‘There is a lot of work at the pantry’

MADISON HEIGHTS — What began as an experiment at the start of the pandemic has proven to have real staying power, as the Madison Heights Food Pantry continues to distribute food and other goods to those in need.

“I believe our community should have had a food pantry long before the pandemic,” said volunteer Kathleen Anderson, in an email. “Many of our seniors and single parents have lived in need for a long time.”

Anderson applied as a volunteer in April 2020, shortly after the pantry first opened in the utility building at Huffman Park. Today, the pantry operates out of borrowed space at Central Church, located at 1529 E. 12 Mile Road, where it relocated in January 2021.

The distribution day is typically the first and third Saturday of each month, 10:30 a.m. to noon, with adjustments to avoid holiday weekends. Clients are notified in advance of changes. Anyone in need is eligible for help, no questions asked — all are welcome to take home a box of food.

During distributions, recipients stay in their cars, filling out a simple form provided to them that indicates the needs of their household. Volunteers then place the boxes in the back of the vehicles.

Volunteers ask that recipients be patient during the process. Preregistration is not necessary, although during the holidays, there are special distributions only available for those who do.

For those who are homebound, the pantry also arranges home deliveries on the Tuesdays following regular distribution days.

Donations are picked up at bins around the city and span all types of nonperishable food, along with toiletry items, household cleaning products, pet food, adult diapers, baby diapers and sometimes baby food.

“There is a lot of work at the pantry,” Anderson said. “The food we receive is checked to make sure it is not expired. It is then sorted and shelved for future pantry days.”

The shift leads — one of which is Anderson — prepare the items for distribution. Some items are not donated to the pantry, but instead purchased with gift cards from the local Meijer, part of the store’s “Simply Give” program.

She said that even more work goes on behind the scenes, away from the pantry. One group of ladies purchases snack items and makes snack bags every few months. The pantry also arranges for deliveries from Metro Food Rescue, an organization that collects extra items from various stores.

“Our volunteers sort through vegetables and fruits to provide the best ones we can. This can take hours of work,” Anderson said.

The pantry also stays in regular contact with the local Costco and other stores to see if they have any items they can spare. Another frequent contributor has been Knickerbocker Bakery, also in Madison Heights, which has provided fresh bread, bagels and buns since the pantry began.

Kathy Trastevere is another volunteer with the pantry. She helps sort and clean produce on the day before distribution.

“We never really know what will be donated, so we do the best we can to sort, clean and package,” Trastevere said in an email. “When I see all of the needs in the world, I can relieve some stress by giving something. I cannot fix all of the problems of the world, but I can do a little, a little at a time. If we all do a little, it adds up a lot! Putting just six cans of soup in a collection bin gives me a moment of positive accomplishment in a world that sometimes seems out of control.”

Laurie Geralds, the pantry president, said the group is fortunate to have dedicated volunteers. She gave a shoutout to Anderson and Dianna Lutz, describing them as “two amazing volunteers … who work miracles to help with food security in thoughtful and caring ways,” keeping their humor while shopping, managing inventory and training others.

“The dedication and compassion of our volunteers is a blessing all the way around,” Geralds said in an email.

Roslyn Grafstein, the mayor of Madison Heights, praised the nonprofit for its hard work.

“While the city has no direct relationship with the Food Pantry, I am thrilled that in a time of darkness and uncertainty, what was then a group of random strangers came together for the sole purpose of providing our neighbors with food security. Over the last two years, across the city — and across socioeconomic lines, races, religions and ages — volunteers continue to come together to help,” Grafstein said in an email. “Most recently, they have been recruiting high school students to help on distribution days, which I appreciate. I think it is so important for our youth to have opportunities like this.”

For more information on how to give or receive food, call (586) 940-4990 to speak with a pantry representative. Find the Madison Heights Food Pantry on Facebook at facebook.com/madisonheightsfoodpantry. There is also an Amazon.com wish list with needed supplies, and volunteer opportunities.