We’re all feeling the financial crunch these days, but for those truly in need, the down-sloping economy can be downright dangerous. For years, institutions like the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center (PNC) have helped to support those less fortunate, but now even the largest food pantry in southeastern Connecticut is struggling. PNC Executive Director Vicki Anderson explained.
“It is a slow time of year for us as far as donations are concerned,” Anderson said. “People think of it primarily around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but there are other times that we are in need. And I think it’s also just the cost of everything going up, too, so some people might not be able to give as much or at all.”
Anderson noted that due to the state of the economy and the ever-
increasing cost of living, more and more families are in need, putting pressure on the pantry to supply more food. The PNC’s food pantry supports hundreds of families in the area, with the number increasing, and Anderson estimated that the pantry gives away at least 30 bags of groceries every day.
Items the PNC most needs are peanut butter, jelly, spam, canned ham and canned chicken, cereal, macaroni and cheese, pasta, baby cereal, and jarred baby food. Besides the PNC, there are various locations around town that food can be dropped off to help replenish the pantry, including Majestic Jewelers on Route 1 in Stonington, the Watermark Café in North Stonington, Bank Square Books in Mystic, Puritan and Genesta in Mystic, the Pawcatuck Post Office, Stop & Shop in Pawcatuck, and McQuade’s in Mystic.
Anderson emphasized that those without want should be thinking of those in the community that aren’t as fortunate.
“I think the line that the hunger task force came up with, ‘Feed your neighbor,’ really says it all,” Anderson said. “If you didn’t feed yourself, if we all fed our neighbor instead, then in that great circle, we’d all be fed. And I think we just have to be aware of feeding our neighbors and taking care of our neighbors more than ever, and if we did, it would all come back in a good way to all of us. It’s a very difficult financial time, and we all have to take care of each other.”
For more information about the PNC, visit www.the-pnc.org