News

What's New at The Family Pantry of Cape Cod

January Newsletter

By Michael Provost @ Sunday, January 7, 2018

From the Director's Chair

The holidays are over and the Pantry is breathing a sigh of relief as we button up and return to the everyday job of providing food and clothing for those in need 365 days a year. Each year, during the holidays, we put our heads down and go to work and when we finally look up, we are awed by the generosity of those who support the Pantry and allow us to provide for those in need.

The Second Glance Thrift Shop had a banner year helping to provide the funds to cover the cost of our new goal of providing up to 30% fresh fruits and vegetables for our clients. The Pantry's clothing boutique gave out 30 tons of clothing to men, women and children; and the Pantry distributed over 75,000 bags of food in 2017. It is impossible to adequately express our gratitude for every contribution regardless of size.

Finally, thank you to all of the volunteers who show up everyday with a smile and our small, yet mighty staff who make this the best gig I have ever had. Happy New Year my friends, with all of you on the team, it is guaranteed to be a great one!!!!

Peace,

Christine

New Produce Case Installed

Wow, it looks just like Stop and Shop......

A brand new refrigerated produce case was installed at the Pantry in December. The case was donated by Cape Associates and helps the Pantry achieve the goal of providing at least 30% of all foods as fresh fruits and vegetables. Clients and volunteers were delighted to see the new case. The case makes it easier for clients to see the selection and to choose from a vast array of healthy fruits and vegetables.

Volunteer Highlights

The Annual Family Pantry Toy Day

The Pantry elves were very busy this year, preparing gifts for over 900 Pantry children. 80 volunteers make the annual toy day a reality for 600 families. The Pantry partners with Toys for Tots for many of the toys donated. In addition countless businesses, groups and individuals donated toys and food for the holiday season. We are always humbled by the generosity of the Cape community! (Pictured Janet Detlefsen, Mary Jo Rubin, KA Lamond, Jeanne Steiner, Kathy Kellogg and Judy Moser)

115 Bikes were donated to the Family Pantry for the annual Toy Day. Thank you to the Armbruster, Morong and Sitti families, and an anonymous family from Chatham for making the holidays wonderful for 115 Pantry children. Special thanks goes to the Dennis Cycle Center for finding, procuring and assembling the bikes and helmets this year. Matt Van Gelder and his team picked up the charge when Benny's department store closed in the fall and left the Pantry without a source for the bikes. Finally, Marc London and his group of "bike wranglers" worked quietly behind the scenes to get the bikes stored at the Harwich Community Center and then distributed during Toy Day.

Hundreds of toys await distribution during Toy Day

So Many to Thank..... Here are a few!

Cape Cod Chronicle's Helping Neighbors campaign launched for the 26th year and once again it was a huge success raising over $30,000 dollars for the Pantry. Thanks to Hank Hyora and the Chronicle team for helping the Pantry meet the food and clothing needs of the Cape community.

Nauset Disposal's "Curb Hunger Campaign" collected over 1,000 pounds of food for the Pantry. Spencer Duquette; Owner, Shawn DeLude, and Kara Boule Stand with the bins of food collected through the campaign. Shawn and team sponsored a curbside food drive throughout the month of November, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Homeless for the Holidays

Homeless for the Holidays, once again, supported the Pantry in a big way donating over 2,400 pounds of food and over $8,000 in cash and hundreds of toys. Cold and rainy weather did not deter the Harwich and Dennis Fire and Police Departments from camping out for the entire December 10th weekend.

Johnny Willis helped manage the food donation from the Homeless for the Holidays event. John's dad, Brad Willis of the Harwich Fire Department, helped to orchestrate the event.

Cape Cod Health Care and team donated over 600 gently used winter coats to the Pantry. CCHC has held this drive for years and the impact is immediate and so appreciated by Pantry clients.

The Dennis and Harwich Power Yoga of Cape Cod studios hosted two great fundraisers for the Family Pantry providing over 3,000 meals.

Volunteer Openings

There are immediate volunteer openings in the following areas. Please click the link below to submit your application to volunteer. Linda, the volunteer coordinator, will call you once she has received your application. She will set up a tour of the Pantry to discuss your interests.

Mobile Pantry: Wednesdays 8:00 am -10:30 am

Second Glance Thrift Shop: Thursday, Friday and Saturday various shifts

Clothing Boutique:

Thursday: 9:30 am-12:30 pm, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Saturday: 9:15 am - 12:00 noon

Click to Volunteer at The Family Pantry of Cape Cod