Any time, not just during food pantry hours, our neighbors can get a little food for a meal for their families. There are now three new mini-food pantries in Acton, including one at Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE) on Prospect Street in Acton (see map below). On June 28, Congregation Beth Elohim with the family of Mattias Lacroix, celebrated and dedicated this new mini-food pantry, part of a network that fills an important need for food security in the Acton area.
Mattias Lacroix of Littleton Troop 20 built and installed this unit as part of his Eagle Scout project, even before he knew where they were going to be installed. (As the CBE champion of the project Barbara Frank Michaelsen said at the dedication, “If you build them, they will come!”) At the dedication, Rabbi David spoke about the week’s Torah (Hebrew Bible) Portion, which recalled the story of the Israelites’ reconnaissance of the Promised Land, which “flows with milk and honey”. Rabbi David stated: “The Promised land, like the land we live in today, is a place of plenty. But God commands the people, “When you enter the land to which I am taking you and you eat of the bread of the land, you shall set some aside as a gift to the Lord.” The lesson, which Rabbi David contends is appropriate for today, is that even in a land of plenty, we must ensure that all have enough by setting aside some of our food for others.
The idea for this pantry came from a connection made at Mattias’ family church, South Acton Congregational Church, which installed a mini-food pantry a few years ago. Through family connections, word came to the Congregation Beth Elohim Social Action committee, called Na’aseh (Hebrew for “We Will Act”). For many years, CBE, like many other community organizations, has partnered with Mount Calvary Church and the Acton Food Pantry by providing meals to the community. CBE worked with Mattias to identify an accessible location on the property near Prospect Street. With assistance from his Boy Scout community and his family, Mattias installed the mini-food pantry in a few hours. On the same day, he installed a mini-food pantry at Cornerstone Church in Westford, and then a month later at the Town Offices in Littleton. He is presently finalizing arrangements to install his final food pantry.
The mini-food pantry stands on a four-by-four pressure-treated post securely pounded into the ground and surrounded by gravel. At about three to four feet high, it is easily accessible. It looks like a large birdhouse but has a shelf and a latched door with a window that allows a user to peer in and gauge the contents.
In June, to get the pantry off and running, Mattias held a food drive at Donelans. He gathered ten bags of non-perishable groceries to be stored at CBE. These include shelf stable foods in cans and boxes that don’t require a lot of preparation; items such as canned tuna or chicken, canned vegetables, cereals, pasta, instant oatmeal are acceptable. CBE now stores food and refills the pantry; various groups–such as religious school students or The Sisterhood–will be responsible for stocking the shelves on a monthly basis. Mattias feels that these mini-food pantries, in their small way, can help combat food insecurity and provide access to food when people need it. The Acton Food Pantry has referred people to the mini-food pantries because they are open 24/7.
In addition to CBE and South Acton Congregational Church, the West Acton Baptist Church also hosts a mini-food pantry. Brandon Crocker, on-site director at the Acton Food Pantry tells us that they serve over 300 households each week, and that food is flying off their shelves, destined for families in need. He says that these mini-food pantries will help them extend their reach beyond their brick-and-mortar walls into the community. For more information about the mini-food pantries in the area, visit the Acton Food Pantry’s website.
Matt Liebman is the Acton Exchange correspondent from Congregation Beth Elohim.