HVCC Chief Makes A Desperate Plea For Food Pantry Donations

Hockanum Valley Community Council Chief Executive Officer David Engelson sounded very down on Friday. 

"We're almost out of food," he said of the HVCC regional food pantry. "Unless we get a lot of donations, we might not have enough food for next week."

He said he was not exaggerating - and it's a service that was handing out 3,500 to 4,000 food items a week last July and is now at the 6,000 mark.

"It's the worse I've ever seen it," he said, referring to his 12 years at the helm.

He then issued a desperate call for donations. Drop-offs are accepted at the pantry, located at 29 Naek Road in Vernon, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The pantry is closed on the Fourth of July. 

HVCC officials recently had to make a hard decision and cut down by two items what gets distributed to families each month. A family of two now gets 22 items, a family of three to four gets 27, a family of five to six 44 and a family of seven or more 54. 

Engelson said he may have to reduce that further or cut down on the visits each family cam make. 

He also said a "major donator" told him this week it is no longer supporting food pantries. Even when pressed, Engelson would not name the organization. 

Engelson said boxed non-perishables like pasta and macaroni and cheese are of particular need. Peanut butter is also in demand, he said. He added, though, he will take whatever he can get this week and through the summer. 

"It's terrible," he said. "This is very hard to even talk about."

The pantry can be reached at 860-872-7727.