Anyone from any stage of life can fall on hard times and need help affording food. For local veterans, there is an option other than the typical food bank.
Easterseals Veterans Rally Point in Norwich commemorated the expansion of food bank services with a ribbon cutting on Wednesday. The food bank, which launched in 2022, has more than doubled its service capacity and now serves 40 to 70 families per month, said food coordinator Tammy Stott.
The Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Bank has been working with Rally Point since last year. When Stott visits the food bank, she has an assistant with her and 30 minutes to grab what the Rally Point pantry needs. The pantry typically gets 400 to 700 pounds of food a week from the food bank, she said.
While most food bank clients serve the community at large, specialty food banks can serve as a convenient access point, said Dina Sears-Graves, president and CEO of United Way of Southeastern Connecticut.
“They may not want to go to a traditional food bank,” she said. “This is a safe place for them.”
An estimated 5.9 percent of the state’s veteran population lives below the poverty line. This is especially true for Rally Point, as Eastern Connecticut has the highest concentration of veterans in the state. Of its members, 39 percent are 60 or older. Seniors are more susceptible to nutritional issues due to compounding factors, including homelessness, service-related disabilities and widowhood, according to a press release from the nonprofit.
Stott, also a veteran, didn’t realize how food insecure the veteran population is until she started her job. The need is growing, from singles in need of a few trinkets to now families of four or more, even for adults who are actively serving.
Pennsylvania-based Hillandale Farms, with facilities in eastern Connecticut, is a major contributor to the Rally Point food bank, donating 74 dozen eggs a month, Stott said.
“No relapse, but here”
U.S. Navy Corpsman Willow Clauson gets food from the pantry every week. Clauson lost her civilian job, as a contractor at the base clinic, six months ago. Although she receives pay from the Navy Reserves, disability benefits and unemployment compensation, it’s still not enough to support Clauson and her son.
“I have no choice when it comes to food,” she said.
Active-duty military and veterans should be aware of the resources Rally Point offers. In addition to food, Rally Point offers a wide range of services for veterans and their families. While Clauson takes advantage of career-related resources, including resume help, the facility also offers opportunities for recreation, mental health counseling and more, she said.
What now?
While giving local leaders a tour of the food bank, Stott and Director of Military Services Lori Marriot showed off a room full of donated clothing. Marriot indicated that they would need to move the clothing elsewhere to give the food bank more space. If the food bank were to continue to grow, it would need to increase the food it receives by 500 pounds per week and serve 80 to 90 families per month. Stott is seeking funding to expand the program, she said.
“It has become our mission to continue to grow and serve our community,” Stott said.
Veterans Rally Point will expand its mental health offerings, which include behavioral health, mental health services and programs that focus on the entire family, said Robin Sharpe, president and CEO of Easterseals Capital Region and Eastern Connecticut.
“The partnerships, like with United Way and the Gemma E. Moran Food Bank, are what’s going to help us grow,” she said. “We owe it to the people who have served this country.”
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Easterseals Veteran’s Rally Point in Norwich expands foodbank
