Courage Trumps Coronavirus At Montclair Food Pantry

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Staff and volunteers at a Montclair food pantry are showing that courage can be stronger than fear as they continue to serve clients amid the coronavirus crisis.

Earlier this week, the Human Needs Food Pantry reopened at 9 Label Street for its walk-in clients, a big milestone in the nonprofit’s battle to serve as a shelter in the COVID-19 storm.

The food pantry – which also serves other nearby towns in Essex County – normally offers a hand up to wide range of financially struggling clients, including elderly, disabled, homebound, unemployed and underemployed people. But last month, the new coronavirus threw a monkey wrench into the pantry’s daily operations, forcing it to adapt.

Since then, the pantry has gone mobile, delivering food packages to people stuck at home. It’s been a much-needed boost for hundreds of people living on the edge, Executive Director Mike Bruno told Patch.

“While most people are fortunate enough to stay home with enough food and supplies to keep themselves safe, there are hundreds of people not so lucky,” Bruno said.

Bruno said the pantry has been delivering to about 230 homebound clients each week.

“None of the people who come here have the monetary resources needed to ‘stock up’ their homes with food and other items,” he said.

On Tuesday, the pantry reopened for its walk-in clients… albeit with some strict, new social distancing policies.

In the interest of “distributing food in the safest manner possible,” the pantry has moved its main operation indoors, so only staff members are inside the building. Outside, clients collect their food and other items at pop-up canopies, making sure to stay at least 6 feet apart.

The pantry’s hours remain the same – Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. – but due to the COVID-19 crisis, it won’t be open for Thursday evening distribution until further notice.

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As of Thursday, the pantry isn’t accepting food donations; it simply doesn’t have the people-power to sort and sanitize every item it gets, Bruno said. But people who want to help can make monetary donations via the pantry’s website, or send a check (learn more here).

“We’re purchasing a lot of food, and any amount would be helpful,” Bruno urged.

There’s also another big, coronavirus-related change at the pantry: it now offers clients face masks.

“We’re blessed to have a group of people who have made, sanitized and donated a large number of masks for them,” Bruno said. “We’ve given out quite a few to clients and volunteers.”

The pantry’s executive director offered a big shout-out to volunteers and staff, many whom overcame their own personal fears about the virus to safeguard neighbors in need.

“Although I give a lot of credit to all the volunteers and staff who are putting aside their fears and anxieties about the virus to come in and help, it is compassion that drives all of us,” Bruno said. “Our sole mission is to assist people in need, that’s what keeps us going.”

• See related article: Montclair Pantry Gets Mysterious Donation With Heartwarming Past
• See related article: Destroying Nike Gear? Donate It Instead, Montclair Food Pantry Says

The Human Needs Food Pantry isn’t the only group in Montclair that’s using food as a way to reach out to their neighbors.

Toni's Kitchen has been rallying endless shifts of volunteers to cook thousands of meals for its visitors, many of whom struggle with homelessness and financial distress. Adapting its tactics to practice safe social distancing, Toni's has been packing up meals to go, allowing its guests to stay fed, and virus-free.

The soup kitchen has also been packing thousands of food bags for local students and their families, as well as delivering groceries and prepared meals to hundreds of older residents in Montclair.

• See related article: Montclair Soup Kitchen Is Beacon Of Hope In Shadow Of Coronavirus

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