Ti Food Pantry sees record numbers in 2023

TICONDEROGA | At this time last year, the Ticonderoga Food Pantry, located on the basement level of the First United Methodist Church on Wicker Street, was already one busy organization, with an estimated over 2,000 people utilizing the pantry that year. Twelve months later, attendance is up by 30 percent. If that sounds like a lot, it's because it is; the demand for the Food Pantry is now at a record level for the last five years. "About 200 households have visited the pantry at least once so far in 2023, representing 566 people, including 194 children," revealed Food Pantry volunteer, Bill Quinn. "This includes single people, big families, and everyone in between. The people of Ticonderoga and Putnam do not have to go hungry if they are in need- this is especially important when it comes to children and the elderly." All that is required is a proof of residency, and an income verification once per year. This extreme uptick in patrons is suggestive of an economy in which even the middle class is beginning to feel the strain of inflation, grocery bills unrecognizable from what they were a few short years ago. That means for local families who were struggling when times were "better," their survival has become reliant on the Food Pantry more than ever before. "We want people to remember that we are here- here to help, and here to utilize," said Margaret Beuerlein. "Everything in the store has gone up so high from beginning to end, even interest on what you buy is high like vehicle interest, all of these factors are playing into it; inflation is just killing all of us." Beuerlein has been offering her time and energy at the food pantry for 24 years. In that time, she has seen a lot of sadness- and moments of happiness, too, of course- but it's the memories that gut your heart from the inside out that tend to stick with people. And over the course of two decades, a prominent sad occurrence is continuously finding people who are in desperate need of the food pantry, but for lack of awareness that it even exists, have been going without. "It's a much bigger problem than people realize," she said of the food insecurity that plagues not only Ticonderoga but the entire county. "We see a lot of people that are low on food and out of food and don't have other resources to get it. Many times, people don't like to admit they don't have food." According to Quinn, the Pantry makes sure people receive nutritious food for their family- people and families receive soups, vegetables, meats, fruits, bread, eggs, milk, and margarine, along with many other interesting choices of foods. All that is needed to take advantage of the pantry is a proof of residency and a yearly income qualification check. The Food Pantry is heavily reliant on donations. And by heavily, they mean primarily. The pantry received an annual grant of $2,300 per year- barely enough to cover one month's worth of orders. Even prices in the warehouse the Pantry orders from are up considerably and the yearly grant was not, coming in at a mere $8 higher than last year. To make matters worse, donations have fallen off sharply, and are greatly needed. "We had strong donations all winter long in 2022, but come summer it dropped off unbelievably low which is atypical," noted Beuerlein. "We have had to use our contingency funds, and we hate doing that because we need them for our safety net. All of these things are playing together, and times are hard. People tell us this all the time." But the Food Pantry and its volunteer staff are determined to persist; there's too much at stake not to. The Ticonderoga Walmart, thankfully, participates in the Feeding America program, and is one of the pantry's biggest donors. The program focuses on reducing food waste on farms, in food service, manufacturing, and retail, which greatly benefits the inventory of the food pantry. Food waste in the home contributes 39 percent (42 billion pounds), while commercial food waste is an even larger culprit, kicking in 61 percent (66 billion pounds) of all food waste. Thanks to guidelines Feeding America has put forth, the unnecessary commercial food waste is being counteracted, with the shelf life of canned items, as well as other types of packaged food, being extended. "Stewart's is also a fantastic donor," said Beuerlein. "We are extremely lucky and grateful to have both of them." Quinn said that the pantry is moving four tons of food per month. "Our orders come in 2,000 to 3,000 pounds per order," emphasized Beuerlein. "That's common." Essex County has a higher population (20 percent) than the national average of retired people and senior citizens. Beuerlein said that of the 30 percent increase, many of the people are indeed the elderly in need of food. "Someone whose neighbor has lost a spouse can become very depressed and quickly become a shut-in," Beuerlein explained. "It's wise to check in on them and make sure they are eating or have access to food." Beuerlein added that there are forms for the Food Pantry at the local senior housing complexes, and deliveries are made there for those who have no transportation. She added that it is a high priority for the more than 30 Food Pantry volunteers that every customer has an uplifting and positive experience every time they walk through the doors. "We don't want anyone to feel ashamed," she said. "We joke with people, we make them feel comfortable, like one big happy family. Bad things happen that you can't predict. Your refrigerator dies and you lose all your food and your freezer is gone, or somebody falls gravely ill and it wrecks a family's budget. Life happens and we all need help from time to time." To make a food donation to the Ticonderoga Food Pantry, please stop in on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. To make a monetary donation, please make checks payable to the Ticonderoga Food Pantry and send them to 1045 Wicker St., Ticonderoga, NY 12883. The food pantry is open to those in need of emergency relief Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. until noon. If you need a helping hand, please don't be a stranger.

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Ti Food Pantry sees record numbers in 2023

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