At a time when low-income families nationwide are wondering when – or whether – they will receive their monthly food stamp allowance, the Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry is looking to expand the number of families it serves beyond Coconut Grove.
“We have always been 33133 exclusively (but) we get many, many emails from people who are not in that (Coconut Grove) zip code,” Debbie Dolson said this week. Dolson is a volunteer and outreach coordinator at the food pantry.
In the past, the pantry has referred families outside the Grove to other food banks. “But now, because of the need, we are relaxing that a little bit,” Dolson said.
That decision was driven in part by economics – 39% of all working families in Miami-Dade County are financially stressed, according to United Way Miami – but also because Coconut Grove has been so generous in supporting the pantry, Dolson said.
“To be honest, we have way more donations than requests,” she said. “There are so many generous people out there.”
Food donations have increased, Dolson said, because of the drama surrounding the federal government shutdown and the uncertainty over whether families in need would receive their monthly food assistance under SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). The approach of the holidays has also been a factor, Dolson said.
The Grove pantry currently provides bags of groceries to 225 families and individuals a week. The pantry delivers those groceries to 175 families, including many older residents. “I would say more than half are elderly,” Dolson said.
Another 40 to 50 families and individuals – including people who have no home address, who live in their cars or on the street – come to Christ Episcopal Church at 3475 William Avenue (the pink church) on Tuesdays to pick up groceries.
Anybody can request a bag of food, Dolson said.
“We really trust the people who tell us they need food,” she said.
The pantry and its partners, including Temple Judea, also serve a hot meal at the church at 6 p.m. on Monday nights to about 30 people.
The food pantry is housed at Christ Episcopal, but also partners with three other churches – Plymouth Congregational and St. Stephen’s Episcopal in Coconut Grove, and St. Philip’s Episcopal in Coral Gables – as well as the Kampong, which provides fresh produce in season.
The pantry accepts donations twice a week at Christ Episcopal, on Sunday and again on Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
For Thanksgiving this year, Dolson said St. Philip’s will be donating special bags with turkey breasts, canned hams and seasonal sides like stuffing mix and cranberry sauce. Those groceries will be distributed the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
To join the pantry’s distribution list for groceries, or to make a donation in support of the organization, visit Coconut Grove Crisis Food Panty’s website.
