MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. - “We are here to feed people,” explains Trina Ward Fontaine, Executive Director of the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry (MKIFP).
That humble statement underscores a massive effort currently underway in our community.
Located at the United Methodist Church at 300 East Main Street, the organization has operated for more than 30 years with the mission of providing nutritious, fresh food for neighbors in need.
MKIFP is known as a “choice food pantry,” meaning that guests are able to make their own selection of items. This distinction is important for the residents of the 21 northern Westchester communities that the pantry serves.
“By offering our guests their choice of foods, we know that they will enjoy the meals they’re able to make with the food from the pantry,” says MKIFP Volunteer Communications Chair Brenda Raphael.
The pantry’s shelves are filled with perishables, canned goods, produce, dairy, and poultry, all presented in a clean, welcoming environment staffed by helpful and enthusiastic volunteers.
Distribution days take place on Tuesdays from 3:15 to 7 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.
While providing nourishment is the pantry’s primary goal, it also provides complimentary education services and resources to the community.
“We also try to be a source of referrals for other organizations,” Raphael adds.
In addition to combating food insecurity, the MKIFP provides assistance to guests to apply for WIC and SNAP and offers various workshops in areas such as financial literacy and computer instruction.
By the Numbers
The pantry’s impact on the community is evident in the statistics for the 2024 fiscal year:
• 110,600 person visits, of which 26% were children and 11% were senior citizens
• 668 households relied on visits to the pantry each week, representing more than 2,000 individuals and a 20% increase in demand from the previous year.
• 960,000 pounds of food distributed, enough to prepare more than 1.4 million meals.
• 495 volunteers, donating approximately 10,700 hours.
21 communities
“It’s important for us to stay local,” Ward Fontaine says when discussing the focus of the pantry’s efforts.
While roughly 90% of the pantry’s guests are from the Mount Kisco and Bedford area, they also serve residents of the surrounding towns and hamlets of Armonk, Chappaqua, Cross River, Croton Falls, Goldens Bridge, Hawthorne, Katonah, Millwood, Pleasantville, Pound Ridge, Purdys, North Salem, Sleepy Hollow, South Salem, Thornwood, Valhalla, Waccabuc, and Yorktown Heights.
“It surprises people when they find out how much need there is in the community,” adds Raphael.
Humble Beginnings
The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry was founded in 1991 through the efforts of three local congregations, located in the historic schoolhouse at 40 Moore Avenue. Weekly distributions served only eight families during the pantry’s first year.
Need in the community quickly grew and increased fivefold the following year. The pantry would hold food drives at local supermarkets and received bulk donations from the Food Patch, now known as Feeding Westchester.
In 1993, the Bedford Central School district and Bedford Teachers Association collected 1,800 pounds of food in the first annual food drive. In 2008, the pantry moved into its current location at the United Methodist Church, after stays at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and the Boys and Girls Club of Northern Westchester. As a result of the recession in 2008-2009, the number of guests increased nearly 40% each year.
In the years that followed, MKIFP would form valuable partnerships with Hilltop Hanover Farms, the Fox Senior Center, the Cornell University Cooperative Extension, and Northern Westchester Hospital.
By 2020, the pantry was serving 45,000 individuals annually. When the Covid pandemic struck in March, demand soared, and the organization partnered with Neighbors Link and Feeding Westchester for a weekly food distribution and used their sourcing capabilities and financial resources to secure scarce items and purchase fresh eggs, produce, and meats.
Community Spirit
“There is a really high energy at the pantry,” explains Raphael with regard to the vibe during distribution days. “People are happy when they come here.”
With nearly 500 volunteers backing the effort, the MKIFP offers two weekly in-person distribution days and bi-weekly home delivery. The team is constantly hard at work stocking shelves and unloading food deliveries from local supermarkets and businesses. The pantry has also formed partnerships with area farms and gardens.
In addition to the regular food distributions, the pantry has also launched a number of successful initiatives including “Morning Fuel Up,” a program that serves fresh breakfasts to neighbors six days a week throughout the year.
Presented in partnership with Neighbors Link and sponsored by Mariano Rivera Toyota, it provided nearly 6,000 meals last year.
Other programs include “Schools Out Supplement,” which offers lunch for school-age children during summer vacation, and “The Worby Sustenance for Seniors Program” which provides nourishment for more than 80 homebound seniors.
“There’s a real sense of community here,” Raphael adds.
And that sense of connection extends to those devoted to the pantry’s mission, as well.
“Here, you know you’re making an impact,” concludes Ward Fontaine.
How to Help
The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry is always looking for more helping hands to support their mission. Volunteers and donations are always welcomed with open arms, and there are opportunities to become a Pantry Produce Partner, host a food drive, and share your professional or creative skills.
To learn more, call 914-610-5187, or email development@mountkiscofoodpantry.org or volunteer@mountkiscofoodpantry.org.
For more information, visit www.mountkiscofoodpantry.org
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here