Community Corner

More Line Up For Food at Carver Center as Economy Sputters

Since October, about 150 new families have been depending on the Carver Center's food pantry.

The s food pantry distributes about 50,000 pounds of food each month.

That's a weight equal to 14 Jeep Grand Cherokees. Or more than 100 sumo wrestlers. Or a World War II tank.

But even that jaw-dropping amount of food isn't enough as more families depend on the Port Chester community center to keep them from going hungry. Since October of 2011, the number of families using the food pantry has climbed from 450 to 575 or more, said Tarin Gonzalez, the pantry manager.

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That's about 1,350 people total.

Carver Center's food pantry needs pasta, canned fruits, tomato sauce, peanut butter, jelly, rice and other kitchen staples. An urgent post on the Carver Center's blog last week asked for donations as shelves in the pantry "are very depleted."

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The food pantry accepts donated food as well as monetary donations. For a full list of items, and details on how to donate, visit the Carver Center's website.

To qualify for assistance, families must live in Port Chester, Rye, Rye Brook or Harrison, and fall below the federal poverty level. They're also required to show photo identification.

"Call or come down to Carver Center," Gonzelez said. "I'm always willing to answer any questions, let people know how we work, and how we distribute the food."

For more information on how to donate, call 914-305-6042 or e-mail tgonzalez@carvercenter.org.

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