The Crow's Nest

Port Richmond High School Food Pantry

Helps Port RIchmond Community

                                                      By Darien Gayle and Eniola Adeye

At Port Richmond High School there is a food pantry that is open for everyone in  the community. Mr.Candella, director of community schools and NYCID run the food pantry. About 729 people from the Port Richmond neighborhood utilize the food pantry.  The food pantry is stocked with a variety of food items. There is 1,200 pounds of fresh produce in the food pantry. The money to buy the food comes from City Harvest and Food Bank.  These organizations  provide money for Mr.Candella to purchase the food. During  the holidays the food that is ordered changes. This Thanksgiving the food pantry distributed 100 turkeys, donated by the Rotary Club, to  families in need.

The Food Pantry wasn’t always opened to the whole community. “ When we first started it was (not) only opened to our families, but also to P.S 21 and I.S 51,” said Mr.Candella, Community Schools Director. Many people in the community “ knew it was needed “ after a survey that was given out in 2016. Every Saturday morning the food pantry staff picks up fresh vegetables. One future goal of the food pantry is to partner with Wagner College. If there is a partnership established between NYCID and Wagner College, Mr.Candella is hopeful that they will donate hot food to distribute to families on Fridays.

.