Food shelf shows off new headquarters, thanks donors and volunteers

The public got a chance to see the new home for the Randolph Suffield Atwater Food Shelf on Sunday as the charity hosted an open house to thank volunteers and donors.

More: Ground breaks on new Randolph-Suffield-Atwater Food Shelf building

Diane Jones, one of the directors of the food shelf, said the new space, next to the Knights of Columbus Hall at 2697 Waterloo Road in Randolph, opened in February. The organization needed to find a new home after its previous site, on the campus of St. Joseph Church in Randolph, was slated for demolition. Gary Harrison and Joan Trautman are the other directors of the ministry.

"We were able to move into our new space thanks to our community," Jones said.

The organization, first formed in the 1970s by members of St. Joseph Church, serves 120 people each month from Randolph, Suffield and Atwater. People in need can be served only by appointment, which can be done by calling 2-1-1.

The food shelf is a "choice pantry," meaning that patrons are free to choose whether or not they want a particular food item. Meat, eggs, butter and milk are provided to families, as well as non-food items. The 30-by-60 foot space has refrigerators and freezers to store perishible items

"I love the food shelf," Jones said.

Jones said 25 to 30 families come to the food shelf each week, but because only 4 to 5 come each day, each client gets one-on-one time with the volunteers. Some, she said, are embarrassed to receive help. Many volunteers tell them that they also needed help at one time.

"We've had some families get back on their feet and come back and donate to us," she said. "Everybody has a hard time."

Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at dsmith@recordpub.com or 330-298-1139.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Food shelf shows off its new building in Randolph