By Anne White & Alicia Tang
Do you believe in miracles? asked Marek Zabriskie, Rector at Christ Church Greenwich in a blog post last year. He asked the question in reference to the new Neighbor to Neighbor building, now packed with food for those in need, which “went up in 72 hours.”
“As you drive by Christ Church,” he wrote last May, “you might do a double take because there is now a building on our campus that seemed to appear before our very eyes. The new Neighbor to Neighbor building went up in 72 hours. Respecting the best interests of our church and the surrounding neighborhoods, Neighbor to Neighbor chose to use modular construction which was the most cost efficient and would minimize disruption to our campus and neighborhood. The sections of the new structure were built off site, then transported and assembled on campus. The building is now being completed, inside and out.”
Whether or not the new Neighbor to Neighbor building would exist at all was a source of intense community debate under Zabriskie’s predecessor, Rev. Dr. Jim Lemler making the process of getting it built anything but fast.
In 2012, when Neighbor to Neighbor’s Board of Directors committed the initial funding for the facility, they were completely unaware of the obstacles and challenges to come. From legal battles and lawsuits to a global pandemic to inflation and supply chain delays, they remained steadfast and committed to ensuring Neighbor to Neighbor would have a facility, adequate in size and location, to best serve the community.
“It took 14 years and a ton of work and perseverance, but here we are with a handicap accessible, energy efficient, environmentally friendly building that we can all be proud of,” said Pamela Kelley, a member of the nonprofit’s board of directors, at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The initial plans passed P&Z in October of 2016. The ribbon cutting ceremony (pictured above) took place this past Tues. with opening events taking place Wed. and Thurs. as well.
Officially named The Food Pantry at The Cohen Center for Neighbor to Neighbor for The Cohen Foundation which donated $1.5 million to the project, opened its doors on Aug. 29.
Those who advance down the pathway now towards the newly opened Center on 248 E Putnam Avenue will leave with more than just groceries – they will find also an immutable sense of community.
The opening of the 6,400-square-foot building signifies a beginning of a new era for Neighbor to Neighbor, providing basic living essentials, including food, clothes, and toiletries. The facility not only features practical upgrades such as wider aisles and greater refrigerator space for its grocery section, but also is an ample enough space to offer Neighbor to Neighbor the permanence it needs to more effectively serve its clients.
The last few years have been a true journey for the organization, moving from the lower level of Christ Church to Arch Street Teen Center to North Greenwich Congregational Church to the Town’s Horseneck Facility. The final move to The Cohen Center for Neighbor to Neighbor is a reason to celebrate for everyone involved, especially those who visit on a weekly basis for their groceries.
The organization’s executive director, Margaret Goldberg emphasizes the importance of connecting with her clients, standing post at the front of the driveway to welcome visitors in to shop. Goldberg touches base with staff, clients, and community members on a daily basis–the organization regularly hosts meetings with partners and sponsors now in the Cohen Center to discuss progress.
Staff and volunteers are also stationed at every stage of the client’s shopping experience from the aisles to the check out. As for their sourcing, Neighbor to Neighbor partners with local grocery stores and farms as well as community members to stock the shelves, bringing out yet another element of community.
Goldberg believes the Cohen Center will establish a sort of permanence and perennial reliability for their clients who face food insecurity.
“It really was a dream to realize that we could have a better home and a place that we host our community,” Goldberg says of the organization’s new and permanent home. “The numbers [of those who sought out food relief] just increased so dramatically, and so quickly, due to the pandemic, and we sort of traveled through Greenwich over the last couple of years.”
The manifestation of this dream began with the generous financial donation from Steven and Alexandra Cohen. “They have been a wonderful spark of inspiration and confidence,” Goldberg says of the benefactors. “We’re very, very grateful.”
The organization makes it a priority to seek feedback via surveys and interactions with their clients, and have been actively working on implementing them. For one, because refrigeration can be smaller or unavailable to those who endure financial insecurity, the organization has been working on reducing their cartons of fresh milk and stocking shelf stable boxed milk. They are in the process of expanding the produce section so that families can take home more nutritionally substantial food items such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
Neighbor to Neighbor, which already provides home delivery to those who request it, is concurrently working on an online distribution and ordering system all in the name of making their services more accessible.
“We’re sort of easing into the facility, making sure that we’re meeting the needs of our clients, that we’re having the proper conversations.” After her clients explore the new facility, Goldberg asks: “What do you think of the shopping experience? Have we met your needs? Are there any things you would like to address with us? Are there any gaps in service?”
Her clients readily expressed satisfaction. “I’ve been receiving very big smiles, very positive responses and comments,” Goldberg says. “I believe that the community sees us as a trusted partner, that we’re willing to have conversation… conversation and communication create a good community.”The community will be invited to visit and tour The Cohen Center for Neighbor to Neighbor during Neighbor to Neighbor Day in October. To give food virtually, visit: https://amplify.ampyourgood.com/user/campaigns/4050 or visit https://www.ntngreenwich.org/ to learn more.
