Tuesday brought a change of routine for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Greenville, as it opened up its doors to walk-ins.
Typically, the pantry had only been open on Thursday evenings, but as Director Kevin Little explained, it had a fresh crop of volunteers who had an open slot on Tuesday afternoons, and already had a heart for helping the food pantry.
Last week, the New Covenant Bible Church held its last open food pantry hours at its location in Greenville, only a fifth of a mile away. The church is moving to a new location in Lyndeborough, and at least for now, the food pantry will not be opening at the new location.
Little said for some people, visiting the pantry on Tuesday afternoons was part of their routine, and several of the volunteers that helped run that pantry were willing to join St. Vincent de Paul’s volunteer roster if they were willing to pick up the hours. On Tuesday afternoon, in the blistering heat, they gave it their first go, with Little saying that if it goes well and they see a need, it will become a second permanent walk-in time for the pantry.
Little said that of the approximately 14 families who attended the new pantry hours on Tuesday, about half were new faces that had not been to the St. Vincent de Paul pantry before.
“That’s the reason we chose this time,” Little said. “There were people already in the routine of coming for food on Tuesday afternoons. And Tuesdays were not a busy day for us.”
On the welcome table, available for people to pick up along with their regular grocery items, were leafy green plants – starters for cherry and full-size tomatoes and cucumbers. They were donated to the pantry by Amazing Flower Farm in New Ipswich to give out to residents who come to the pantry, to plant in their own gardens.
“They wanted to do their part to help the community,” said Little. “That’s what makes it all work, the community helping. It’s no one person; it’s the community that makes it work.”
Toni Bachand is one of the new volunteers for St. Vincent de Paul who moved over from regularly volunteering at the New Covenant Bible Church pantry. She has been volunteering there for two or three years, she said.
Bachand said Tuesdays are one of her days off from her regular work as a paramedic for the City of Nashua. She said in addition to serving in her work life, she wants to be involved in the community during her off hours.
“I knew there was an overflow from the [New Covenant Bible Church Pantry], and a need for volunteers, here,” Bachand said.
Little said there are many pieces that make the pantry work. In addition to donations and purchasing food from the New Hampshire Food Pantry, they also receive weekly donations from Lull Farm in Hollis and food from stores like Hannaford and Shaw’s through the state’s Fresh Rescue program.
Currently, he said any local farmers or backyard growers that have excess produce they would be willing to donate are welcome.
And the pantry receives more than just food, Little said. The pantry is doing some wiring work to support an upright, glass-door refrigerator, which will be used to store and display refrigerated foods for those coming to shop. The refrigerator has been donated by Mother Hubbard’s Ladle in New Ipswich.
“That’s an example of how the community helps us, one of many examples of how the community makes it work,” Little said.
Due to the July 4 holiday next week, the food pantry will not be open during its regular walk-in hours, either on Tuesday or its regular Thursday hours. Walk-in hours will resume the following week, with hours scheduled on Tuesday noon to 2 p.m. and Thursday 5 to 7 p.m., or by appointment. The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry is located at the back of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 19 High St. in Greenville. For an appointment outside of walk-in hours, or for emergency assistance, call 603-878-4177.
The pantry is seeking the following items: coffee, tea, sugar, ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressing and toilet paper.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.