New food pantry opens in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - With grocery prices rising and SNAP benefits under threat, Springfield’s Indian Orchard neighborhood has a brand new resource to help those dealing with food insecurity.

Vitaliy Sour is retired and loves off of social security while his wife works part time. Every week, he has to visit at least three pantries across Springfield just to feed his family.

“The prices are going up and sometimes when I go to the store, I have a choice: what should I pick up today and what should I pick up tomorrow?” he said.

On Monday, his circumstances changed. A new mutual aid food pantry opened right around the corner from his house. It was launched by the Indian Orchard Citizen’s Council and it’s next to Myrtle Street Park, stocked with canned goods, fruit, soup, and other essentials.

The council’s office manager Jackie Farrow says the program couldn’t wait as food insecurity in the area keeps growing. She also said the need is increasing as SNAP benefits face possible federal cuts.

“We run a senior brown bag program and just noticed families coming, younger and younger people, and that program is very restricted,” she said. “So we had to turn people away and I didn’t like the way that felt.”

Farrow applied for a grant from the Community Foundation of Western Mass. Not long ago, the citizen’s council got one for $10,000.

Local businesses and donors have filled the pantry to capacity. Farrow said the timing couldn’t be more critical with the holidays approaching.

“We’re going to be helping many families with their Thanksgiving and we have the resources to do it so it makes me feel great,” Farrow said.

Sour was the first to use the pantry, filling his bag item by item. All he could express to the council was gratitude.

“I know it’s not easy to do it, but you made it,” he said. “I’m so happy and so thankful.”

The Mutual Aid Food Pantry will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday this week and next week. A community poll will then be taken to determine which days are best to help the community.