the food pantry, a number she anticipates will rise with so many out of work.
Typically, the Holliston Pantry Shelf operates with about 130 volunteers. Since March 16th, however, it has operated with a tiny skeleton crew including Krantz, Steve Bradford, Bob Nemet, Christine and Berto Costa, and Jane Gilfoy.
“We’re trying to keep the number of people inside the pantry to a bare minimum,” says Krantz. “Only three to four people are working inside the pantry, and we have somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 people (managed by Dave O’Neil) who have volunteered to deliver to our shoppers. We fill a bag, safely transfer the bags into vehicles with masked, gloved drivers (delivering) to the doorstep. After they leave, people can come out and retrieve their groceries.” The three pre-filled bags of groceries include essentials like milk, eggs, specials, cereal, pasta, tuna, canned and fresh produce. Volunteers Gena Rider and Karen Jewett keep track of those who need groceries and plan delivery routes.
Krantz gives a lot of credit to the crew.
“We had it operational that Monday morning. I turned off the news and said, we have to close immediately, and that afternoon, we delivered groceries to people,” she says. “It was a rapid response, and I am grateful to that internal team that made it happen.”
Krantz also wants to acknowledge “the incredible outpouring of support we’ve had from the community. Because of that outpouring, we are able to feed absolutely anyone who needs our help with groceries. Anyone who needs us – we’re here in the community, and we want to help.”
The Holliston Pantry Shelf uses its funds to purchase food from the Greater Boston Food Bank (70%), which provides a lot more food per dollar, and from Market Basket (30%). Krantz, who is in constant contact with the GBFB, says she is confident inventory will remain strong.
Families, so far, have been receptive and appreciative, says Krantz.
“One of the things I was apprehensive about was our model is to let shoppers select their own foods. I was really worried about how they would respond to fact that we had to pre-fill bags. Overwhelmingly they’ve just been so appreciative. They understand, and in some settings, there’ve been neighbors who share what they don’t use with other neighbors.”
Around Easter time, says Krantz. an anonymous donor teamed with Candy Cottage to add chocolate Easter Bunnies to each bag, and neighborhood children from Willowgate and Dalton Roads contributed 130 homemade cards.
“People just love that,” says Krantz. “We are finding that many of our neighbors are feeling isolated, fearful and anxious during this time. Many of our patrons live alone, and we were pleased we were able to make that happen again.
Donations of food can still be made to the Holliston Pantry Shelf, and with the growing need, are most appreciated, as are monetary donations.
“Guidance we’re getting from the GBFB is when we get outside food donations, we have to quarantine them for 24 hours before we unpack them, says Krantz, who says volunteers collect from those bins daily and then leave them to quarantine for 24 hours. The Holliston Pantry Shelf website, www.hollistonpantryshelf.org, lists the items the pantry needs most. At the time of this article’s writing, that included Tuna Fish (5 oz. cans), Campbell Chunky Soup, Progresso soups, canned peas, tomato soup, chicken noodle soup (10.75 oz. cans), juice boxes, and snacks
“It’s really helpful when people donate what we’re asking for, but anything anyone wants to give, as long as it’s unopened and unexpired, is gratefully accepted.”
Recently, Krantz adds, the New England Patriots donated 2,200 pounds of fresh produce to the Holliston food pantry, as well as milk, and Chris Keenen donated a large volume of paper products.
If you or someone you know from Holliston needs help with groceries at this time, simply email info@hollistonpantryshelf.org or call (508) 429-5392, M-F, between 10 – 1 p.m.