After many months of planning and many people helping, the Cornerstone Food Cupboard on 3 Prospect Street was opened on September 10, 2016 with a ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration. Glenn and Jeanne Andrews led the work to design and organize the cupboard. A grant from the Hartford Foundation for Giving supported the establishment of the cupboard and provided for the conversion of a portion of the basement where one half has been occupied by the Cornerstone Clothing Bank, Etc. The grant also funded the purchase of shelving, several tables and the refrigeration units.
The Food Cupboard provides food assistance to any family/household that meets the eligibility requirements of The Emergency Food Assistance Program of the federal government. Much of the food for the cupboard comes from Foodshare, the food distribution center serving pantries and soup kitchens in Hartford and Tolland counties. Some of the Foodshare food is provided at no cost by the government and some of the food can be purchased at Foodshare at a very low cost. In addition, food and financial donations from individuals, civic organizations and churches provide significant support for the cupboard.
Produce and refrigerated items are received weekly from several area grocery stores. A team of volunteers picks up and processes these items. Price Chopper, Big Y Stores in Ellington, Tolland, and Stafford; and Walmart in Manchester all provide this important support for Cornerstone.
The Food Cupboard is staffed entirely by volunteers and is open on Tuesdays from 9:00 am to noon and on Saturdays from noon to 2:00 pm. Clients may shop once a week. For more information and to access applications forms, please visit the Cornerstone Website and go to the Food Cupboard page.
Please see the most needed food items list later in this newsletter. Thank you for your support of Cornerstone!
The Cornerstone Food Cupboard