A food pantry in Seneca County has added new carts to help customers carry groceries more easily.
Karel Titus of Lodi Food 4 All said the pantry purchased the carts using a Neighborhood Mini-Grant from Sustainable Finger Lakes.
Organizers said the need for assistance has increased in recent months as more residents rely on the pantry.
“Our numbers increased incredibly when SNAP and other federal programs were discontinued,” Titus said.
Titus said many patrons previously carried multiple bags weighing 30 to 40 pounds while moving through the pantry.
“We figured, unless they have another person with them to help with bags, they can’t carry their food around the pantry,” Titus said.
The carts now allow customers to navigate the space without carrying heavy loads.
“People have expenses. One of them is food, but in some cases, people have to make decisions with their money – ‘do I spend money on food, rent, medicine, or health insurance?’ … the majority of families can’t cover everything; so, they have to make decisions,” Titus said.
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