MEETING MINUTES – 12 SEPTEMBER 2018
PRESENT: Bart, Janet, Bernie, Dietrich, Joe, Lucille, Sue, JD, Joan, Debbie, Pete, Sandra, Bob, Greg and Colleen Davidson, and speakers from Scituate Food Pantry Marie Murray and Jack Radley.
After our usual beginnings, Bart made comments regarding Robynne from Project Reach and our Town Administrator contacts regarding membership; The Sister City dinner at Barker's next Thursday; update on October 7th Event; International Group forming with clubs in Germany and Marblehead, MA which we are welcomed to join (no cost...yet); mention of Boston College films.
Lucille updated us on “The Peacemaker” event – outstanding tasks and ongoing progress. (Please come and be a part of this!)
Our speaker, Marie Murray representing our Food Pantry presented a wealth of information with great clarity. She started with a definition of “Food insecurity” - describes conditions in which the food intake of household members is reduced and their normal eating patterns are disrupted because the household lacks money and other resources for food. Money is the most obvious reason but may include physical or mental limitations, living alone and lack of transportation. Most recent statistics show that 8% of families in the Scituate area were food insecure from 2014-16.
In 1992 the Scituate clergy Association began a voucher system to help with fire and flood emergencies. The system was based on number of people in the family as well as need. It was determined that vouchers were not being used appropriately so in January of this year the Pantry delved into a new model, unique on the South Shore. Clients select items from a menu and family size determines quantity of products bagged. There is a “freebies” area for outdated or items not on the menu that any one can take any number of. They also now have a freezer so additional foods, such as meat, poultry, fish,and frozen vegetables are available that were not before.
The Pantry is seeking a larger space. They are serving more and more clients, offering more opportunities for people to come in and offering 30% more food to families rather than stockpiling items on shelves. Going forward they will offer food stamp counseling, a home delivery program, better gatra service and will expand counseling to other food related areas.
They currently serve 230 Scituate families. How can we help? Money! Via PO Box 120 or food drop off at the Masonic Temple, lower level, at 344 Country Way. We shared what the Interactors are doing with their bags starting this fall. We are all at risk of food insecurity as we go through this life. Remember to be generous!
Meeting ended promptly at 8:00PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Schmitz, Secretary
PS: The Davidson's wish to join SRC – short board meeting Wednesday at 6P
PLEASE share our event for October 7th with everyone you know! We know it is a holiday weekend and many folks will be away but some of them will be home and this is a great story to hear and a wonderful mission to support! If you do not know how to talk about it, ask me to send you a talk sheet. Lucille has plenty of posters/flyers to post and share. THIS IS AN ALL-HANDS-ON-DECK AFFAIR – EVEN IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE AWAY YOU CAN SUPPORT US BY INVITING OTHERS, DONATING TO THE VIP EVENT OR ENCOURAGING AT LEAST ONE PERSON TO COME TO THE VIP EVENT.
