Neighbor to Neighbor Receives $250K State Grant to Build New Facility

Neighbor to Neighbor, Greenwich’s food pantry that serves more than 600 local families, is poised to build a new facility on the Christ Church Greenwich campus thanks to a $250,000 state grant.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced that the agency will receive the grant through the state’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) that’s designed to assist with infrastructure improvement projects.

“The grant will be used toward construction of a new home for our food pantry and clothing room. Christ Church Greenwich has dedicated a parcel of land on their property for us to build a freestanding facility that will be 2 stories and approximately 6,000 square feet,” said Neighbor to Neighbor Executive Director Nancy Coughlin. “ The new building will provide many benefits to our clients, as well as volunteers and donors, particularly those dropping off clothing and housewares donations.”

The new building will be fully ADA compliant with street-level entrance and an elevator. “Our current space requires navigating cement stairs, which is a burden to clients, volunteers and donors, especially the elderly and clients shopping with small children. As an example, we pack and home-deliver food to approximately 30 families each week who are home-bound, which means those families cannot take advantage of our “client choice” pantry. The new building will be safer and more comfortable,” according to Coughlin.

The current location lacks storage space, and Coughlin said, the “new space will allow us to offer our clients a greater selection of items and accept off-season donations.”

The new facility also will allow for expansion of food offerings.

Coughlin said, “Our current basement location also lacks sufficient electricity to run large freezers and refrigerators, limiting our ability to offer more fresh alternatives to our clients and to purchase more efficiently. It lacks natural light and floods periodically. A new, light-filled facility will allow us fully to execute our mission to deliver services in a dignified and respectful manner.”

Coughlin added, “We are grateful that the First Selectman’s office recognized the value of this project to better serve the community and recommended this project for funding through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program. This $250,000 grant brings us that much closer to our goal to secure the space needed to continue providing nutritious food at no cost to 660 families and free clothing, linens and housewares to 2,600 individuals from our local community each year.”

This year, Neighbor to Neighbor is celebrating its 40th anniversary that includes an April 24 gala at The Milbrook Club.

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