05/10/2021
We all know the feeling of dropping money in a collection box or sending an online donation and wondering, “how is this money going to be used?” “Is this really making a difference?” Whether you already contribute to your favorite non-profits, or are still discerning the best place to offer your monetary gifts, it’s important to know that your donations have an impact.
When making a donation to a food pantry, we usually do so with the intention of putting food on the tables of hungry families. However, food pantry contributions go much farther than that. Whether you already contribute to a food pantry, or are simply thinking about contributing, these are 5 unique ways your contribution can make a difference, above and beyond food assistance:
1) Information and Referrals
Information is an underprivileged person’s greatest asset. There are countless organizations in our community that provide assistance to struggling families and individuals, but these programs and services are useless if people don’t know about them. In many instances, food pantries are the first assistance agencies that a newly struggling family looks for. Families that come to our pantry often have no idea about the many other programs that are available to them. Pantries like Mater Christi act as hubs of information for the myriad assistance programs available to our guests, and provide referrals to these services. In this way, food pantries are not only a line of defense against hunger, but also a means to accessing further resources.
2) Proper Nutrition
Emergency food assistance is vital for improving the lives of underprivileged families, yet doing so with food that promotes a person’s health and well-being is just as essential. It is well known that poor nutrition can lead to chronic health problems or exacerbate present conditions. For a struggling family, financial troubles that lead to food insecurity can end up contributing to chronic disease. That means more medical bills for an already struggling family. This is a vicious cycle for food insecure individuals who don’t have access to healthy foods.
Mater Christi, as well as many other pantries in our region, are proud to offer our guests healthy food options such as fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, low-sodium foods, and allergy friendly options. However, providing these healthy options comes at a cost: maintenance of refrigeration and freezer equipment, higher utility bills, and increased costs for higher quality food. When you donate to a food pantry, you’re not just providing for a can of tuna or baked beans; you’re helping to promote the health and well-being of those we serve.
3) Food Access for the Homebound
For people with food insecurity, their struggle is sometimes compounded by lack of transportation. Many can’t afford a personal vehicle and don’t have access to public transportation. Others have physical limitations that prevent them from leaving their home. Food pantries like Mater Christi offer home delivery services to these homebound individuals, granting them access to food assistance they otherwise wouldn’t have. This service has been absolutely essential during the Covid-19 pandemic, so that we can continue to provide food assistance to vulnerable populations and those in quarantine. When you donate to a food pantry, you help to provide food access to the homebound, too.
4) Community Advocacy
Food pantries are not just a source of emergency food assistance, but also centers for advocacy and community education. Mater Christi is a member of The Food Pantries for the Capital District, a network of over 60 food pantries spanning 4 counties in the New York Capital Region. Working together, we strive to identify gaps in the community, assess the needs of particular cities and neighborhoods, and advocate for the changes needed to end hunger for good. Our ultimate goal is not just to feed the hungry, but also to end the mechanisms that lead to chronic food insecurity in the first place. When you make a donation to a food pantry, you are not only feeding a hungry person - you’re helping us get one step closer to ending hunger for good.
5) Hope and Human Dignity
When a guest arrives through the doors of a food pantry, they carry with them not only their reusable bags and photo IDs; they also bring their life story. For pantry-goers, this story is often filled with hardship, struggle, desperation, and even despair. Many times our guests express a feeling of shame or embarrassment when seeking food assistance - especially if it’s their first time needing help. Guests often feel like a burden, sometimes telling us that, “I used to donate to food pantries, but I never thought I’d need one.”
A food pantry’s first goal when someone walks through their door is to create a welcoming space that honors the person as they are, cultivating a culture of respect and welcome regardless of a person’s life circumstances. Many times, our guests share their stories with us unprompted. For a food pantry worker, it’s not uncommon to be packing bags of food one minute and acting as a compassionate listener the next, helping guests feel heard and understood as they share their stories with us. A food pantry is not only a source of emergency food assistance, but a source of compassion, community, and hope as well. When you make a donation to a food pantry, it’s not just food you're giving. You also give a bit of hope.
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This article was written by Victor Russak, the Food Pantry Coordinator for the Mater Christi Food Pantry in Albany, NY. To learn more about our food pantry, visit us on Facebook or Instagram.
If you’d like to make a monetary contribution to our pantry, you can do so online with the following link: https://materchristi.weshareonline.org/ws/opportunities/FoodPantry . You can also make checks payable to the Parish of Mater Christi, with “food pantry” in the memo line and send them to 40 Hopewell Street, Albany, NY 12208. If you prefer to donate food directly, you’ll find our donation bins at both entrances of our church.
The Parish of Mater Christi
Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
