At New Bedford's new food bank, people select their own groceries

NEW BEDFORD — Corn on the cob harvested from Four Town Farm in Seekonk was delivered to PACE's new Community Food Center Wednesday afternoon.

PACE (People Acting in Community Endeavors) personnel and volunteers were there to stock the shelves with the corn and various other foods.

It was 2:30 p.m. and the food center at 477 Park St. was closed to consumers for the day. It's open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

And while it's a food bank, the operation has more in common with a grocery store or small supermarket.

Consumers receive scan cards after checking in the first time, which they use on subsequent visits.

They're invited in to peruse the aisles of groceries with volunteers to select what they want - from fresh produce to canned goods, from dairy to pasta to dessert treats.

PACE Executive Director Pam Kuechler said the new site - the former Andrews-Dahill VFW Post - is a big step up from their headquarters' distribution site at 166 William Street.

Literally, because that one's in the basement.

The way in which they operate was a step up, as well.

What's different at the new PACE Community Food Center?

Instead of being handed a bag of pre-selected groceries, visitors to the new center select their own groceries, Kuechler said.

PACE's Luis Santiago said while providing a tour of the facility, "People get to choose. It's a different experience, and people love it."

The facility's opening was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, thought it has been in operation since March.

Who can use the Community Food Center?

Participating in the program is easy, Kuechler said.

Just go to 477 Park St. and sign up.

You won't need to bring financial documentation to prove income level.

"We ask people to verbally give us the information around their income," she said.

And if somebody's in an emergency, like they suddenly lost their job, they will get food.

"We typically don't send somebody away," Kuechler said.

Where does PACE get its food?

PACE works with the Greater Boston Food Bank to obtain much of its food, including with stores like Shaw's, Stop & Shop and Target through the Food Bank.

The fresh produce can come through the Coastal Food Shed, which buys it from local farmers through a grant.

Food is also obtained through the USDA, and private donations.

Private donations of non-perishables are particularly welcome right now.

"Food has been scarce. It has been difficult to get food at Greater Boston," Kuechler said. "It ebbs and flows."

At present, they're only able to provide single-person portions to visitors instead of family, multi-person portions.

It's been a problem for a couple months.

"We don't have the shelves filled as well as we want them to be," Santiago said.

But they're hoping to get back to providing the larger portions soon, he said.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford's new food bank is more like a grocery store