In the space adjoining St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at the beginning of St. Paul Street in Brookline is a modest main room and kitchen that houses a robust food donation center: The Brookline Emergency Food Pantry.  I recently sat down with the Pantry manager, Jim Margolis, to get a sense of how the organization was faring in comparison to past years. When I broached the subject, Mr. Margolis nodded emphatically as he explained the Pantry’s current operations, signaling this was a significant issue.

It is no surprise, given the lingering economic climate, that more people currently rely upon the Pantry for foodstuffs. Additionally, Mr. Margolis noted that those who have come in the past are returning more often this year.

Pantry use

Recipients can shop from the Pantry every two weeks, with the average recipient visiting eight times per year. Mr. Margolis explained there were 20 visits per week up until 2002.  In 2009, that figure increased to 40 visits per week; and this year, visits are up by 65% to 80 weekly visits. In 2009, the total visits numbered roughly 2,650. In 2010, this amount increased by 700 and by 1000 so far this year.

Individuals may fill one shopping bag full of dry goods and families (two or more people) may fill two, Mr. Margolis noted, showing me the three large, floor-to-ceiling cabinets from they shop. In addition to the one or two bags, Pantry shoppers are entitled to a helping of dairy products and frozen foods as well as meats (including chicken and hot dogs) in the two freezers at the Pantry’s disposal. He also showed me a section of the main room where new deliveries of food donations were kept.

Though the Pantry exists for Brookline residents, he elaborated, no one in need is turned away. The first time non-residents visit, they can shop and are given the phone number of Project Bread (the Boston anti-hunger organization founded in 1975) or pantries near them to help fulfill their need.

To make use of the Pantry, shoppers can qualify in several ways, including residing in one of the 1,800 subsidized housing units in Brookline, enrollment in MassHealth or another government-funded program, or submission of a letter from an advocate written on his/her behalf.

The Food Pantry is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (as of two months ago) and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Meeting the need

Mr. Margolis commented that the Brookline community has been very generous over the years and that the Brookline Emergency Food Pantry was able to save a good deal of money between 2004 and 2009. This served them in good stead, as—in 2010—$30,000 was required to cover the shortfall between food donated and that which was required to feed those in need. This year, $70,000 was needed to cover the difference. Jim Margolis estimates an expenditure of $95,000 will be required next year.

According to Mr. Margolis, Pantry donors include civic organizations such as the Brookline Rotary, churches, synagogues; and fundraisers such as the annual Brookline High School Parents’ Night as well as Brookline Hub’s Feed Brookline Drive. Letters are also sent to former Pantry supporters, and plans are to expand the mailings to people who have never donated.

Helping out

The pantry is staffed entirely by volunteers.  Additional volunteers are always needed to help clients shop, to purchase food at grocery outlets when necessary, and to sort as well as stock food after large drives.

The Brookline Emergency Food Pantry, in short, is a critical safety net against hunger for a growing number of individuals and families in Brookline.  The volume of need as well as the cost of meeting it has risen steadily in an environment of ongoing financial hardship.  Support in the form of monetary and food donations, as well as volunteering, literally keeps hunger in Brookline at bay.

by Andrew Palmacci