November is always the busiest season for food banks and pantries. This year, local food services are especially swamped following the halt in SNAP food assistance for 42 million Americans due to the recently-resolved government shutdown. As a result, local food pantries are experiencing an exponential increase in reliance on their services.

To support the Corner Food Pantry at St. Mary’s Church in Lakeville, Ms. Kim Gnerre, associate director of the Edsel Ford Memorial Library, set up a collection box for food donations outside of the library. From November 7-14, community members donated non-perishable food items like dry pasta, canned goods, and cereal. Ultimately, multiple large boxes were donated to the Corner Food Pantry.

The Corner Food Pantry is open from 3:00-4:30 p.m. on Fridays and 9:00-10:00 a.m. on Saturdays and is one of several local services that provide food to those in need. In addition to donations, St. Luke’s Society supports the pantry by sending student volunteers to pack and distribute bags of food. It is common for the Corner Food Pantry to draw lines of more than 60 cars, so student volunteers are essential to the function of the pantry. St. Luke’s also collaborates with the Millerton Food Pantry at the Northeast Community Center, where student volunteers help out by stocking shelves and handing out food.