If you wander along Main Street in the Village of Camden, you may notice a new addition behind the Camden Life Center. On the Center’s premises at 20 Main Street is a small outdoor cupboard that will make a big difference in the lives of local residents in need.
The cupboard represents the home of the Center’s brand new outdoor food pantry. The outdoor pantry is envisioned to be very similar in style to the “Little Free Library” book lending cabinets available in towns across the country. It will be available to anyone in need, 24 hours a day.
Spearheading the task of its construction fell on the shoulders of some young and curious volunteer builders from the Camden Central School District. At the end of the school year, Camden Life Center founder Jessica Perusse reached out to Camden High School to see if any technology classes had interest in the project.
Teacher Jeremy Calkins felt he had a perfect fit for the task with his “Construction Crew” campers from the District’s “Camp-Sum-More-Fun” Summer Enrichment program. With an agreement in place, the Center purchased supplies and had them delivered in late June.
The campers worked together over two weeks in July to tackle the project, and tackle hunger in their own community. They were involved in every aspect from beginning to end. The students designed the structure, cut lumber, assembled the exterior, added shelves, created doors with plexiglass windows, and installed a roof. They completed their creation by painting on a clear coat finish to enhance its durability. It was delivered and installed on the property on Monday, July 31st by Calkins and his two children. It should be operational soon.
On the way to a finished project, each student learned about carpentry, workshop safety, and the importance of doing the necessary due diligence to avoid costly mistakes on the job. Every piece of available material was utilized during the pantry’s construction with no waste, and no margin for error.
Calkins conveyed a clear sense of pride in what his students accomplished in such a short time, and how the project’s presence in the community will help others.
“This was a big project that will be around for years to come, and can benefit anyone,” Calkins said. “The kids are excited to know that they made something that will be useful and meaningful.”
The pantry will provide 24/7 access to non-perishable food items, hygiene products and other essentials to any member of the community who may need them. Access to these items on a continuous basis will offer a tremendous benefit to individuals and families who may have difficulty receiving services during regular business hours, or may need additional assistance beyond existing programs they participate in. Receiving items will be on the honor system.
It will also provide a central venue for generous community donors to offer important items to others if their resources permit. Per the Center, the most popular items are peanut butter, canned soup, pasta, cereal, grain products, toilet paper, any kind of hygiene products, any kind of child-friendly snacks and pet food. Please keep in mind that perishable items cannot be accepted for this purpose.
The new addition joins other nutritional resources available through the Center including the emergency pantry, the CNY Mobile Pantry, and the FoodSense program.
About The Camden Life Center
The Camden Life Center is a joint venture between Come to The Table Counseling, and the Center for Family Life and Recovery (CFLR) that brings vital services and support to the Camden area. The mission of the Camden Life Center is to inspire hope, provide help, promote wellness and transform lives with a focus of being in Camden, of Camden, and for Camden. Their services include community education, behavioral healthcare, case management and other resources most needed by community members, including food resources. Visit http://camdenlifecenter.com/ to learn more about their activities.
