FAQ’s
Here are some answers to questions we’re commonly asked, but please contact us if you don’t find the answer you need!
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The People’s Pantry is open to all of our neighbors. There are no income guidelines and shoppers are welcome to visit once a week all year.
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The People’s Pantry is open to shoppers once weekly, on either Mondays 4:00 - 5:30PM or Thursdays 10:00AM - 12:30 PM
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The Pantry is closed on the following holidays:
New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July. Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
In addition, the Pantry is closed whenever the Berkshire Hills Regional School District declares a weather emergency. -
The Pantry provides our shoppers with fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen meats and fish, baked goods, milk and cheese. We also offer a wide selection of foods including shelf stable items such as pasta, rice, and cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, tuna fish and toiletries.
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Shoppers portions are guided by household size for some items, like meats, eggs and dairy are one unit per household. Canned goods and produce have quantity guidelines for shoppers to follow.
Shopping with Us
Donating Funds
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Yes! We are a registered 501(c)3
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Our Federal EIN is 04-3491750
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Our online payment system allows for you to make you gift recurring at checkout.
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Our online system allows for credit, debit & checking account withdrawals. You can find additional information for donating stocks, endowment gifts & legacy planning on our donations page.
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Yes! When you checkout, there are fields for you to tell us if your gift is a tribute or memorial to someone.
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Yes! When you checkout, there are fields for you to tell us to list your gift anonymously in our annual literature.
Donating Food
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Smaller donations of unexpired, shelf-stable goods can be dropped off in the black bins outside the Pantry.
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canned/dried beans, peanut butter/other nut butters, breakfast cereals including rolled oats, canned fruit/vegetables, canned soups, canned tuna/salmon/chicken, brown rice/quinoa/other grains, white and whole grain pasta, pasta sauce, white and whole grain flour,cornmeal, condiments, cooking oil, coffee, tea, toiletries such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste*
Fresh eggs and seasonal produce are also welcome if arrangements are made in advance.
If possible, low-salt, low-sugar foods are preferred.
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Condiments, spices, teas, and coffee may not be essentials but our shoppers always appreciate them since salt, pepper, mayo, ketchup, sugar, jams and salad dressings add a bit of “spice” to a basic diet.
Although the Pantry’s main concern is feeding people we also distribute personal hygiene products. Toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, deodorant, combs and brushes, shampoo and conditioner are all popular items. -
If you grow vegetables for your family why not plant an extra row for the Pantry? Every little bit helps to feed those in need. And, if your chickens are laying more eggs than you need bring the extras to the Pantry (we’ll even give you empty cartons for next time)! Whether you grow a lot or a little we’d love to receive your extra’s any Thursday morning between 10-1.
If you have large quantities of fresh items, please contact us!
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It's important that you schedule your drive with us in advance. You can find this and other important steps here.
Donating Time
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We are always looking for pantry volunteers and often in need of professional services as well.
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Volunteering at the pantry involves moving and unloading boxes of food, setting up tables, and assisting shoppers. At the end of the shopping hours, volunteers break down tables and remove compost, trash and recycling.
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Volunteer shifts are:
Mondays from 3:30PM - 5:30PM,
Thursdays from 8:30AM - 10:30AM, & 10:30AM - 12:30PM. -
If you would like to volunteer, please reach out to our volunteer coordinator here!
Policies
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It is the policy of The People’s Pantry to ensure equal employment opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and client services, without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic.
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We intend for this to be a space where all shoppers, volunteers, and staff are to be treated with kindness and respect at all times. Please be considerate and patient.
Harassing, threatening, and/or abusive language or gestures are not acceptable.
Those who are disruptive or unkind will be asked to leave. -
Visiting organizations support our vision “to create an environment, in collaboration with individuals and other organizations in our community, which supports the building of healthy lives for individuals and families”. Our goal is for everyone to feel safe and welcome at the pantry. We are a secular organization.
Visitors will familiarize themselves with our volunteer handbook and follow our Code of Conduct. They will be scheduled with the and notify her of who will be present. They will check in with the team leader on arrival and see how they can best be of assistance. They will assist in their own setup and takedown.
All literature that will be offered should be cleared by the team leader or director of operations prior to the visit. Literature should be both in Spanish and English. An effort should be made to send staff who are fluent in both English and Spanish. -
The People’s Pantry will not sell, share, or trade donors’ personal information with any other entity, nor send mailings to our donors on behalf of other organizations.