NEW BERLIN – In response to escalating number of individuals and families who struggle to make ends meet each month, one local organization is trying to ensure people in need will have food in their homes.
The New Berlin Housing and Preservation Company (NBHPC) has committed itself to helping people in need of food and other items since 2002 when it was accepted by Central New York Food Bank as a food pantry.
“We are here for those people who one week a month have to decide to either pay rent or buy food,” said pantry organizer Esther Doty.
The pantry is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to noon Friday. Individuals and families are asked to come in on a walk-in basis.
Partnering with nearby pantries, the NBHPC has been able to offer residents of surrounding villages assistance when other pantries may have shortages and vice versa. The pantry was originally designed to accommodate residents mainly from New Berlin and South New Berlin, but Doty says everyone is welcome to stop by.
“Residents come in from as far away as Smithville,” said Doty. Others come from Oxford, Norwich, Columbus, Pittsfield and other bordering towns and villages. “We will not turn anyone away,” said Doty.
Removing at least one expense occasionally from the list of bills low-income individuals and/or families have is what the organizers say their main goal has always been and what they continue to strive for year to year.
Providing funding to keep the program running is mostly based on grants state Doty. Grants from the Central NY Food Bank, Stewarts, United Way and Catholic Charities are the main contributors to the pantry.
Recently Fran Wilcox placed cans around local stores hoping to get donations in support of what the preservation company is doing. In as little as three weeks, the cans gathered over $85 in donations.
Donations are always welcome in the form of food, personal care items or money. Along with supplying food, information about area programming can also be gathered at the housing company during a visit. There is information about Social Services, Women’s Infants and Children or the WIC program, food stamps, child and housing assistance, information bout area of the aging, opportunities for Chenango and more.
Other food pantries in Chenango County include:
Afton/Nineveh/Harpursville
Monday, 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, 9 to 11 a.m. - Afton United Methodist Church, 34 Spring St., Afton.
Bainbridge
Monday and Thursday, 8 to 10 a.m. - Bainbridge Methodist Church, 27 N. Main St., Bainbridge.
Columbus
Wednesday 2 to 4 p.m. - Columbus Community Church, 4277 State Hwy 80, Columbus.
Earlville
Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Senior Center, Community Center, Fayette St., Earlville.
Greene
Wednesday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m; Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m, 1st & 3rd Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Berean Bible Church, Route 12, South Greene.
Guilford (All Welcome)
1st & 3rd Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday 9 to 11 a.m. - Methodist Church, 1495 Main St., Guilford 859-6822
McDonough/East Pharsalia/German
Call 647-5491 (June Aiken) - United Methodist & Episcopal Churches, 1 West St., McDonough.
