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02/21/2017 05:01 PMFood Pantry of North Branford (FPNB) board members are concerned some community members who could benefit from free supplemental weekly groceries may be staying away. Pantry Director Fran Murphy is doing her best to dispel some misconceptions which she feels may be playing a part.
"There's still some kind of misinformation out there," said Murphy. "When people come to sign up, some of them think they have to pay for food. A senior citizen will come in and say, 'I can't pay today.' But it's a free pantry to any resident of Northford and North Branford."
In addition to never charging a fee, FPNB also has no minimum income level requirements. Also, signing up for FPNB services will not reduce or otherwise impact any other benefits a customer may be receiving, such as SNAP assistance or services provided by the state Department of Social Services (DSS), said Murphy. SNAP dollars are received through the federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).
"This has nothing to do with SNAP benefits, or the DSS. This is a totally separate entity; and their personal information doesn't go anywhere," said Murphy.
Signing up for FPNB services is as simple as bringing in a driver's license, lease/rental agreement, or other form of information identifying the registrant as a town resident.
The only requirement FPNB makes is that, per the state of Connecticut, customers need to renew their registration annually. From that information, FPNB reports only the number of people served each month. That number helps FPNB continue to qualify to receive inventory at a greatly reduced rate, including meats, from Connecticut Food Bank.
Murphy said some other food pantries do require customers to be at or beneath a certain income threshold in order to receive free supplemental groceries, and that may be why some people in need might be under the impression that they won't qualify for FPNB services.
"Most towns do have some type of income guidelines, but we don't," said Murphy. "When Lynn Riordan (co-) founded the pantry, through her work with Matt's Mission she was finding this was a need for people, including the people that make $25 too much to receive (school) reduced lunches or make $50 too much for energy assistance. They're in that gray area. We're here to help them, too."
Riordan and Murphy both volunteer with FPNB as board members. Riordan is president of the board.
Non-profit FPNB operates three days a week out of the basement at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Northford. Murphy is one of the volunteers who is there to greet new and returning customers.
"I always say, we have seven stairs, and those are the hardest stairs to walk down," she said. "It's a humbling experience. And for people to think they have to pay, or they're going to lose their SNAP benefits... I don't want anyone to be hurting when they have to ask for help."
Murphy said community support for FPNB has been strong from the day the doors first opened in 2015. In addition to relying on generous donations of food and monetary contributions from community members, groups and organizations, FPNB also has local retail partnerships with Big Y and Ceccarelli Farm.
One hundred percent of all food and monetary donations received by the pantry helps town residents in need. Following a very busy and successful holiday season, right now, more contributions of food and monetary donations are needed, Murphy noted.
Murphy said FPNB is also blessed with a great group of dedicated volunteers who work hard to create a welcoming environment for clients. More volunteers are also welcome.
"Some of our volunteers also may be people have been through situations in their life where they can relate to what these families are going through," added Murphy. "That's why it is a very welcoming place. We are non-judgmental; we make people very comfortable. I can sit on that side of the desk because, at one point, I was sitting on the other side of the desk. The only time you should be looking down on someone is when you're giving them a hand up."
The Food Pantry of North Branford is located at 1382 Middletown Ave. (St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, basement level). The pantry is open three days per week: Wednesday 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Donations of food are also welcome during operating hours; or drop off non-perishables at FPNB collection baskets at Atwater Library, Edward Smith Library or Stanley T. Williams Community Center. Monetary donations may be mailed to the FPNB at P.O. Box 403, North Branford, CT 06471. Call (203) 208-2581 or visit their website here for more information.