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ignity, respect, and healthy food for our Salem and North Shore neighbors. Recent data shows that one out of every three Massachusetts families struggles with food insecurity, and more than half of them turn to places like food pantries for help (Greater Boston Food Bank, 2023 Mass. Survey). These families are forced into making tough decisions, like choosing between having enough food or paying for their home, utilities, or medical care. Addressing this need for food security is at the core of The Salem Pantry’s mission: to work collaboratively to empower our diverse local and regional communities by ensuring the essential right to convenient and reliable access to healthy food. Pantries have been part of our foundation to address food insecurity and offer a sense of relief for families facing financial and other societal challenges. The conventional pantry model was built to provide families with emergency relief; however, the need has become increasingly more chronic for vulnerable members of our community. Additionally, the percentage of our community facing food insecurity continues to expand. In order to meet this rising need, The Salem Pantry takes a holistic and collaborative approach to providing food security. This includes building relationships with pantry guests, collaborating with Greater Boston Food Bank and local farm and wholesale partners. We also work creatively with institutional and non-profit organizations, advocating and partnering with our elected officials, and seeking ongoing support from our North Shore business community. A harsh reality of addressing food insecurity is that a considerable number of individuals in need of pantry services are reluctant to accept assistance. The stigma linked to seeking support, particularly from a food pantry, can directly affect someone’s sense of self-worth. Recognizing this, The Salem Pantry aims to create a pantry experience that is different from the conventional model. Our approach involves creating spaces that are respectful and inviting, where our guests feel dignified and
AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO NOURISHING THE COMMUNITY
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By Kia Fernandes
Salem Food Pantry
comfortable. This opens a new door for many food insecure families who have not previously accessed food pantry services and keeps the door open for those battling with the lingering need for food. At the heart of The Salem Pantry’s mission is the belief that everyone deserves high-quality food. Often, pantry services can remove a person’s control over what they can offer to their families. Through our partnerships with local farms and wholesale partners, we can provide food that is well-balanced but also tailored to our guests’ specific needs and culturally aligned to the community we serve. This includes a large selection of fresh produce, regularly available dairy and egg products, protein options and prepared meals. By forming strong relationships with our guests, we make sure their opinions are reflected in the food choices we offer. As more members of our community participate in The Salem Pantry’s programs, our focus on high-quality food ensures that every guest gets the most out of every visit. The Market, our first brick-and-mortar
location, opened in April and has redefined a visit to the food pantry. In addition to offering a dignified experience and high-quality food, The Market prioritizes meeting people in a way that best meets their needs. By extending our service hours to weekends and evenings, we provide more opportunities for food access to the 900 families who visit The Market each week. In addition to our brick-and-mortar space, we work with our many partners to reach more community members through our mobile pantry program. The mobile pantry program reaches into areas where pantry services are most needed and allows families to conveniently receive support, right near their homes. This long-running program has an exciting improvement this fall through the addition of The Truck. The Truck, a mobile pantry on wheels equipped with refrigerated storage and a market style design, will significantly enhance the efficiency of our food distribution and allow us to reach even more families. The Salem Pantry continues to transform our approach to providing food, adapting to changing times. Fostering strong relationships with our North Shore business community is vital to be able to provide innovative and better service to our residents. Supporting The Salem Pantry means helping to provide real solutions to a problem that continues to grow. For more information on The Salem Pantry and to learn how your business can join us to support food security throughout our region, visit www.thesalempantry.org. I
Kia Fernandes is the marketing and communications coordinator for The Salem Pantry. 52
IMPACT MAGAZINE