Who We Are
The People’s Pantry was founded in 1999 in response to the need for increased access to healthy food for low-income residents of South Berkshire County.
Open to shoppers Mondays 4:00-6:00 PM and Thursdays, 10:00 AM - 1:00PM, the Pantry offers a wide selection of foods including shelf stable items such as pasta, rice, and cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, tuna fish and toiletries. Frozen meats and fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, breads, milk and cheese, are also available.
The People’s Pantry is open to all residents of South Berkshire County. There are no income guidelines and shoppers are welcome to visit once a week all year. Due to Coronavirus the Pantry has replaced its usual self-selection model of shopping with pre-packed bags of staples. Produce, meat, baked goods, and dairy products are selected by shoppers from outdoor tables.
The People’s Pantry is primarily run by volunteers from the community. These volunteers and many organizations and other individuals support the Pantry with food collections and financial donations.
The fresh foods come from local stores and farms and are delivered to the Pantry each week by Berkshire Bounty, as well as others. The Food Bank of Western Mass supplies shelf-stable and frozen foods. Community donations make up a substantial part of our inventory.
You can learn more about hunger in the United States visit Feeding America’s website.
What We Do
We know time is priceless, but volunteering can change the world.
We continue to need volunteers. You will be helping to provide shoppers with healthy produce and protein. Please come volunteer once and we know you’ll be back.
Please do not volunteer if you are in a COVID-19 high risk group or may have been exposed to someone who may be contagious.
Volunteering involves moving produce, meat in coolers, milk and pre-filled grocery bags outside onto tables under a shelter.
Masked volunteers will wear gloves provided by the pantry, and place items designated by shoppers into bags. Volunteers will assist with crowd control to help everyone to physically distance themselves. Volunteers are expected to dress for the weather as shifts are outdoors and last for 2 hours. We pack up all food at the end of each shift.
Volunteer shifts are Mondays from 3:30PM to 6:00PM, Thursdays from 8:30AM to 10:30AM and Thursdays 10:30AM to 1:00PM.
Details
| jschwartz3@bhs1.org | |
| Jenny Schwartz |
