Stockbridge Community Outreach offers weekly, monthly food distributions

“Practical Cooking with a Pro” spring class members receive their “goodies” on the last night they met.

by Karen Smith, program director

Throughout this long period of COVID lockdowns, the Stockbridge Community Outreach adapted to meet state guidelines and recommendations. We closed donations, we opened donations.  Again, and again!  Now, at the risk of confusing everyone (including ourselves!), we are ready to partially reopen the pantry to clients.

Beginning in July, clients will be able to shop the food pantry monthly and in person again!  Vaccinated clients can make a monthly appointment to shop from 1 to 3 p.m. Mondays and Fridays. Those who are not vaccinated can make their choices from a checklist and a volunteer will shop for them.  Pantry bags include milk and Open-Air Market Bucks (coupons for local businesses and the Friday market on the square), as well as the client’s choice of paper and hygiene products.

 ‘Pop-up’ store added

A popular program we added to our regular food distribution is the “pop-up” store on Wednesdays.  The Greater Lansing Food Bank delivers fresh produce, bread, meat and pantry items that are packed in bags and distributed by volunteers.  The amount of food provided during these pop-ups is substantial.

In addition to the “pop-up” food, our Wednesday clients also had been receiving a pre-packed bag of groceries from our pantry. On Mondays and Fridays, only pantry food bags are available.

Moving forward and through the month of June, we will continue to offer pre-packed pantry bags weekly on Mondays and Fridays. Wednesdays will continue as a weekly distribution of the pop-up store food only.  Pantry bags, Outreach coupons and paper/hygiene products will NOT be distributed on Wednesdays.

The Greater Lansing Food Bank has provided food to Outreach mostly cost-free throughout the pandemic.  Our food output has increased in the last year and we are currently averaging more than 200 food orders per month.

Fresh Food Delivery, free Clothing Room 

Another food distribution, Fresh Food Delivery, is available to anyone in need of food, and takes place monthly, at 4 p.m. on the second Monday of the month, at Jeruel Baptist Church in Munith.  Thanks to the South Michigan Food Bank for the grant that covers the cost of this year-round program.

This all sounds confusing, but to boil it down, Outreach clients will have the opportunity to receive food both weekly and monthly from Outreach and can participate in the monthly produce distribution in Munith, as well.  Never has so much food flowed through this agency!  We are glad to provide it to the community.

Aside from food distributions, the free Clothing Room is open to the public (no qualifying or registration involved) from 1 to 3 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We urge people to take advantage of the program, so we can keep up with the amount of donations we are receiving!

‘Practical Cooking with a Pro’

Another “Practical Cooking with a Pro” class just finished up.  Local businesswoman and former vocational teacher and restaurant owner, Jackie Scheller, is the instructor of this class designed to teach basic healthy cooking skills.  The eight class members received new cooking kits with cutting board, knives and utensils. They prepared (and ate!) everything from fruit and veggie trays to quiche.  Another class is tentatively scheduled in the fall, so let us know if you’d like to join!  If you are in need of assistance, or have other questions, please contact Outreach at 517-851-7285.  We are here to help!