Food Pantries and Affordable Ways to Get Food

Hello! This is the second story that I wrote for my Principles of Journalism class. This story is about the food pantries around the Rochester area. When asked about which is my favorite story to write this semester, this will also be my favorite. I want this story to help people find ways to get affordable food.

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If you are low on money and unable to afford groceries, food pantries in Rochester and the surrounding areas are here to help.

Many people take a look at their fridge and wonder where their next meal is coming from. Food is essential for everyone, but many people in Rochester are unaware that food pantries are an amazing way to keep their cabinets stocked. There are numerous food pantries here in Rochester that residents deserve to know about. 

The cost of living is skyrocketing and there has been a rise in inflation. What doesn’t help is that there is a food shortage that is impacting the price of food in grocery stores. Being able to receive cheap groceries is a must for many families who are impacted by these economic changes.

Food pantries are non-profit organizations that offer free food to everyone in the community. Food pantries offer prepackaged food, like canned goods, and they are usually open for a couple of days a week. The food offered at these food pantries is provided by food banks or from donations of people within the community.

Foodlink is a popular food bank here in Rochester and they have established numerous popup food pantries. According to the Foodlink website, these pop-up food pantries bring “emergency food relief to parts of our service area that have limited access to traditional food pantries.”

Foodlink has also established Curbside Markets across the Rochester area, where they sell fresh produce and food for a cheap price. These Curbside Markets are offered all year long and they accept all forms of payment. 

Foodlink has also helped establish food pantries in numerous schools and colleges, such as the one at Monroe Community College. Monroe Community College offers food pantries at both the Downtown and Brighton campuses. 

Denee Martin, the assistant professor at the food pantry located on the Brighton campus, said “If a community member came in, they will absolutely not be denied.” Denee later said that an average of five people attend the food pantry at the Brighton Campus a day. 

The students that live in the dorms at Brighton Campus also have their own food pantry. Nya, a student worker at the Brighton Campus, said that “If they [students] wanted to get access to the food pantry, they can fill out the form. Then we have an RA deliver the food to them.”

Food Pantries are not the only way to get affordable food. There is also government assistance for people who are unable to make it to these food pantries.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a program created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This program offers food assistance and resources to young low-income families with children five years old and younger. 

Floo Clemmons, the Senior Manager of Community Engagement at FoodLink stated, “We’ve always done well with reaching a senior population and redeeming SNAP benefits, but it’s gratifying to now see us venture into new territory with WIC, and support young parents and their children.”

New York State offers S.N.A.P. (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to help “low-income working people, senior citizens, the disabled and others feed their families”. This program offers financial assistance to these individuals to help them purchase select food items at qualifying grocery stores. 

This program is only eligible for certain people, but it has helped numerous families who are unable to afford groceries.