(Single-parent households and rural areas experience disproportionately higher rates of child food insecurity.)
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Sarah works hard to keep healthy, easy-to-cook food available for the Cambridge Families. It isn’t easy; many of them are being evicted and living in motels and small apartments. Healthy eating is essential, as is easy-to-eat healthy canned food. The Pantry often bought most of its canned vegetables, but they can no longer afford it, and the Food Bank now can’t either. We are helping to fill the void.
Serah’s requests for Friday, September 4, 2026:
Del Monte Fresh Cut Sliced Beets (Pack of 12), $18.28.
Del Monte Fresh Cut Diced Canned Potatoes (12-pack), $20.28.
Old El Paso Traditional Canned Refried Beans (Pack of 12).
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Also, we need more breakfast cereals. The Backpack program for school children in low-income families is starting up again as school starts, and the need is even greater. It’s also one of the least expensive.
Cheerios Honey Breakfast Cereal, $2.87.
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Thanks for getting Betty Crocker’s Pizzy Crust On The Shelves Again.
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These are rough days for the food Pantry, but we are battling back. Sarah’s request is the same as yesterday: tomatoes, marash chiles, and various used vegetables, and she hopes to stock them on these shelves.
She also asks for more cereal; it’s not clear yet how much is on the way, but it’s important now. She tried to buy some from the Regional Food Bank, but they have none right now. She tried to buy some but didn’t have the funds.
“We are gearing up for the Backpack program at the local high school. We give 156 low-income kids 2 weekend meals. We fund it ourselves and provide the volunteers.” There is no more federal funding or support for kids’ programs. But the Pantry isn’t quitting.
Last week began as one of the worst weeks in Pantry history; it has emerged as one of the most meaningful and hopeful, thanks mostly to good people. The Army of Good has been nothing less than heroic. They are slowly but surely stocking the shelves every few days, and thank you.
Local farmers and gardeners are helping.
You bring hope and compassion to this Pantry, this community, and people across the country. There are not enough words to show gratitude for what the Army of Good is doing. The Pantry volunteers are amazing. The two are working beautifully together.
Check out the Amazon Pantry Wish List if you can. They need everything on it.
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Dan has been hauling Pantry boxes for a long time.
“Participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” — Joseph Campbell.
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Sarah bakes a cake for everyone’s birthday at the Food Pantry. This day was Margaret’s turn.
Wow. That’s some cake!