Family Pantry Serves Individuals, Families From All Walks Of Life

HARWICH – The Family Pantry of Cape Cod’s Executive Director Christine Menard used to describe the pantry’s clientele as “the working poor.”

Between record inflation and the rising cost of living on Cape Cod, Menard has seen the pantry’s clientele change to reflect the challenges that so many Cape locals are facing as they try to make ends meet.

“It’s not even the working poor,” Menard said. “It’s just the working class people on Cape Cod. You could have anywhere from one to 10 people working in the household depending on the situation, and they could be working two or three jobs. I used to say it’s the working poor, but that’s wrong – that’s not who they are.”

Struggles aren’t limited to a certain demographic, whether age, race or occupation. Menard has received first-hand testimonials from Pantry clients of various backgrounds, including some that might surprise people who are unfamiliar with just how challenging it can be to afford groceries amid difficult financial circumstances.

“I’ve been to nurses that have said, ‘You know, I’ve been [at the pantry] when I couldn’t make it,’” Menard said. “I’ve had librarians say it to me. It’s all of the people that you think about and those that you don’t think about. You think of the landscapers and maybe cashiers and stuff, but there’s a whole bunch of people that are semi-skilled or skilled that are at the Family Pantry.”

Menard says approximately 26 percent of the pantry’s orders will help feed children. Roughly 33 percent of the pantry’s clients are seniors, and that number continues to rise.

“We’re seeing more seniors and they’re coming more frequently,” Menard said. “It used to be that you would just see them once in a while. Now we’re seeing them all the time as regulars and that makes sense because they’re on fixed incomes. The prices went up but their income hasn’t gone up accordingly.”

The Pantry’s output continues to rise dramatically each year. In 2015, it distributed 55,261 bags of food. That number has increased 140.5 percent in the years since – the pantry distributed 132,962 bags of food in 2022 and is on track to distribute 153,000 bags this year.

For clients, the Pantry allows families to have a healthy, well-rounded diet.

“We come to the Family Pantry because we cannot afford to buy fruits and vegetables,” a mother from Hyannis told the Pantry. “Sometimes we try another pantry that is closer to our house, but they do not have much. The Harwich pantry always has vegetables and meat. If we did not come here, we would have to do without them.”

To contribute to The Chronicle's Helping Neighbors campaign, visit CapeCodChronicle.com and click Helping Neighbors under “more” on the menu bar. You can also mail a tax-deductible contribution to The Family Pantry, 133 Queen Anne Rd., Harwich, MA 02645, or call 508-432-6519 to donate by credit card.