With the rising cost of food, an increase in clients and a decrease in donations, the Arlington Food Pantry is in serious need of food and cash donations.
The pantry relies solely on community donations for distribution to the Town’s most vulnerable residents. This volunteer run group is overseen by the Arlington Department of Health and Human Services and each month, the pantry provides food to over 340 residents in over 150 Arlington families.
“We are seeing an average of 8 new residents per month and we anticipate that number to climb as residents continue to struggle with basic costs” said Warren Johnson, Food Pantry Volunteer Coordinator.
“The cost of food is increasing and we are seeing that donations are not able to keep up with rising costs,” says Christine Sharkey, Director of Health and Human Services. “We are reaching out to the community to organize food drives and send in cash donations” Sharkey continued.
Residents and community groups that would like to organize food drives are urged to do so. The Arlington Food Pantry collects non-perishable items such as cereal, canned fruits vegetables, pasta and sauce, soups, tuna, peanut butter and jelly as well as a number of personal needs items like soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper.
Residents may drop off food on Fridays between 1-3pm at the Food Pantry The Church of Our Savior, 21 Marathon Street (left side entrance)
Tax-deductible financial contributions can be sent to the Town of Arlington, 670R Mass Ave, Arlington, MA 02476.
The Arlington Council on Aging and Arlington Seniors Association will be collecting canned goods at Town Day this Saturday September 20, 2008. Their booth will be located at the corner of Academy & Mass. Ave. You can learn more about the Arlington Food Pantry online at arlingtonma.gov/foodpantry. or contact Leon Cantor at 781-316-3251 or email lcantor@town.arlington.ma.us.
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