Q & A for Meal-Site Guests

Q & A for Food Pantry Guests

Frequently Asked Questions


SSKP Fact Sheet

Q & A for Meal-Site Guests

Who can go to meal sites?
Do I need to bring money or identification?
Do you provide transportation?
How many meal sites can I visit each week?
Are all the meal sites handicapped accessible?
Can I have seconds?
Can I take food home?
Can my whole family go?
Where does the food come from?

Who can go to meal sites?

Anyone hungry in body or spirit is welcome. There are no other requirements.
We welcome you with fellowship, community and home-style meals.
 

Do I need to bring money or identification?

No. Meals are free. All are welcome. For our food pantries, we do require identification.
 

Do you provide transportation?

No. We can post a note asking if someone can give you a lift.
Also, check the bus schedule by calling 860-510-0429 or log onto their website.
 

How many meal sites can I visit each week?

There is no limit on how many meal sites you may visit.
 

Are all the meal sites handicapped accessible?

Yes. If concerned about a particular site, call 860-388-1988.
 

Can I have seconds?

Once all guests have been served, and no more guests are likely to arrive, seconds are usually available.
 

Can I take food home?

If there is food remaining at the end of the meal, leftovers will be packed by our volunteers and made available to take home.
 

Can my whole family go?

Yes. All are welcome.
 

Where does the food come from?

Meals are cooked on-site by our volunteers. Ingredients come from local food banks or are donated by community organizations and individuals.
 

Q & A for Food Pantry Guests

Who can get groceries at a food pantry?
Do I need to bring any documentation?
How much food is provided per visit?
What if people are still in line when pantry hours are over?
Do you run out of food?
I'm from the town that the pantry is in. Can I go to the head of the line?
Where do the groceries come from?
How come some people get to go first?
How is it decided how much food is given?

Who can get groceries at a food pantry?

Anyone who lives in Essex, Chester, Clinton, Madison, Old Saybrook, East Lyme, Lyme, Old Lyme, Killingworth, Westbrook or Deep River.
 

Do I need to bring any documentation?

Please bring photo-identification with your home address.
 

How much food is provided per visit?

We try to provide enough groceries to feed your family 3 meals for 3 days. Sometimes there is more. Sometimes less.
 

What if people are still in line when pantry hours are over?

If you arrive during posted hours, you will receive groceries.
 

Do you run out of food?

Not yet! We may, though, run out of particular items.
 

I'm from the town that the pantry is in. Can I go to the head of the line?

No. Nor does the young woman with two kids go ahead of the woman without any. We're all in this together.
 

Where do the groceries come from?

We rely on donations and food purchased from area wholesalers and food banks. 
 

How come some people get to go first?

Our pantry guests are given a number when they arrive to allow for the distribution to be as fair as possible. There may be times when at the pantry managers discretion a guest is able to skip the number process. If you have questions or concerns please approach the sites pantry manager.
 

How is it decided how much food is given?

We try to provide enough food for 3 meals per day for 3 days per household member, based on the guidelines of the Connecticut and Gemma Moran Food Banks, from whom we get about 37% of our food.