Patch Give 5 Day: Cupboard Of Kindness

In addition to devoting editorial coverage to Norton, my goal is to donate time to local charities and volunteer five times a year as part of Patch's Give 5 program. On Monday, Dec. 6, I chose Cupboard of Kindness.

With the bitter cold of winter and holidays ahead, I wanted to help out with a local food pantry that provides food items, grocery products and health aids to people in need at no cost. Cupboard of Kindness, located on the side of the facility, does just that. The pantry began 11 years ago by Valarie Goddard, who ran the soup kitchen at . At the time, there was no structured food pantry in town.

"We really wanted a permanent place to put a pantry," Goddard said. She got her wish.

The pantry has eight to 10 core volunteers who help year round. They also count on groups, such as and students who donate their time. Around this time of year they get more people, like me.

Cupboard of Kindness relies on volunteers to assist with various tasks, such as food pick-up, shopping, sorting and shelving and distributing to recipients monthly. I helped sort the food by removing expired goods and putting goods in their designated place in the pantry.

Also helping out was Barbara May. "I know people who come here," she said. "I know people who were doing well for themselves, and then found themselves without a job." This was also May's first time volunteering for the Cupboard of Kindness, but she doesn't plan on it being the last.

On average, 45 people visit the pantry on the first and third Monday each month. On Dec. 6, about 54 people showed up. Luckily, the pantry has received many donations from their collection boxes. They also had leftover baskets from the Turkey Brigade that Personal Best sponsored and donations from Autopart International. Cans were literally falling off the shelves, there were so many.

"This is the fullest we've been in years," said volunteer Kristen Miller.

But the pantry needs help after the holidays too. "Come February, it will be all gone. In June, July, August, we need people to remember us then," Goddard said. "Being thankful around the holidays makes us feel generous. Donations are needed year round, and that can make you feel just as generous."

The Cupboard of Kindness is open to all Norton citizens. Bring additional proof of residence besides a license.

To donate items to the pantry, look for bins in , , , , and . The pantry especially needs toiletries and laundry soap. Send monetary donations to the Cupboard of Kindness, P.O. Box 874, Norton, 02766. For more information, call 508-942-3083.