At Rotary's Epic Day of Service, Purple Pantry Boxes Installed At YMCA

BRANFORD, CT — Branford Rotary and the Soundview Family YMCA teamed up last weekend for Rotary's ‘Epic Day of Service,’ a one-day event where 1,200 Rotary clubs around the world stepped up to help their communities.

In Branford, Rotarians and community volunteers literally dug in to install a Purple Pantry Box outside the Soundview Y, allowing those in need to access free, shelf-stable food 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

What's a Purple Pantry Box?

The boxes are continually replenished food pantries that encourage people to, "Take what you need, and donate what you can."

• There are no barriers to get food. You simply walk up to the box and open the door.

• At the Branford location, if you wish to donate food, please take it to the Soundview YMCA lobby.

• Only factory sealed food can be used; no food donated that has been opened, is in a zip lock bag, or reusable container can be distributed in a PPB.

• If the food needs to live in a refrigerator or freezer, it cannot be used in a PPB.

Begun in Milford five years ago, the Purple Pantry Boxes organization believes that, "food is a right and not a privilege," founder Susan Brown said.

There are now dozens of boxes across the shoreline, and Brown noted she was grateful to add Branford to the list: "I truly believe the partnership with Branford Rotary and the Soundview YMCA shows what we mean by community supporting community."

Branford Rotary President Ellen Carucci praised the "many Rotarians and community volunteers who came out to the Soundview Y."

"They literally got down in the dirt to install the box and present it in a way that’s welcoming to everyone," she said. "We already have so many wonderful resources in town to fight food insecurity - the Community Dining Room, the Branford Food Pantry, and Feed Branford Kids – but we hope the 24/7 Purple Pantry Box will help fill the gaps when those other organizations aren’t serving or open.”

The decision to place a box at the Y was an easy one, added Soundview Family YMCA Executive Director Matt LaPrino.

"Food insecurity has been a big focus for us," LaPrino said. “Young families, people who need help, that’s what we’re here for."

Thousands of Rotarians from Rotary clubs in seven countries and 10 U.S. states took part in this year’s Epic Day of Service.

Launched three years ago, the Epic program, “unites Rotary clubs and community members in collective action to make a tangible difference around the globe,” Robert Friend, Rotary’s District Governor for Southern Connecticut, said. "Rotary clubs are active year-round, but this one, Epic day shows the very best of humanity in action."