People Can Now "Shop" at The Salvation Army Mystic Valley (Malden) Massachusetts Food Pantry

Feb. 24, 2012 - PRLog -- The Salvation Army in Mystic Valley (Malden) Massachusetts-

We have recently upgraded the food pantry to resemble a small store. This will allow "customers" that qualify for food assistance to go to our "store" and choose the things their family will eat. We have heard the call for fresh fruit and vegetables and healthier snack choices and are providing those things. The Salvation Army is utilizing the free produce that the Greater Boston Food Bank has available to food pantries. Lieutenant Labbe stated that, "We make a phone call to the food bank and we are able to go in pretty quickly, sometimes within hours." Lieutenant Labbe further stated, "We want to remove the stigma of the food pantry and make it more of a shopping experience for people. From this point on people will be treated like customers."

They are planning a dedication on March 23, 2012 beginning at 10:00 AM. They will be providing reusable shopping bags and giving tours and explaining the new system. Lieutenant Labbe said "Although we are able to make trips into the food bank, local donations are always accepted. We always get many food donations around the holidays but there are other times during the year the shelves are bare." Labbe suggests you call or stop by the 213 Main Street location in Malden to see how you can help bring hope to someone's life by either making a donation of time, food or money. "There's nothing like going shopping with someone in the food pantry and watching them walk away smiling and hearing them repeatedly thanking you for the chance to choose foods they like", Lieutenant Labbe shared at the end of the conversation.