AMHERST — A $100,000 legislative earmark over the next four years from the state’s Department of Agricultural Resources will provide food and personal care items for the Amherst Survival Center’s food pantry.

The $25,000-per-year earmark, announced Tuesday, was secured by state Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, who previously served as the center’s executive director.

“As pandemic-related support for hunger relief expires, these funds are even more important,” Domb said in a statement. “I’m grateful to the Amherst Survival Center and other organizations in our district whose work every day supports our neighbors with dignity and generosity.”

The food pantry aims to distribute more than 1 million meals worth of groceries to close to 6,000 area residents each year, on top of the food that is also served at the center’s meal program, and the daily produce and bread distribution from the 138 Sunderland Road site.

Food insecurity is at record levels, according to Executive Director Lev BenEzra, leading to increases in demands on the services. That includes the food pantry serving 33% more people each month than during the peak surges of the pandemic, and serving 62% more people than before COVID-19. The center has expanded its food pantry hours and increased the monthly grocery allocations for its shoppers.

BenEzra thanked Domb for the new dedicated funding, coming at a time when individual food donations and product from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is declining, and amid significant supply chain issues in accessing U.S. Department of Agriculture staples.

“These funds will enable us to stabilize our pantry inventory, ensuring that we can continue meeting the increased demand for our services,” BenEzra said.

About $87,000 will be used to purchase food items not available through donations, such as fresh milk, culturally appropriate food items, and produce outside of the local growing season. Personal care supplies including diapers, incontinence products, and toiletries will also be provided to shoppers through this. The remaining $13,000 will go toward operational and administrative costs associated with the program, including utilities, vehicles and administration.

The food pantry is available to residents of Amherst, Belchertown, Deerfield, Granby, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, Sunderland, Ware and Whately, and those experiencing homelessness. On-site shopping is Mondays and Fridays from noon to 3 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 7 p.m., and third Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.

During the Town Council meeting Monday, amid public comment on how to use the town’s remaining $4.9 million in federal Amercian Rescue Plan Act money, BenEzra told councilors that rising costs of rents, food and other basic needs, and the end of COVID benefits and cuts to SNAP benefits, is leaving families struggling deeply.

“It’s far beyond anything we’ve seen in the organization’s history,” BenEzra said.

The free grocery delivery to some households is being supported through an initial ARPA distribution, she said.

Over the last year, food pantry free groceries each month are going to 2,592 Amherst residents, more than the 2,000 or so residents each month in 2022.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.]]>