By Lily Donegan
When one thinks of a food pantry they may imagine lengthy lines, prepackaged bags, and rows and rows of canned goods. While this model is certainly well intentioned, it frequently limits clients and does not take into account the need for each individual.
Picture this: A single mother who is depending on a food pantry to feed her family, is restricted to only what is picked out for her. No regard for dietary restrictions or allergies. Or another example: an elderly couple searching for nostalgic tastes that remind them of their home country that are often difficult or impossible to find in canned goods. Both of these circumstances go back to one thing: choice. The standard model of a food pantry features very minimal elements of choice. The new wave of client choice pantries features an abundance of power in choice. By putting this important factor back in the hands of our neighbors, we can better provide a sense of community and trust that goes beyond the pantry walls.
What does a client choice pantry look like? It’s a collaborative effort between staff, volunteers and clients. It transforms a passive experience into an active and dignified one. Neighbor to Neighbor took it a step further and designed the pantry to resemble a grocery store. Our pantry has designated sections such as fresh produce, frozen goods, dairy, meats, baked goods(breads/pastries), miscellaneous, and of course-nonperishables. The grocery store design is intended to invoke feelings of autonomy and understanding. Clients are encouraged to take their time and search the shelfs for what works for them. Our neighbors can read nutritional labels and ingredients to decipher whether or not the items fit their needs. They know exactly what they are going home with, taking the uncertainty out of the pantry experience.
There are little conveniences that can be implemented into a client choice pantry. A sight often unseen in a pantry is shopping carts. When our neighbors enter our facility they are met with the chance to shop with the help of a shopping cart. This small comfort goes a long way in putting our neighbors mind at ease and putting the control back in their hands. Shopping carts remind our clients that they will leave our facility with what they need and not what someone else thinks they need. Our clients are not rushed to get in and out of the pantry. Instead they are encouraged to browse and find what works for them. Once our clients are done shopping they head over to the checkout counter and are greeted by a volunteer who will help bag the groceries that they chose. The face to face interaction provides a sense of dignity and respect that our neighbors deserve.
There are other practical benefits to a client choice pantry as well. When clients choose the groceries they need, they are reducing food waste associated with the unwanted items that they may receive. The choices they make are intentional and deliberate. With prepackaged bags of food, there is always the chance that someone in need goes home with something they will not use or eat. Instead, with the power of choice, our clients can select items they know will support their households. Furthermore, a client choice model will allow food pantries to stretch their resources a bit further to help additional households in need. By providing the element of choice it can benefit our neighbors as well as the individuals who work hard to get food in the hands of those in need.
Neighbor to Neighbor takes great pride in being one of the only client choice pantries in Connecticut. This model has allowed us to better connect with our neighbors and further meet their needs. Each active choice is one step closer to ending hunger in our community.
Lily Donegan is the Communications/PR Coordinator at Neighbor to Neighbor.
