Doorways food pantry re-opens to inside shopping

The volunteers and clients of Doorways Food Pantry were excited when the pantry recently reopened to in-person shopping for the first time since March of 2020. “It’s so much nicer for the clients to be able to pick and choose their groceries’ said Diane Fox of Doorways. “Unlike the prepackaged bags of groceries, clients can choose the kind of soup they like, the vegetables and fruit that they prefer, even what sort of cereal will end up on the breakfast table. It’s been long-anticipated by our shoppers.”

Mrs. Fox went on to note that in-person shopping conserves the pantry’s food supply, because most clients actually take less food than is loaded into the prepackaged bags. “The pre-packs are basically a case of loading “two of everything” into the bags, and when clients shop they are more selective and take less food, but it’s the food they enjoy. It’s a much better situation.”

For the safety of our volunteers, clients must be vaccinated to be eligible to shop inside, and both clients and volunteers are masked. Non-vaccinated clients are still eligible to receive food from the contactless curbside operation that has been in effect for over a year. “No one will be denied food because of their vaccination status” said Gerry McCabe of Doorways. “We will continue to offer prepacks for those who are reluctant to come inside, or who are unvaccinated. Our drive-through food distribution will continue as long as necessary.”

Doorways is still hampered by a restricted ordering capacity from the Boston Food Bank which is limiting their food supply, and have continued to distribute prepaid grocery cards on weeks when they do not distribute food. “There’s a limit to that, obviously” said McCabe. “We hope to resume weekly food shopping in the near future. In the meantime, we are starting to slowly reassemble our volunteer base which was disrupted by the virus. It is a slow process.” People wishing to volunteer with Doorways should contact Doorwaysfoodpantry@gmail.com  or telephone 774-282-1220 and leave a message.

Food donations are gratefully accepted and may be dropped off Saturday mornings between 8:00 and 10:00 am at the North School, 2 North Street in Seekonk. Monetary donations to Doorways can be sent to PO Box 295, Seekonk, MA 02771. The people of Seekonk have championed our food pantry over the past year and a half - we are humbled by your support, awed by your generosity, and made hopeful for the future. As always, we thank you.