ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Saint Michael’s Church Food Pantry has officially expanded.
News10NBC’s Declan Stablow was at the celebration on North Clinton Avenue. The food pantry is doubling in size. The pantry was already serving more than 400 families each week, and Dawn Burdick, executive director of Rochester Hope, said that number can go even higher now.
Burdick said this expansion was Rochester Hope’s response to a growing need in the community. She said the 14605 zip code where the pantry is located is one of the 10 most food insecure zip codes in the state.
One person who uses the food pantry but didn’t want to go on camera said the people who use it have built a community around it. Inside, the pantry is set up to look like a grocery store. That’s part of its commitment to offering people a dignified experience.
“So when we designed our space, we were real intentional about how can we make this the most normal experience possible. So we invested in equipment, and with the partnership of Wegmans helping us get grocery store shelving, equipment that we can easily transfer stock in and out,” Burdick said.
There are no eligibility or ID requirements to use the pantry. It offers a client-choice model, allowing families to pick whatever food best serves their family.
The food pantry sits at the border of the 14621 zip code, also one of the state’s most food insecure.
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