Pantry member, Sesa Perez and her two daughters Nicaurys (13 years old) and Nathalie (10 years old) are active NICF participants.  Both Nicaurys and Nathalie enjoy the nutrition education classes and as a result, have begun to try more vegetables and eat more fruit in their diets.  When asked their favorite part of NICF, Nicaurys immediately spoke about her trip to Sylvia Center at Katchkie Farm.  Her face glowing, she recounted how exciting it was to see a vegetable grow from the ground.

Nathalie spoke quietly about helping her mom cook in the kitchen after learning basic recipes from Maria (the instructor) in NICF.   While there are still many vegetables she doesn't like, she eagerly mentioned her love of fruit after her mom gently reminded her about the apples they receive from the Pantry.

Without the help of the Common Pantry, Sesa remarks that feeding her family and providing for them during the holidays would be very difficult.   "I'm blessed to be able to choose the food for my family.  Also, without the Common Pantry, I wouldn’t be able to give my girls a Christmas.   I can’t buy presents for them but now they’ll be able to have a wonderful Christmas."

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Mark Honerbaum has been coming to the Common Pantry for 18 years.  Street homeless for just over ten years, Mark has been a daily participant of the Project Dignity program where he utilizes the soup kitchen, shower and laundry services.  Mark has never been one to ask for help but with persuasion from Common Pantry staff he began psychiatric treatment in January 2010 with the Project for Psychiatric Outreach to the Homeless (PPOH).

While helping Mark work on his mental health issues, the Common Pantry also worked on his SSI application because his sole source of income at the time was $68 in Public Assistance cash benefits and $200 in monthly food stamps.  Project Dignity case managers were able to secure SSI benefits on his behalf in June 2010 and he began receiving the SSI monthly benefit payments in August 2010.

During this time, he continued to live on the streets and parks of New York City and was still battling the constant struggles with his mental health and substance abuse issues.  These issues could not improve without stable housing, so Mark acknowledged his struggles and began to work with Common Pantry case management and psychiatric services.  With Mark’s new economic stability he became focused on obtaining housing.  In collaboration with the Goddard Riverside Street outreach team, the Common Pantry was able to get Mark approved for a stabilization bed at the Harlem YMCA in January 2011.  After many years of living on the streets Mark finally had a safe place to sleep.  While staying at the YMCA he continued to address the issues that interfered with stability: mental health and substance abuse.  Throughout this time Project Dignity staff continued to work on sending Mark’s housing package to various housing agencies and in March 2011 he was accepted into the Center for Urban Community Services (CUCS) transitional housing called The Kelly.   At The Kelly, Mark continued to work on his sobriety and transition to a permanent housing setting until he was accepted into permanent housing at the Ivan Shapiro Residence in October 2011.

Mark officially moved into his studio unit on October 18th, 2011 and continues to come to the Common Pantry for support from case management staff and to utilize the soup kitchen services.  Mark said, "The Common Pantry has saved my life in so many ways.  The case managers and staff have had a lasting impression on me, which is why I feel so comfortable here. It’s a wonderful place."

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Ollie Reeves grew up in South Carolina but has been living in central Harlem for more than 40 years.   She still lives on the same street where she and her husband raised their family.  Now that she is in her 70's and is battling diabetes, she is very grateful to be a member of the Common Pantry's Pantry program and has been coming here for ten years.   Ollie was excited to learn about the Common Pantry's new Choice Pantry options and she is looking forward to ordering her custom pantry package online via Pantry Direct, using the computers available at her neighborhood Senior Center.  Her adult son lives with Ollie, and together they appreciate the fresh produce and healthful food items that come in her pantry package, now made to her order.  Ollie recently learned that the Common Pantry's case managers can help her with non-food issues, as well, like help with a tax refund and housing assistance through our program, Help 365.  The Pantry makes a big difference for Ollie's family and she is thankful.

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Grace*, a 57 year old great-grandmother was preparing for retirement before she lost her job and came to the Common Pantry to receive pantry and baby packages, complete with wipes, diapers, and food, for the two young great-grandsons in her care.   In September 2010, the Common Pantry assisted Grace to file papers and become a foster parent for her two great-grandsons.   Starting December 2010, Grace began receiving financial assistance for the care of her two great-grandsons.   Grace filed her taxes at the Common Pantry and continues to receive pantry and baby packages.

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David*, a 43 year-old man who had been living in transitional housing received assistance from a Help 365 case manager to apply for benefits.  As a result, David was able to move into a new studio apartment on the Lower East Side.   Grateful to sleep in a clean, well-kept place he can call his own, David now receives rent assistance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) support from the Human Resources Administration.  Now having a stable living situation, David receives pantry food packages complete with fresh produce, and is excited to be cooking in his own apartment.

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