Though financial hardship is not commonly equated with the suburbs, thousands of residents from Natick and other Metrowest towns struggle to make ends meet and often have few options to provide for their families. A Place To Turn (APTT) food pantry, located at 99 Hartford St., offers access to food and clothing on an as-needed basis with a team of courteous volunteers to guide clients through the process.
Hidden Hunger in the Suburbs
About 70 percent of APTT’s client base lives in Natick and Framingham, and the remainder are mainly from Wellesley and Marlboro. Residents are referred through social services, health care, and schools and clergy. Around 350 families are assisted each month.
Clients come from many different circumstances. Because of the high cost of living in the suburbs, those who work low-wage jobs often find it hard to pay their bills. The unemployed, elders, veterans and other vulnerable demographics are also at-risk, and others simply find themselves in a difficult situation due to an unexpected adversity.
“We are certainly seeing increased demand at our food pantry,” Executive Director Joanne Barry said. “Our clients are people just like us, many one paycheck away from disaster. Hunger impacts many in the suburbs - it is just more invisible. We are here to help.”
Clients First
The husband and wife team who created APTT were among the first to address the problem of hunger in the Metrowest in the 1970s. “With outreach efforts, and through working out of their home, they found that there was great need and established A Place To Turn,” Barry said.
Today, APTT is a full-fledged nonprofit governed by a Board of Directors, with paid staff and more than 50 volunteers. What set them apart is their commitment to choice. “Our volunteers assist the family with the selection of food, focusing on items that are both nutritious and easy to prepare, while following guidelines based on family size and availability of items,” Barry explained.
This process helps clients make the selections that are right for them and their families, instead of worrying about what they may receive. “I like the ability to choose what I want,” one APTT client said. “I’m appreciative of every bit of help I can get, but other pantries hand you a bag of food that you may not like.”
Volunteer Impact
The individual residents, members of civic organizations and high school students who make up APTT’s volunteer base are vital in making sure clients’ needs are met. “Volunteers are the heart of our organization,” Barry said. “We rely on a caring community.”
A current client’s story brings the impact of their work into focus. Raising four children with their husband has always been a challenge for the couple, especially in caring for their eldest child, a cancer survivor with residual disabilities.
“I basically gave up my career to care for and advocate for my son,” the client explained. “This year we nearly lost my husband after a surgical procedure, and he missed about four months of work recovering.”
During this difficult period, APTT stepped in to provide assistance. “Because of the help we’ve received I don’t have to worry about feeding my children, and we always have healthy food for them,” the client said. “We haven’t had to stress so much about the basics because of people like you!”
Holiday Season Support
This month, over 100 Thanksgiving food baskets will be put together for distribution to the community. APTT welcomes non-perishable donations and diapers for their ongoing diaper drive. Fresh and refrigerated food is bought by the pantry through monetary donations from loctal schools, religious organizations, businesses and individual donors.
Donations can be dropped off at the pantry location during their open hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Community members can also support the pantry during the annual Natick Jingle Bell Run, which takes place on Sunday, Dec. 4 this year. Consider signing up to run the race, or sponsoring a runner to raise money for both APTT and the Natick Service Council. The funds will go directly to neighbors who need it most during the holidays.
To learn more about APTT, visit www.aplacetoturn-natick.org.
Issue Date:
November, 2016
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