The pantry’s policy is to never turn a person in need away, even if that means offering them a single can of food — every bit helps, says volunteer coordinator Jeanie Ruvolo, who has been at OLG since 2000.
“Whatever we have, we give them,” Ruvolo said.
In the past year, however, the pantry’s mission has been beset by an increasing demand for food assistance, which continues to outweigh its supply. Throughout the five boroughs, approximately 1.3 million people rely on soup kitchens and food pantries, according to Food Bank for New York City. And, with the nation’s unemployment rate surpassing 10 percent, it may come as little surprise that the number of New Yorkers experiencing difficulty affording food for themselves and their families has doubled to approximately 4 million since 2003.
OLG’s pantry boasts shelves and boxes of fruit, vegetables, juices and stuffing — donated both by the state and residents — in anticipation of this Saturday’s next food drive at the center. But what appears to be an abundant amount of food now can be depleted only after a few hours of operation. Ruvolo is assisting more single women then ever before, she said, an observation backed by statistics. In 2007, 42 percent of women had problems affording food — a 50 percent increase from 2002. Today, almost two-thirds of all New Yorkers who use food pantries are women.
OLG is also being visited by families and individuals from other communities and church affiliations.
“We get people from other parishes because they’re embarrassed to go to their own,” Ruvolo said. “But we never turn them away.”
The OLG food pantry is located at 158-10 101st St., Howard Beach. Distribution days are Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The pantry is in need of Thanksgiving items, including canned gravy. To find out how to donate food, please call (718) 845-6635.
|
|
