Our Story
The Guilford Food Bank (GFB) was housed in the welfare office of Town Hall until the 1990's under the direction of the Town of Guilford Welfare Department until 1991. In early 1992 the welfare department was given a room in the basement of town hall to operate the food bank out of due to an increased need of space as a direct result of an increase in need in the community. This location, while able to hold more available food, resulted in a number of problems for both staff and clients. For the clients, the lack of anonymity in going to Town Hall caused both embarrassment and a reluctance to utilize the food bank. The food bank operating out of the Welfare Office made it hard to limit hours and resulted in numerous unscheduled disruptions to the office throughout the day.
In the early 1994, the First Selectman and Welfare Director approached Guilford Interfaith Ministries’ (GIM) Board of Directors, about help in reorganizing the food bank. The Town wanted to move the food bank to the Public Works garage on the corner of Boston Street and Graves Avenue and proposed that GIM and the Welfare Department ( re-titled Guilford Social Services (GSS) in 1998) co-direct the Guilford Food Bank (GFB).
Converting two offices at the Public Works garage on Boston Street into an inviting and hospitable oasis was a difficult task and quite an undertaking, but it was accomplished with lots of hard work by town employees, GIM Board members, staff and volunteers.
The Welfare Office took on the role of all food intake, overseeing all food donations, purchases, and town wide food drives and insuring all recipients are screened and receiving any other appropriate services. GIM took on the roles of food distribution and volunteers, overseeing the packaging and packing of food bags during distribution hours and training of all GFB volunteers.
In July 1995, the GFB at the Garage was up and running with the backing and support of the community at large. The GSS and GIM staff worked hard to set up a distribution system that worked for both the volunteers and recipients. Volunteers were recruited and trained in both food intake and food distribution, all local faith, school and civic groups got behind the community project and canvassed their members to support the GFB, and in the GFB Golden Rule of maintaining the privacy and dignity of each person and showing compassion at all times the GFB thrived.
In January 2005, the GFB was moved to a larger, brighter home at 45 Stone House Lane, across from the Henry Whitfield Museum, and it is staffed by 40 dedicated volunteers. The GFB now has multiple freezers and refrigerators, shelving and a small reception and distribution area. The building provides an inviting facility for our Guilford neighbors needing nutritional support, but 13 years later, we find ourselves outgrowing this space as well.
The Guilford Food Bank is a member agency of the CT Food Bank and must past yearly inspections, which we pass with high marks and regard annually. Due to the size and confining layout of the current facility we remain a partial prepacked and partial client choice facility, but have been highlighted by the CT Food Bank, as a model for other space limited food banks in the area. We presently have a grant request in to the State of CT for monies to build a larger facility to include a more functional storage system and proceed to a full client choice food bank with more accommodating reception, storage and work areas.
The Guilford Food Bank is a successful partnership between Guilford Interfaith Volunteers and the Guilford Department of Social Services. It is an invaluable resource for the Guilford community, providing caring support for our residents following the GIV model of “neighbor helping neighbor.”
In the early 1994, the First Selectman and Welfare Director approached Guilford Interfaith Ministries’ (GIM) Board of Directors, about help in reorganizing the food bank. The Town wanted to move the food bank to the Public Works garage on the corner of Boston Street and Graves Avenue and proposed that GIM and the Welfare Department ( re-titled Guilford Social Services (GSS) in 1998) co-direct the Guilford Food Bank (GFB).
Converting two offices at the Public Works garage on Boston Street into an inviting and hospitable oasis was a difficult task and quite an undertaking, but it was accomplished with lots of hard work by town employees, GIM Board members, staff and volunteers.
The Welfare Office took on the role of all food intake, overseeing all food donations, purchases, and town wide food drives and insuring all recipients are screened and receiving any other appropriate services. GIM took on the roles of food distribution and volunteers, overseeing the packaging and packing of food bags during distribution hours and training of all GFB volunteers.
In July 1995, the GFB at the Garage was up and running with the backing and support of the community at large. The GSS and GIM staff worked hard to set up a distribution system that worked for both the volunteers and recipients. Volunteers were recruited and trained in both food intake and food distribution, all local faith, school and civic groups got behind the community project and canvassed their members to support the GFB, and in the GFB Golden Rule of maintaining the privacy and dignity of each person and showing compassion at all times the GFB thrived.
In January 2005, the GFB was moved to a larger, brighter home at 45 Stone House Lane, across from the Henry Whitfield Museum, and it is staffed by 40 dedicated volunteers. The GFB now has multiple freezers and refrigerators, shelving and a small reception and distribution area. The building provides an inviting facility for our Guilford neighbors needing nutritional support, but 13 years later, we find ourselves outgrowing this space as well.
The Guilford Food Bank is a member agency of the CT Food Bank and must past yearly inspections, which we pass with high marks and regard annually. Due to the size and confining layout of the current facility we remain a partial prepacked and partial client choice facility, but have been highlighted by the CT Food Bank, as a model for other space limited food banks in the area. We presently have a grant request in to the State of CT for monies to build a larger facility to include a more functional storage system and proceed to a full client choice food bank with more accommodating reception, storage and work areas.
The Guilford Food Bank is a successful partnership between Guilford Interfaith Volunteers and the Guilford Department of Social Services. It is an invaluable resource for the Guilford community, providing caring support for our residents following the GIV model of “neighbor helping neighbor.”