On this week’s BrooklineHub In-Depth, Brookline Food Pantry executive director Elizabeth Boen discussed how her organization moved to its new location at the United Parish Church on 210 Harvard Street without skipping a beat. Thanks to the help of the Brookline Police Department, scores of volunteers, and a generous discount from Two Guys and a Truck for making the smooth transition.
The pandemic had a devasting impact on many Brookline families. Before COVID-19, the Brookline Food Pantry helped feed between 150 to 175 families weekly. Since the pandemic began, the number of families helped by the pantry has stayed steady at between 600 to 700 families per week.
Throughout this pandemic, the pantry has been undeterred and will not be deterred. “We have not closed down one day or even one shift throughout this pandemic, and we won’t,” Boen stated emphatically. “We will stay open every day and every shift for those who need to come to us.”
Boen also made sure to thank Brookline’s teens. Within weeks of the start of the pandemic, the Brookline Food Pantry lost more than 95% of its volunteers. Brookline’s teenagers filled the gap. “I must give a shoutout to the teens of Brookline,” Boen stated. “Without them, we would never have been able to stay open. They really saved the pantry.”
Please listen to Boen talk about the move to United Parish and how it managed the crisis of our lifetimes, and what we can all do to help the pantry and our neighbors in need. The Brookline Food Pantry’s survival is a moral imperative for our community.
The interview with Elizabeth Boen of the Brookline Food Pantry premieres on Brookline In-Depth on Monday, August 16.
“BrooklineHub In-Depth” is produced by BrooklineHub.com publisher R. Harvey Bravman and Danielle Myers, a producer from Bravman’s for-profit company, ADW Video Productions.
“BrooklineHub in-depth” can be seen on all Brookline Interactive Group cable channels and Brookline In-Depth’s YouTube page.
