Canton's Secret Santa is Back!

Canton Cooperative Bank Collects, Donates Pies for Pantry

 

  

Pictured from left to right: Pantry volunteers Emily Prigot, Nicole Gaspa, President and CEO Nick Maffeo, pantry volunteer Pat McMahon).  

Canton Food Pantry wishes to express its sincere appreciation to the Canton Cooperative Bank for collecting dozens of pies from its generous customers. These pies will be donated to the families of the Canton Food Pantry, just in time for Thanksgiving. 

 

Thank you, Dunkin Donuts!

Mary Buckley, (left), Codirector of Canton Food Pantry), Michael Cavallo (center), Dunkin Donuts Director of Operations, and Nancy Gowe (right), Canton Food Pantry volunteer

Canton Food Pantry would like to thank Dunkin Donuts for their generosity. The company recently presented the Canton Food Pantry with a check in the amount of $2,500. The funds will be used to support the food pantry in its mission to provide free food to eligible Canton residents. These residents are affected by economic challenges, and the pantry is proud to help serve these neighbors in need. 

Can you help out?

 

The Canton Food Pantry is running low on some pantry staples. Can you help out by purchasing some of these items for us?  Here is our wish list:

• breakfast cereals (all kinds)
• snacks
• pasta (box)
• pasta sauce (jars)
• Depends adult diapers (size large only)
• shampoo
• toothpaste

Non-perishable food, personal care items, and household products may be left at the Bank of Canton, Canton Co-operative Bank, Canton Public Library, Pratt Realtors and Envision Bank (Cobb Corner). Donations of food, including perishable items, may be dropped off at the pantry on Mondays only between 7-8:30 a.m.

Our deepest thanks to the many people who continue to support our food pantry, and, by extension, our friends and neighbors in need. We are grateful for all that you do. 

 

Thank you, Canton Robodogs!

We want to send out special thanks to the great efforts of the Canton Robodogs, the High School Robotics Team.  The team has been collecting, sorting and sanitizing LEGOs into small kits for use by children served by the Canton Food Pantry.

LEGOs are educational toys and they truly are the "building blocks" of future engineering and technical expertise.  The Canton Food Pantry is grateful to the Robodogs for stepping up this summer and thinking of the needs of their younger neighbors. 

 

A Big Thank You to Isabella and Julia!

We wish to offer our special thanks to Canton High School students Isabella Crugnale and Julia Wilkinson for the t-shirt fundraiser they organized to help raise money for the food pantry. These two young ladies worked together to make a difference for our neighbors, despite the challenges of the pandemic. A big thank you is in order to Mr. Amico. He has always encouraged students to give back to the community.  He is a wonderful mentor to all the students of Canton High School.  

 

Pool Passes for Food Pantry Clients

Pool passes for the new town swimming pool at 199 Bolivar Street are available to Canton Food Pantry clients at no charge. The pool, newly remodeled with a new bathhouse, and splash pad for children, offers easy access for all, with no steps to negotiate. 

Visit the Canton Recreation Department to pick up your passes. The rec department is located at 92 Pleasant Street. Hours are Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm.  The telephone number is 781-821-5030. Passes are available beginning Monday, June 21, 2021. 

All clients will need to provide a valid ID in order to receive a pool pass. 

Available Position to Start ASAP

Co-Director (Volunteer Position)

Overview:

Play a key role in the important mission of providing valuable food accessibility, food security, and support to community members in need.  Build and cultivate relationships with volunteers and clients.  Co-manage all aspects of food inventory procurement, management, controls, and distribution. Ensure accurate record-keeping so reporting and audits run smoothly.  Tasks include:

• Maintain a clean, well-ordered and adequate food supply to provide the best quality food within budget
• Orient volunteers to inventory available and tasks to be done to prepare for smooth distribution.
• Oversee food pantry safety policies and procedures as established by the Greater Boston Food Bank, Canton’s Board of Health, and other agencies.
• Collaborate with constituents, including Town of Canton offices, in delivering quality customer service.
• Understand and navigate available resources to disseminate to those in need.

 

Qualifications/Skills:

Ability to exhibit good judgment, empathy, compassion, and a friendly demeanor.

Flexible, resourceful, and collegial approach and attitude.

Volunteer management, supervisory, and operations skills desired.

Ability to identify, address, and resolve issues.

Administrative - strong organizational skills required, basic data entry and budgeting knowledge helpful

.

Knowledge of how to review, update, streamline and document processes is a bonus.

 

Hours:  

On site commitment of 4 hours/week 

- Wednesdays, 8am-12pm

Off site, respond to email and voicemails on a daily basis

On occasion, may be asked to assist 

with coverage (Tuesday mornings)

Contact:

If interested, please contact Mary Buckley at CantonFoodPantry@gmail.com

 

Canton Food Pantry

Purpose:

Our purpose is to provide free food to eligible Canton residents.  We serve many individuals and families, on a temporary basis, who have been affected by economic problems.  The Canton Food Pantry is operated entirely by volunteers who wish to help their fellow townspeople, by providing a basic human necessity.

 

Sponsor:

The Canton Food Pantry is sponsored by the Canton Area Helpline, a private, non-profit corporation.

 

Current Food Pantry Hours

 Please note the following changes to Canton Food Pantry operations.

Non-Perishable food donations are accepted Mondays 7:00am-8:30am. Please do not leave donations outside the Pantry door when we are closed.

Other locations accepting food donations:

Janet Pratt Realtor (Monday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm) 

Canton Co-Operative Bank and Bank of Canton (banking hours) 

Shaw's Supermarket, Entrance and Exit Area

When shopping for donation items, make sure to choose undamaged and unopened packaging, and donate before the labelled expiration date is up. Dented, rusted, or damaged packaging means that food inside might be spoiled and should be thrown out. When in doubt, throw it out. It might seem like a caring gesture to donate homemade foods for your local food drive, but food banks can't accept any foods that aren't commercially packaged. 

Top Items Needed:

• Juices (all kinds)
• Hash, beef stew
• Tuna fish (white)
• Canned beans
• Jam and jelly
• Snacks (all kinds)
• Condiments (ketchup, mayo, mustard, etc)
• Depends/size large and extra large
• Diaper wipes
• Toothpaste
• Laundry detergent

Donations are tax-deductible amnd may be mailed to:

Canton Area Helpline. PO Box 202, Canton, MA 02021 

In the memo line, please write "FOOD"

If you wish to donate to the Helpline of the Food Pantry:

Please visit the Canton town website: https://www.town.canton.ma.us/193/Canton-Food-Pantry

Click the yellow Donate button at the top of the Canton Food Pantry page to make a donation with your debit or credit card through Paypal.

If you donate through Paypal, remember to fill in the "Instructions from Buyer" by writing in "FOOD".