WESTWOOD—Residents and neighbors facing food insecurity can now “shop” for their groceries Parkside Community Church’s newly reorganized food pantry, allowing visitors to self-select the food and personal items needed for their families.
The free food pantry is open the fourth Tuesday of every month from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The next distribution is April 27.
Pantry coordinator Lisa Bontemps told Pascack Press last week, “We realized that giving people bags of random foods regardless of the family’s actual tastes or needs was a wasteful way to give out food, and we would often see some of the same items we gave out coming back to our donation bin the next week.”
She added, “All of us want to stock our kitchens with those things we know our families will actually eat. Why would that be any different for our guests?”
The guest response to this shopping experience at last month’s food pantry was extremely well received and appreciated, she said.
The Parkside Community Church food pantry will continue to offer canned and dry goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh and frozen meats and fish, dairy items, personal care items, cleaning supplies, diapers and more.
Parkside was the first church to partner with CONNEX4NPO, a Westwood-based non-profit that sources food donations from Trader Joe’s and other food distributors and remains an integral partner in addressing food insecurity in Westwood and surrounding communities
No proof of income or ID is required to shop at the pantry. The only information collected is names, addresses and phone numbers for record-keeping and compliance purposes. The pantry is free and open to all.
Covid-19 safety precautions are followed, and guests are asked to bring their own reusable bags if possible in order to minimize plastic waste. Westwood senior citizens unable to attend in person may request a delivery from the food pantry by calling partner organization Westwood for All Ages at (201) 834-4192 who will coordinate a convenient time for delivery from local volunteers.
In March, and running through May 25, the church partnered with Health Barn USA and the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, who through a state grant are providing 150 free hot meals prepared by Ridgewood restaurants every Tuesday from 5 to 6 p.m. on the church porch, on Park Avenue.
Homebound seniors may receive one of these meals also by contacting Westwood for All Ages
Donations of non-perishable food items, household supplies, or toiletries may be deposited at any time in the donation box on the church’s front porch. Most needed are personal care items, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, household cleaning products, infant supplies and paper goods. The church does not accept clothing, books, or furnishings, or foods requiring refrigeration.
For more information call (201) 666-8998.
