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New Rochelle's Pantry Feels Post Sandy, Holiday Crunch

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Volunteers restocked the HOPE Community Services food pantry Sunday for Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday; a few weeks after losing power from Hurricane Sandy.

Volunteers for HOPE Community Services in New Rochelle work on Sunday to prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday in the organization's food pantry.

Volunteers for HOPE Community Services in New Rochelle work on Sunday to prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday in the organization's food pantry.

Photo Credit: Justin Stock

HOPE Executive Director Carole Troum said the organization had to replenish food in all 10 of its freezers.

“That’s a huge financial loss for us,” Troum said.

Despite the inconvenience, Troum said, 25 volunteers were able to prepare and distribute food bags on Oct. 31, two days after the pantry lost power when Sandy hit on Monday, Oct. 29. Power was restored to the building that same week, on Friday, Nov. 2.

On Sunday, Troum and volunteers collected donations at ShopRite and Stop & Shop to bring back to HOPE, while pantry coordinator Joan Mooney monitored the food pantry with volunteers John Meehan, Beverly Young and Gail Young.

“We’re getting ready,” Meehan said.

Volunteers will put 800 bags together Tuesday before residents receive them Wednesday.

HOPE needs cold cuts, shelf-stable milk (32- or 8- ounce boxes), cereal, granola bars, peanut butter in plastic containers, plastic squeeze bottles of jelly, tuna, canned meals like SpaghettiOs and Chef Boyardee products, cheese- or peanut butter-filled cracker packs, and ready-mixed baby formula, its website says.

Troum said HOPE can always use more food, even though the pantry might look full.

"It goes quickly," she said.

Hope is at 50 Washington Ave., and is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Food not used for Thanksgiving will be saved for Christmas.

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