Cleaned Out

Cleaned Out Food Pantry shelves bare as some take more than they need

+ click to enlarge News staff photo by Tara Vocino Susan Lajoie, left, elderly and family services coordinator with the Templeton Council on Aging and Food Pantry, and Dianna Morrison, Council on Aging director, stand by the sparse food shelves at the Templeton Food Pantry, which is in dire need of food and monetary donations this holiday season. Tara Vocino Reporter TEMPLETON  The Templeton Food Pantry, serving Templeton and Phil­lipston, is in dire need of food and monetary donations, especially with Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, due to some people who don’t need food assistance taking advantage of the system. According to Susan Lajoie, elderly and family services coordinator for the Council on Aging and Food Pantry, a select few are abusing the system and that has led some people to be hesitant about contributing. “Due to some distrust of the town, monetary donations are down,” Council on Aging Director Dianna Morrison said. “We originally started with the premise that the pantry would be for those in an urgent situation. However, a few families with children have tried to supplement their income as if it’s part of their monthly shopping. They depend upon food here, but they are perfectly capable of buying their own.” Ms. Morrison said the situation has reduced the food levels for seniors and adults who genuinely require food assistance. Effective Jan. 1, the senior center will implement income requirements to better control who uses the pantry. The Food Pantry is currently at 3 Elm St., but is about to move just down the road, into the basement of the senior center on Senior Drive. Ms. Morrison said that 36 seniors and 168 adults used the pantry last month. Fifty-eight were under 18, and 110 are adults. The Friends of the Tem­pleton Elders is a major fund­raising source along with churches, private donations and public donation boxes in town. According to Gail Noel, president of Friends of the Templeton Elders, the organization needs $1,700 to $1,900 per month to buy the necessary food to serve between 80 to 100 households monthly. “That’s not good news, as Friends has to go out and buy meats that people need for good nutrition,” Ms. Noel said. “And it’s not even cold weather.” Families can visit the pantry twice per week, Ms. Noel said. On average, 200 people use the pantry monthly, or 50 people weekly, Ms Morrison said. The pantry is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ms. Morrison estimated that out of Templeton’s population of about 8,000, 3,500 are seniors. Between Phillipston’s population of 1,600, 700 are seniors, she said. By law, the senior center as a municipal agency can’t raise funds. But some private and public donors have stepped up. “The town is very good about helping, but they can only do so much,” Ms. Lajoie said. “There aren’t a lot of businesses in town, but there are baskets at the post office, churches and Town Hall. People can make out a check to the Templeton Food Pantry or drop off food or cash at the senior center. The food pantry accepts canned goods (fruit, pasta, vegetables, soups), frozen hamburger, eggs, juice, hot dogs, cereal, pancake with syrup and beans. The Friends of Templeton Elders is making Thanksgiving baskets and are seeking turkeys, chickens, bananas, oranges, onions, apples and potatoes. Down the road, they will work with Toys for Tots and are seeking basketballs and hair products and makeup for Christmas gifts for youth ages 10 to 14.