In October 2013, Women Involved in Newtown (WIN) joined a special club: those who regularly provide items to FAITH Food Pantry. WIN members had long been encouraged to bring donations for the secular food pantry to meetings (the organization’s acronym stands for Food Assistance Immediate Temporary Help). During late summer/early autumn of 2013, WIN member Corey Kondas suggested the club set up an outreach project that would offer visitors to a popular location in the center of town the opportunity to also help the food pantry. By early October the new project was in place.

For 15 months, customers of Starbucks on Church Hill Road have found a small basket to the left of the cashier’s counter. Inside the basket is a sign with a list of suggested items that customers can leave for FAITH Food Pantry. Suggestions include cereal, juice, peanut butter, jelly, tuna, pasta, rice, coffee, tea, soup, macaroni and cheese, pancake mix, syrup, canned vegetables, tomatoes and fruit, as well as toiletry items.

Twice each week members of WIN stop in at Starbucks to collect the items and take them to St John’s Church, where the pantry is situated.

Ms Kondras said that in the 15 months since launch of The WIN-FFP Starbucks Project, customers of the Church Hill Road coffee shop have left “bags and bags of groceries donated by generous fellow Newtowners, as well as hundreds of baked goodies provided by Starbucks to supplement the weekly contributions.

“Most weeks it balances out,” she said. “When grocery items are low, there are more Starbucks baked items available at the end of the day, and vice versa.

“But there is always a need for more grocery donations,” she added.

Barbara Krell, who serves as treasurer for FAITH, has been picking up the Starbucks donations on Mondays.

“It has been a pleasure to work with WIN to promote the pantry,” she said. “FAITH Food Pantry exists because of the caring and giving nature of people in Newtown that have helped this organization to be as good as it is to help others.” 

Several members of WIN also volunteer at the food pantry, which is open for a few hours each Tuesday morning and Thursday evening.

“I think this helps our group make a real connection to those who benefit,” said Ms Kondras. One of the reasons she feels the project has been a success, she said, is the dedication of WIN members and food pantry volunteers, “who raise awareness for doing your part to help our your community,” she said.

Colette Ercole, the president of WIN, thought it was a fantastic idea when Ms Kondras first suggested it, she told The Newtown Bee in October 2013. She has been an ongoing supporter of the project as well.

“I pick up on the second Thursday of each month,” Ms Ercole said recently. “There are times when there isn’t much to pick up, but there are other times when both customers and Starbucks have been generous and there is a good amount to bring to the food pantry.”

Participating in both sides of the project allows Ms Ercole the opportunity to see some of the food pantry’s clients receive and appreciate items that have been delivered through the women’s group.

“They are always very thankful,” said Ms Ercole.

In addition to the donations from the public, Starbucks agreed last year to give FAITH unsold bakery goods. Items are put into an airtight container at the end of each business day, and those donations are also collected by WIN members a few times each week.

“Many times it brings a smile to their face when they are picking which Starbucks baked items they will be bringing home to enjoy themselves and share with their family members. Due to difficult times, these are items that they most likely wouldn’t be able to splurge on at this time, so this is a nice treat for many of them.”

Pat Marlin, a member of WIN and a regular FFP volunteer, agrees with Ms Colette’s thoughts on the items from Starbucks.

“They are a special treat for people who cannot afford the extra items, and you can see the delight that they bring to the clients,” she said.

Ms Kondras also praises the management of the local Starbucks.

“They have graciously opened their doors to the town as a convenient location for pantry donations,” she said. “Our community get it, and has responded.”

The Need Is There

FAITH Chairperson Lee Paulsen said last week the pantry can always use juice and toiletries especially.

“We’re OK on cereals,” she added. “Hot cereal we don’t need right now,” she added. “We can definitely use toiletries — shampoo, laundry detergent, deodorants, toothpaste, bar soap, all of that,” she said. “That’s all a big thing, and that saves us money.”

The food pantry uses cash donations to purchase food and toiletries at local supermarkets. Volunteer shoppers can also visit the Connecticut Food Bank, which stretches the money even further.

The one request Mrs Paulsen does have for anyone making a donation is to make sure food has not gone past its expiration date.

“Unfortunately that happens,” she said.

“Please check those dates before you drop off food,” she implored. “We throw out anything that is outdated.”

FAITH has been helping residents put food on their tables, and providing basic toiletry items, for more than 30 years. Volunteers plan for three meals per day per family member. Those who need help from the pantry can visit once each month.

The need is there, Mrs Paulsen said this week.

“Unfortunately, we are getting new people all the time,” she said, “and this is in addition to familiar faces.”

Volunteers are seeing more people in their 50s, she said, “people who are losing hours at work and need our help.”

The number of families with children who reach out to FAITH also continues to increase, said Mrs Paulsen, “and that’s heart wrenching. But that’s what we’re there for.”

In 2013, Mrs Paulsen said, FAITH provided food to 1,122 families, representing 2,645 individual clients. The pantry provided 55,545 meals.

Last year, all three of those numbers increased: 1,376 families, 3,201 clients, and 67,221 meals.

Mrs Paulsen says all that she and other volunteers ask for when people visit the food pantry are two items that prove they are residents of town. Proof of local residency includes an ID with an address, a piece of recent mail, a rent receipt, or car registration.

“Two forms of ID that prove you live in Newtown or Sandy Hook is all someone needs,” said Mrs Paulsen. “There are no other requirements. The food given by people in Newtown, for Newtown.”

Mrs Paulsen is pleased with the additional help from WIN.

“I like how the WIN women have been involved, helping to bring the donations to us,” she said last Thursday morning, hours before the pantry would be opening for its weekly night-time session. “That’s a good thing. The food that we get in the basket is terrific. Any food we get we appreciate.”