I have heroes, as I suppose we all do. One such hero is Anne Hutchinson, who runs the People’s Pantry. Anne is terrific; she’s the real thing. She comes from a family where community has always counted. She was raised to appreciate all that she had and to help those who were less fortunate. When you speak with Anne, you can see what an asset she is to our area.
The People’s Pantry has been in operation since 1999 and their mission is simple: “…to respectfully serve our neighbors experiencing food insecurity by distributing healthy food, locally sourced whenever feasible. By doing so, we strengthen the community.” If you go by St. James place on Taconic Avenue, you will pass the People’s Pantry, and you will see that there are days when cars are lined up before the Pantry doors open. They are open twice a week, to distribute food and hygiene products to low-income individuals and families of South Berkshire County.
According to the USDA, more than 38 million people, including 12 million children, in the United States are food insecure. Even in a relatively affluent community like Great Barrington, though it might not appear to be so, there are low-income individuals and families in need.
The Pantry gets their food from a number of sources. Fresh food comes from local farms and stores including the big supermarkets, places like Guido’s, the Berkshire Food Co-op, and more. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts supplies shelf-stable and frozen foods. Restaurants, too, help supply the Pantry with food. And community members’ donations of non-perishable food items and hygiene products are gratefully accepted. Anne took me for an inspection tour through the pantry. They stock all kinds of food, including milk, cheese, chicken, vegetables, meat, and more. The volunteers who work there and the people who contribute money and food do so without needing accolades—they just want to help support those who are food insecure.
I asked Anne whether there was a means test to determine who was eligible for free food. She said absolutely not. Clearly, she and her colleagues are not into deciding which people are entitled to the help.
Anne does what she does because it is the right thing to do. If you get to know her at all, you realize that she is spending all those hours and days working with the People’s Pantry because she is a genuinely good soul. There are a lot of people who do good for their communities by running arts organizations and other not for profits, but when you spend just a few moments talking to the selfless Anne, it’s easy to see why I think she is the best of the best.
The always wonderful Fred and Sally Harris who own the property on Taconic Avenue let the Pantry use the space rent free. Anne Hutchinson and the crew at the People’s Pantry are doing what they can but the need for help is substantial. Monetary donations are gratefully received, and volunteers are always needed.
Anne and the People’s Pantry prove once again that there’s no place like Great Barrington.
