As the new year begins, many people think about making resolutions. The team at Brookfield’s Share Food Share Love food pantry is no different.
John Dumas, the pantry’s administrative director, shared that they’ve seen tremendous growth in donations and community involvement. “We’re not stepping back; we’re pausing to make sure our organization is ready to handle this growth,” he said. Last year’s changes, especially in governance, affected their operations significantly. Now, they want to ensure they’re set for the future.
Looking ahead, Dumas emphasizes the need to connect with the community. “We want to create a neighbor advisory board to hear directly from those we serve. Instead of assuming what people need, we want to ask them,” he explained.
They’re also planning to form a nutrition team. This group will help clients make healthy choices without sacrificing some of life’s simpler joys, like a cupcake now and then. Dumas noted, “We want to label food clearly to show nutritional values and help neighbors make informed choices.” Education on how to cook with what they receive is also key for the pantry’s mission.
After a record surge in donations late last year, Dumas pointed out the need for better organization within their physical stores. “We were unprepared for the influx,” he admitted. “Our front is well-set up as a grocery store, but the back storage areas need attention to keep pace with our needs.”
John Barnett, the pantry’s marketing director, has a vision for measuring success differently than traditional food pantries. “Many pantries focus on the volume of food distributed, but we want to center on community engagement,” he said. “It’s about sharing, not just distributing.”
A new promotional video captured this spirit, giving a voice to the neighbors who rely on the pantry. “It’s important that we raise these voices,” Barnett stated. “These are individuals facing challenges they didn’t create.”
2025 brought along new initiatives, like a resource hub for essential services beyond food and the Families First program, which provides necessary items for babies and menstrual health. Barnett and Dumas are committed to tackling the root causes of food insecurity in 2026, not just its symptoms.
Barnett concluded, “We have a role not just in alleviating hunger but also in addressing why it happens in the first place. Our community has shown us the power of coming together, and it’s time to act.”
To understand the growth of food insecurity in our country, recent statistics show that nearly 38 million Americans face hunger, a number that has steadily risen in recent years. Addressing this requires not just immediate solutions but a long-term vision to break cycles of poverty. You can find more on this topic in reports from trusted sources like the Feeding America network.
Source link
Brookfield,homepage,John Barnett,John Dumas,Share Food Share Love,share food share love food pantry
