Salem Pantry Seeks Volunteers Amid Increased Food Insecurity Demand

SALEM, MA — An increase in services, programs and demand is leading to an increased need for volunteers with The Salem Pantry as it looks to provide for the food insecure of the North Shore.

The volunteers are needed to support operations with the pop-up pantries, home-delivery services, support programs, and the new The Market storefront location on Congress Street in Salem.

"We owe our ability to serve as many guests as we do to our amazing group of volunteers," Volunteer and Pantry Guest Coordinator Stefanie Gianquitto said. "In order to achieve our mission, we will need even more members of our community to join us as volunteers."

The Salem Pantry received more than 700 hours of support from 104 volunteers in June.

"With the launch of The Market, we are serving more pantry guests than ever before," said Gianquitto. "Growing our volunteer cohort will help to ensure that we can continue to provide food for all that need it."

Volunteer shifts are flexible, generally span two hours, and are available at various times, including nights and weekends.

The Salem Pantry said it serves more than 6,500 North Shore individuals per month amid a rise in food insecurity since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those interested in volunteering with The Salem Pantry are encouraged to visit here.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations.

Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)