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History of the Easton Food Pantry
Begun in 1978 as a project of the Easton Lions Club under the direction of Ken Wood (still the Director of the Food Pantry after 43 years), the Food Pantry has always operated from the Town Offices.
How Do You Feel Your Not-For-Profit Impacts Easton in A Positive Way?
The Food Pantry is a not-for-profit, staffed 100% by unpaid volunteers. Every week it distributes food to approximately 100 Easton families from its offices in the basement of the Town Hall. And on holidays or in emergencies like the pandemic, that number can go up to 150 or more. Volunteers play many roles including helping to organize food at the pantry, picking up food at drop-off points like Shaw’s and Roche Brothers, organizing food at the pantry, setting up food bags, helping in the Friday distributions, running food drives, and fundraising. Because of the many and diverse functions that must be filled in order to make its distributions, the Food Pantry welcomes new volunteers. People interested may call the Food Pantry at 508-230-0670.
What Programs/Support in Effect Now Are You Especially Proud Of?
The Food Pantry has established important partnerships with other organizations. Roche Brothers and Shaw’s accept donations of food at their Easton locations and hold it for pick up by Food Pantry trucks. And AmazonSmile enables shoppers to designate .5% of their purchases for the Food Pantry (more information about this can be found on the Food Pantry website).
What Would You Like to Address In The Future?
Over the years it has used trucks and trailers to expand its food storage capacity, as well as to make food pick-ups. This year’s Legacy Fund gift will contribute to the cost of a new refrigerated truck to replace one that the Food Pantry now rents at a cost of $400 per week. However, even with the trucks and trailers, the Food Pantry has outgrown the space available at the Town Hall. It is looking actively for a new location for 2022.