Jayne Brooks Memorial Food Pantry

For almost two decades our Pantry has been recognized as a major source of help for anybody in Dutchess County who faces food insecurity. Except during drastic weather emergencies, our dedicated volunteers are ready without fail, every Friday from 10:00 to 1:00, to provide food for all who need it. During periods of special challenge, like the early weeks of Covid and the recession of 2007, the number of households served each week has sometimes far exceeded 100; inflated prices for housing, fuel and retail food can create similar challenges. On typical weeks we serve between 50 and 70 households, with numbers tending to rise in the late fall and drop in the early spring. From week to week there is little predictability, but our volunteers are fully prepared to serve all who come— many from communities outside of Rhinebeck itself.

A primary goal of the Pantry is to maintain a spirit of friendly hospitality. That spirit is reflected in our (always non-sectarian) manner of cheerfully greeting everyone, and also in the abundance, quality, and variety of the food we offer. Families select the foods they want from a wide array of perishables that include locally-grown seasonal produce, eggs, frozen meat, and fresh dairy like milk and cheese. Our non-perishable staples range from soup to rice to canned salmon to toothpaste. Some people might select only a few much-needed items to supplement a temporarily over-stretched budget; for others the Pantry may be their chief source of food during a time of serious emergency.

Our parish is able to offer this service not only because of volunteer effort, but also because of the support the Pantry receives from the whole Rhinebeck-area community—from local farmers, retailers, orchards, agencies, and very generous individual donors. We are extremely grateful.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

The presence of any third-party during Food Pantry does not imply an endorsement or recommendation of their organization, products, or services by the Jayne Brooks Food Pantry.