ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) — The Hebron Food Pantry in Attleboro said it is temporarily pausing new client registration while it deals with “constraints in food access, funding, and volunteer capacity.”
The Sanford Street food pantry told 12 News that since changing to appointment shopping five weeks ago, their client base has doubled.
“We fed about 1,400 people per week, we are now over 3,000: 1,800 adults, 850 children and 411 seniors,” Hebron Food Pantry President Heather Porreca said.
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In a post on social media announcing the pause, the food pantry called the growth “an unprecedented increase.”
While new client registration is paused, the pantry said it will make necessary adjustments and continue to serve existing clients.
“We need time to wrap our arms around the challenges we face, figure out a plan to continue to provide a high level of service in a fair and equitable way for all,” Porreca said. “Our hope is to resume onboarding clients in December.”