In Wayne, WIN Food Pantry Sees More Requests, Fewer Donations

WAYNE, NJ — The Wayne Interfaith Network Food Pantry, known throughout the area as WIN, has been aiding residents in supplementing their food supply for years.

Initially serving around 130 clients before the pandemic, the food pantry saw demand for aid jump to record highs of close to 170 clients during the summer as the coronavirus lingered. Now, WIN leadership said they're expecting to see another jump in need.

"We have probably seen about a 15 % increase in requests for food," said co-president Cathy Czar.

That number has fluctuated throughout the duration of the pandemic, she added.

"These numbers have increased at times and also decreased at times as various individuals went back to work, moved in with a friend or with an adult child, or moved out of Wayne to be closer to other family members," she said.

The pantry provides shelf-stable bags of wood for Wayne families in the area, supplemented by fresh vegetables during the spring and summer and, occasionally, some dairy products.

Donations from the WIN Community Houses of Worship and Service Organizations helped stock the pantry shelves, and monetary donations from that same network allowed the pantry to provide supermarket gift cards to residents to purchase necessities the pantry couldn't provide.

Co-president Barbara Cohen, along with Czar, believes the number could jump again, but they certainly don't expect the need for aid to lessen.

"Many of our clients have been food insecure for a long time and the pandemic made it worse," said Cohen. "Many others are so far behind in their other bills that our help with food frees them up to try and pay off their bills."

It's clear that the pandemic has altered life for families in Wayne, but the pantry hasn't been unaffected either.

WIN closed their pantry and the end of March due to concerns about the virus, moving operations to the township's YMCA building until that was also closed.

The pantry was reopened in September with a limited number of volunteers on-site at any one time, as a precaution to the virus.

Food bags are being packed again, but the pantry isn't receiving as many food donations. "We are however, still providing an enhanced amount of food market gift cards through the very generous monetary donations we receive," said Czar.

As the holiday season approaches, the pantry is again seeking donations, and recently got some help on that front.

"Two Wayne synagogues, Shomrei Torah and Temple Beth Tikvah, recently sponsored their annual High Holiday non-perishable food and basic necessities drives amid the restraints and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic," the pantry announced, in a recent news release.

"These essential annual drives are vital in helping to stock the WIN food pantry for the coming winter months."

Donations are, of course, being accepted from the community too.

Anyone wishing to donate non-perishable food may do so by appointment only at this time. For more information about WIN, and to see a list of what the pantry needs most, visit www.winfoodpantry.org.

If you'd like to donate specifically for Thanksgiving the pantry asks that checks or supermarket gift cards be sent to Wayne Interfaith Network, PO Box 3341, Wayne NJ 07474-3341.

This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know of a local organization that should be profiled, contact montana.samuels@patch.com