Monroe Food Pantry
Coordinator: Wendy Jolls
Mission Statement
To serve the people in our community who are struggling financially in a way that preserves their dignity. To provide a confidential environment that respects an individual’s privacy and acknowledges how difficult it is to ask for assistance. To empower people to be self-sufficient as quickly as possible without placing additional stress on them.
To involve the community in a way that teaches empathy, encourages respect and nurtures compassion. To provide a basis for understanding that the people who use the pantry could be our neighbors and friends who are struggling without our knowledge.
What?
The Monroe Food Pantry provides emergency food for needy individuals and families in Monroe. We distribute food once a month to people who have registered with the Monroe Department of Social and Senior Services. The Pantry provides about a week’s worth of food and other necessary items to more than 100 households per month. Volunteers help sort food, stock shelves, assist people with "shopping” for their groceries at the Pantry and deliver food to people who cannot get to the Pantry on their own. The Food Pantry Coordinator works 15 hours per week and relies on volunteers to help with many different tasks to get the work of the pantry done.
Who?
Eligibility for use of the Food Pantry is determined by the Director of Social Services, the Social Services Coordinator or the Food Pantry Coordinator. More guidelines for eligibility can be found by clicking here.
How?
The Food Pantry is primarily supported by the generous donations of the people in Monroe. We receive donations of non-perishable foods regularly through food drives from the Post Office, schools, churches, businesses and service organizations, as well as from concerned individuals. The pantry is also able to access inexpensive or free food through the Connecticut Food Bank. Financial donations are used to purchase meat, eggs and other items that are not often donated. The Pantry Coordinator makes purchases at Big Y, Stop & Shop and other food providers to leverage the dollars that the Pantry has available to purchase the most food for the least money. Click here to find a list of items that the pantry needs.
When?
Monday: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday and Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Saturday: Call for Saturday hours
Physical Location
980 Monroe Turnpike (just south of Masuk High School's new entrance)
There is a large donation bin for dropping of non-perishable items when the Pantry is closed.
Mailing Address
Monroe Town Hall
7 Fan Hill Road
Monroe, CT 06468
Phone: (203) 452-3770
For more information regarding the food pantry, take our fun Trivia Quiz!