The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Pop-up pantry a community effort
WINSTED — The recent government shutdown put a lot of people on edge, including those who receive food assistance through the federal SNAP program. Communities around the country are organizing efforts to help in the event of another shutdown.
In Winsted, a pop-up food drive has been initiated by Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a social network group on Facebook overseen by Sarah Toomey, outreach case manager for Community Health & Wellness. The nonprofit organization provides medical care and social service assistance for people in need, regardless of their ability to pay.
“The pop-up food drive stems from Neighbors Helping Neighbors, and I do outreach in the community as part of my work with the wellness center,” Toomey said Monday. “People usually want to help; they just don’t know how.”
Since she announced the food drive, which will be held Feb. 24 in Winsted, many groups, individuals and businesses have stepped up to help.
Toomey said she realized there was an increased need for food while speaking with clients at the center.
“People are saying they are worried they won’t have enough food to feed their families,” she said. “If another government shutdown happens, those people who recently applied for food stamps haven’t gotten their benefits yet, and they are worried they won’t get them in time. I’ve been talking to a lot more people about how to apply.”
Winsted has some resources for families in need of food, Toomey said. “The Salvation Army gives out groceries twice a month, and the (Winsted) Methodist Church provides people with a bag of groceries once a month,” she said. “The Salvation Army has things that are more difficult to get, like milk and eggs ... but people are wondering what they’ll do the rest of the time. So if they need another resource, they can come to the pop-up.”
Winsted’s Open Door soup kitchen provides meals daily, but does not provide a regular supply of food to take home. “It’s not a regular place for groceries,” Toomey said.
She so far has 19 families signed up to receieve food at the pop-up
“That equals about 70 people so far,” Toomey said. “Some of those families have up to 6 people.
“There’s definitely a gap,” she said. “There are a lot of people who need help.”
Donations of nonperishable items including canned vegetables, pasta, tomato sauce, boxed potatoes, rice, peanut butter and jelly, canned meats, canned milk, canned fruit or individual fruit cups, gravy, sugar and cereal, as well as personal care items, can be dropped off at the Friends of Main Street office in Winsted, Northwest CT Realty, Studio 180, Community Health and Wellness in Torrington and Winsted, Liquid Nirvana smoothie bar in Avon, the Winsted Fire Department and Mad River Market in Winsted.
Perishable foods, including bread, eggs, meat and milk, also are needed, but can’t be accepted until the morning of the pop-up.
Those donations can be brought to the Prospect Street firehouse in Winsted from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Feb. 24.
Winsted Cub Scout Pack 1027 also is helping out at Stop & Shop, collecting donations with other volunteers. The boys also are making laundry detergent to hand out that day. At noon, all donations collected at Stop & Shop will be delivered to the Prospect Street firehouse in Winsted, where the pop-up runs from 1-3 p.m.
Black Helmet Brewing Co. at 12 Wallens Hill Road, Barkhamsted, is trading dog biscuits for nonperishable food items while supplies last. For the Love of Jack, a nonprofit animal welfare organization, is helping to provide food for animals if needed, Toomey said.
The food collection is a lot of work, Toomey said, and isn’t a permanent or ongoing effort. “It’s a short-term fix, but as the outreach case manager for Community Health and Wellness, I work with the community to address concerns, gaps in services and barriers to care. We will continue this mission and help our community get through these hard times.”
Anyone in need of food is asked to sign up before Feb. 24, by contacting Toomey at ffsarahe1@hotmail.com or 860-485-4361.
For information on Community Health & Wellness, visit chwctorr.org.