On September 6, 2016, The Cornerstone Food Cupboard opened for the first time.
That first day we provided food assistance to 27 families/households which represented
74 individuals. We grew slowly at first, and by the end of December 2016, our numbers
had grown to 46 families representing 130 individuals. I don’t think any of us anticipated
the growth we have experienced at the Cupboard over these seven years.
In 2020 our numbers peaked at 595 families representing 1,596 individuals. Then the
coronavirus pandemic hit, and our numbers began to decline as many people began to
avoid coming to public places. By 2021 we had 486 families registered, and they
represented 1,313 individuals.
In 2023 so far, the number of families/households registered to receive food assistance
is 690. We project that our numbers will continue to increase in response to our difficult
economic times and currently have been adding 30-35 new families each month.
The increase in the amount food we have distributed over these seven years is also
impressive. Using the federal formula for determining the equivalent number of meals
food pantry distributions represent, we went from 66,000 meal equivalents in 2017 (our
first full year) to 243,126 meal equivalents in 2022. In the first eight months of 2023, we
have already distributed 189,515 meal equivalents and expect to exceed last year’s
number of meal equivalents by the end of the year.
We are very proud of what we have accomplished in our first seven years. With the
ongoing support of our many donors and our over 50 Cupboard volunteers, we hope to
continue providing food assistance to so many of our neighbors for years to come.
Lee Hay
Food Cupboard Director
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