Feeding Hope: The Trials, Triumphs and Transformations of Running a Food Pantry with Ben and Janice

What if you were the lifeline for a community in need? What if your daily decisions directly impacted how a family eats, or if they eat at all? Experience a day in the life of a food pantry, as we welcome Ben and Janice from the Grant House Unity Corp. Embark on their journey of weathering the trials of running a food pantry, dealing with various agencies, and navigating intricate rules and regulations.

The conversation takes a sobering turn as we discuss the escalating demand for food assistance in the face of an unforgiving economic situation. Hear about the relentless efforts of Ben and Janice in finding food sources and the touching perspective of Fred, a volunteer at the pantry. Be moved as they share the innovative strategies they've employed to ensure food doesn't go to waste and cater to varying needs, from allergies to vegetarian diets.

This episode ends on a high note, focusing on the rewarding volunteer work and the successful partnerships formed with other organizations. Laughter and gratitude mix as we express thanks to all volunteers and listeners, and encourage further support to initiatives like these. Stay connected with us on social media and continue tuning into our podcast for more inspiring stories. You've been with us on this journey, now let us walk with you on yours. Remember, every little bit of help makes a big difference.

For mor information on Grant House Unity Corp. Be check out their website:
Grant House Unity 

Hosted by: Cottman, Crawford & The Jersey Guy
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Transcript

Running a Food Pantry

Tom 0:00

Cotman , crawford and the Jersey Guy putt MUSIC .

Keny 0:13

Hey everybody , kenny Cotman , lewis Crawford .

Tom 0:16

And I'm Tom Remmage , the Jersey Guy .

Keny 0:21

Hello my peoples . How's everybody doing today ?

Louis 0:24

Good , we're good , good , everything's going , great , everybody had a good week everything groovy yeah , good week .

Keny 0:29

Good , good , good , as long as everybody's cool and we're all right , so we're just going to jump right in . Today , Lou went down to Brooklyn . He went to a food pantry and we have the people at the food pantry here with us Grandhouse Unity Corp . Yes , so talk to us , Lou . How was it ? It was good .

Louis 0:48

It was actually , I'll say , a real quick story . We got Fred and Janice and Ben on the line with us , so we wanted to just tell you how this happened real fast . I was on the fly , I called my cousin I was originally calling him to get him on the podcast and we talked about baby doing something , about , you know , collecting and stuff like that . He said to me in the middle of it you know , if you really want to do a podcast , you should do it on the food pantry . I'm like , oh , you know what ? That's a great idea . We should do that , you know , and Thanksgiving's coming up . So he was the one who gave me the inspiration for the idea . And then we went down there and I met up with these lovely people . They were helping the community out , which is fantastic , and we made a donation to them from Copman .

Janice 1:30

Right , right , right right . There was a guy , we did that .

Louis 1:32

So it was really good . So let's get to it and meet our friends from the Grand House , unity Corp . How are you guys doing today ? Who am I speaking with ? I'm speaking with Ben .

Keny 1:48

Hey Ben , how you doing .

Ben 1:49

Hi Ben . Thank you for asking how about yourself .

Keny 1:52

Not too bad brother . Trying to be good is all good .

Ben 1:54

Good to hear from you , so we're so thankful for what you guys are doing .

Keny 2:00

Well , we appreciate you guys coming on finding the time . I know you guys are busy , as all get out .

Ben 2:04

Well , we got a lot of information to share .

Keny 2:06

Okay , cool beans . So then , where would you like to start ?

Louis 2:11

Yeah , so well , I know when did you get started , how did you , who's inspiration was it ? Or who got you going to get the food bank going when you first started it up ?

Ben 2:23

Well , january is official , documented that , with three years , so since the pandemic , that's when we really got started . So we got three years in and you know a lot more to go .

Tom 2:41

Oh , that's really good . Three years , wow , yeah , that's cool .

Keny 2:46

So then now , how did you get into it ? Like , did you do it before this three years ? Hi this is Janice .

Janice 2:54

Hey .

Keny 2:54

Janice , Hi Nice to meet you Hi .

Tom 2:56

Janice .

Janice 2:57

Hi , well , it was actually . It was all Ben's idea . We actually had on this block , like maybe two blocks down , there was another woman who was running a pantry and she asked Ben for help . And then I came on and started helping her and that's how we looked at it and she started to go out of business . So he wanted to keep it going . So we , he decided well , why don't we start our own ? He's like you and me you and me .

Janice 3:29

Janice , we'll be partners and we'll run it . We'll do everything . So that's basically how it started .

Keny 3:36

Cool beans . That's awesome . Well , I commend you guys for keeping it going because I mean so you were in Flappush right .

Janice 3:43

Yes .

Keny 3:44

Yeah , so you know , we know Flappush .

Louis 3:46

Yeah , we're from Brooklyn .

Keny 3:47

Yeah , so Flappush can always use a helping hand . Well , brooklyn , there's five barrels everywhere . Anywhere is anybody hungry , they can use the helping hand . So I appreciate you guys . Thank you for doing that . That's awesome .

Janice 3:59

Well , thank you . It's a lot of hard work , I think . I think individuals don't understand all the work that actually goes into running a pantry . There's a lot of behind the scenes work to make sure everybody that comes to our center gets food .

Keny 4:16

Right .

Janice 4:17

People on the line . All they know is they get food , but they don't realize the amount of work that goes into making this whole thing run .

Keny 4:26

Well , that's the thing , because , like for me , I was thinking that you know , it was basically you know me . As they say , I'm a store , whatever store , and I would just turn around and drop my food off to your back door and then you guys would just have you know tables set up and then just you know bags and give it to everybody . I didn't think that there was anything super special about doing that , in all honesty . But you know , lou came back and now what you're saying ? I'm like oh , now you know like oh , okay , that makes sense .

Janice 4:54

Yeah , well , there are individuals that can do that , but you're not really a pantry on the New York state law . You're just someone you know that's taking food and giving it out . There's rules and requirements for New York state , the applications forms that you have every year , inspections , licenses , the whole process .

Keny 5:13

Oh okay , I didn't even know it was all that Like I literally thought that it was just so , that then sort of state regulates you guys .

Janice 5:21

It's not exactly the state , but there are rules . When you run a food pantry , each major agency that gives out food . There are certain major like food bank , united Way , city , harvest . Those are the major agencies and they each have their own contract and their own rules . But there are certain basic set of rules that you must have , like their inspections , yearly inspections there . You have to have your food certificate , someone at least one to two people on file . You have to have your extermination , no more , no less than every three months . You have to have your refrigerators and freezers at a certain temperature . You have to have your food that you get . There's a certain way you have to store them .

Janice 6:10

You have to number the dates and you have to know when it comes in and when it goes out certain products , cans can't be dented , they can't be rusted , there are certain dates for expiration , wow so it's a lot like food regulations , so by all of those . You have to know the difference .

Tom 6:28

Right yeah . So it's all like food regulations , food safety , sanitation , all that .

Janice 6:34

Not exactly like Department of Health , like other agencies are . We don't have to go through those inspections , so that's more stringent .

Fred 6:44

Yeah , but we don't prepare , you don't prepare .

Keny 6:46

You don't prepare , you don't prepare you don't prepare .

Tom 6:48

You don't prepare you don't prepare .

Louis 6:50

You don't prepare .

Fred 6:51

You don't prepare .

Louis 6:54

Once you stop preparing food , it's a whole different story .

Tom 6:56

So it's funny . I have a question . So I remember I was watching a Shizu show I love watching . It's called Adam Ruins Everything he Does yes , I love Adam and he was saying , like you know that , that , that like they were , they were at a food pantry or whatever and they were saying , like you know , adopt , like money , goes a longer way than food donations . Is that true ? Or because they said they work with different people and they get good deals on stuff because they don't there's donations , or or they work with different purveyors . Is that true or is that not ?

Janice 7:25

That is a very big part of it , because if we don't have the money to keep operations running . We have nothing .

Tom 7:33

But like , but like , like you guys can get stuff at a better price or stuff like that .

Janice 7:39

Well if that's not how it really worked Okay . So if we go to a supermarket , we will just donate everything to us , items that we can't sell . The supermarket can sell items when it comes to the expiration date . They can't put it on the shelves . When it has a month left to go , they have to donate that food . So that's how supermarkets oh , okay , right .

Tom 8:01

So like exactly like like I guess like different supermarkets like stop and shop , shop right , and stuff like that . So it's an pretty good place to be , All right guys yeah , so it's easier .

Janice 8:08

what you do is you get grants , the corporations that you . You have to sign a contract every year . Yeah , they give you grants , funding , and that funding is what you spend . There are specific Distributors that you must use . They are giving you funding . They have their list of distributors that you must use and those are the individuals , companies that you purchase the food from that kind of makes sense , yeah , yeah .

Keny 8:36

But then now restaurants you guys don't get any food because you're not a soup kitchen like that right , no , no .

Louis 8:40

So you don't get the food like restaurants and stuff . Okay , yeah , when you .

Janice 8:45

Restaurants as well can donate their food to us , that's all right .

Keny 8:50

Great , that's awesome . So then you give it like a doggy bag is how you would give them out at the end for that day , he kind of thing .

Tom 8:57

Yeah , I know it sounds crazy , but you know , like a prepared like yeah , yeah , you guys don't permit , prepare me .

Janice 9:07

But we have dealt with Catering halls that have prepared food and they have a process also where they donate the prepared food . They'll make Like 500 meals and they're prepared , and when they do that they have to sign up with the city . All those prepared foods must be certain salt content , certain Super content . They also have a list when they're given prepared food to pantries as well , which they must follow , and if they don't follow their guidelines they'll lose their city and state contract .

Keny 9:46

Wow . That's serious man , I didn't like . I said it's , it's crazy . I really didn't think it's a lot of work . Yeah , it was that much that there was that much work . I literally thought you know oh yeah , you just , man , have all this food and just , yeah , you know , like that was it the , when they do the donate the cans and stuff .

Tom 10:01

Yeah , yeah , yeah , like the Boy Scouts .

Keny 10:03

Yeah , like I thought that that's all it was , yes , and then wow , yeah , you guys stay busy now , do you ? Is ? Is it all summer or like just , was it just for certain holidays ? Yeah , I see , you know kind of thing .

Janice 10:19

No , no , no year round year year round , every week . We don't shut down because a holiday if we fall on a holiday , we close , but we're year round . It's not just a one-time shot deal , we are year round .

Louis 10:33

That is awesome . Well , I got a question for you , janice . How did what made you person personally get into this ? Something does this is have a meeting for you , or is it just something that you know ? It just makes you feel good because you're helping people out and you know it's nice to see , be able to see people come in and get some food and be able to eat and you take .

Fred 10:50

Let me answer that question for you . Sure , absolutely , because because she's an angel on earth and so that wins the two of them . Yeah , they're just , they have the biggest hearts and they try to do what they can for as many people as they can .

Ben 11:05

Yeah , that is going back to that , going back to the catering hall just to cover . You know what we can cover here , people that we knew we reached out to they were Getting funded from the department of sanitation .

Increase Food Donations and Meet Demands

Ben 11:23

But there was a point where Janice and I and did everything possible they would donate into us Funding to us over 10,000 meals a week , breakfast , lunch and a dinner package . And not only did we have our center , but before our center , janice and I were connected to three other banshees that we initiated and we worked with a bishop , a renowned bishop , that put us in the entire church and a whole unit block of real estate and church . And I can't tell you .

Ben 12:06

We brought in New York City food bank and they came with an 18-wheeler and they unloaded 24 pallets . Then another 24 pallets came in . We had 50 pallets and Janice is going . What are we gonna do with all this food ? But it was on a main , a main thoroughfare , and the word just spread one day and by the end of every day , every piece of food we finished and it was gone .

Keny 12:39

That's all .

Ben 12:40

Janice , you remember .

Janice 12:42

Let me just correct , make a little correction . Sourcing food is not easy right .

Janice 12:50

It's a lot of research to find Places that are willing to donate , like bulk-sized Spood . They need to know that they're getting something in return . So what I had to do was go online and there was a state program Family food boxes which was canceled . And that is how I got in touch with an actual farmer based in New Jersey and they were part of the state program . They had to sign up and they had to get the grants . So what happened was he ? I found them , got in touch and he actually that's how we got an entire tractor trailer load of Food . That was box food . It had every single item it had dairy produce Milk .

Janice 13:43

Can you can imagine you know how big an entire tractor trailer . Yeah , yeah , so now see .

Keny 13:49

So now , this is when , and and what do you when you turn around and you have to go out and look for people to donate ? Oh , you know , let's say the supermarkets and such it's not . They have to get something you're saying and return like they don't just say , okay , who you know , you know , put our name up on the wall .

Louis 14:07

Next to like this concert . I don't know .

Keny 14:09

Yeah , I'm saying , but like do they have to ? You know attacks right , yeah , but I mean , like they know that it's a tax write-off so they can put in their books or whatever and say , but if you know I'm saying , said then it would be . You know , do you just put their name up on the wall ?

Louis 14:20

and now we're Chinese .

Janice 14:22

No , well , usually yes . That's what I mean when Sam there's , they're gonna get something , not just gonna give it to you , they're gonna . That's one of the reasons that they do it , because you can get a tax right right . You would think like there's so many supermarkets and stuff that want to donate it but they don't . They'll tell you a can I , or I already have someone else . So it's like a fight . It's a race for the first person to to get a contract and we can get that . It's very competitive .

Keny 14:53

I didn't think it was that kind of competitive . Yeah , now , when you get the contract the first time , how long do the contracts last ? Or is there something you have to read new every year ?

Janice 15:01

Contracts are renewed every year , whoa . So you go through the whole process of filling out the paperwork to get the grant . Then they get back to you once they said yes . Then there's the whole inspection process to make sure you're doing what you're supposed to do correctly . Then after that they give you a pass or fail grade and that's when you get your contract to sign and you're good for a year . The contracts are from June to the following July and they re-re-up every year .

Tom 15:35

Okay , interesting . So I have a question . It's probably maybe more serious , but are you seeing , has it been busier , like people needing food in 2020 when you guys started ?

Janice 15:51

Versus now or has it ?

Tom 15:52

gotten worse . Where more people are out of work , more people need food .

Janice 15:57

Oh yeah , fred can attest , our lines are getting longer and longer . My volunteers bless their heart . They're the best people in the world . We work hard , so hard . There are a lot more immigrants now . There are a lot more people .

Tom 16:17

now we're hearing about that on the people .

Janice 16:21

It's like we all look at the time is like are we done ?

Tom 16:24

yet Can we ?

Janice 16:25

just keep going , and going , and going and going .

Fred 16:30

Well , hey , this is Fred . Let me give you my perspective as a volunteer . Now .

Fred 16:37

I actually was one of the people waiting online a year and a half to two years ago on the line at this pantry to get food for myself , because I'm on permanent disability , I'm living on social security and I have food insecurities like a lot of people , and with the rising cost of groceries today , it's just hard to make ends meet .

Fred 17:03

So I found myself standing out in line and getting food and then , because I was raised a certain way , I don't like taking handouts , so I started to just do little things to help out and I eventually just became a full-time volunteer here a couple of days a week , and this is my way of giving back and I try to help promote any good tidings toward Grand House because they're so generous to everybody who comes in here .

Fred 17:37

And when I started coming in here , I would wait outside at 8 o'clock in the morning and be probably within the first five people online . Now you have people that are out there at 4.30 , 5 o'clock in the morning just so they can be first online , and a year and a half ago you maybe had 100 people out there a day . Now you're 200 plus , so the amount of people in just a year and a half has doubled almost tripled the amount of people that we give food to over here . So that should give you some idea of how the economy is and how bad it is for people who can't afford to buy food because they just keep coming .

Louis 18:22

Right , well , and thankfully you guys are there to help out the community and everything which is awesome .

Louis 18:30

When I came there to visit it was great to see all those people moving around helping . The people were out front waiting online . I got to sit with Ben for a little while and talk with him . You and I hung out . You show me around . You show me a lot of the stuff that you did . I know you did a lot of repairs there , fred . You did a lot of stuff . You came up with a couple of gadgets to help make it a little bit easier over there moving boxes around .

Fred 18:55

Well , you know I do what I can . You know that's my fourth day . If I can use my skills to help out , that's what they're there for , that's great .

Janice 19:06

Fred is being modest . I tell him he's our knight in shining armor . Fred has saved us so much money for all the work that he's done .

Ben 19:16

He saved us more than money . We're very thankful and grateful . I don't mean to say that , janice , but what I've learned from him and for what he has come and do I mean his heart is into you know doing the work that we want to do and what our mission is , and we connect it . He's done so many things here and anytime we need him he's like he's the first one there .

Janice 19:45

Always here .

Louis 19:45

Well , I believe it .

Janice 19:47

Yeah , he's Fred . I know more of my life and he was always like that .

Louis 19:52

He's helped me out many of time through my lifetime , so I'm very thankful to have him in my life , and I'm glad you guys are as well .

Fred 19:59

So that's all right , stop , you're going to make me cry . That's great .

Keny 20:05

Now , do you guys only like the only that area in Flatbush , like those , I say 15 , 20 blocks , or is it like all over Brooklyn and people just come in ?

Ben 20:15

You know Janice will get more into it , but I could tell you that we had issues when we were close to other pantries because you know they set it up the city , the state , whatever it is .

Ben 20:29

They don't want to fund , like you know , from one block to the others . But , being that we were stationed , we were determined and one of the pantries closed is when City Harvest came in to provide the food . You know . So in the inception , janice and I would rent trucks , take cars , take vans , go from one other pantry or one warehouse and we would pick up food to really get the food . They came a point with our experience and our desire and our motivation where eventually we lined up with the city , the state and farmers and now Amazon and Trader Joe's , city Harvest picks up for us and this is an incredible step and we want to inform and educate the people that are on this podcast and we're so thankful to your group and your team that you're bringing on that . There's so much more for people to hear and to you know , bring this forward in a transparent manner , absolutely .

Louis 21:40

Yeah .

Keny 21:42

Well , tell us one thing that we haven't asked a question on that you want everybody to know , or a few things .

Ben 21:49

What was that ?

Keny 21:51

I was saying tell us something that we haven't asked a question about or that you want everybody else to know . You know like , give us something .

Ben 21:59

Well , we're going to need some more time on the clock . It goes on and goes on . But if we could continue podcasting and bring the people connected to this and we're so honored to have them to listen to us and hearing out that if we keep going with this well we could bring more opportunity and more of the mission and to dream how people and our volunteers I am so amazed , you know , just standing here the other morning waiting for it to open up and how we run and we're still brand new . We're still a couple of years in . We have to learn . So there's a lot of people with us and thanks to you , we could educate more the people and do some more .

Fred 22:52

Yeah , absolutely . Well , also , let me just say , if you know some of the people who listen to the podcast , if they are suffering from food insecurities , then you should be looking for food pantries in their area to try to help them out , because they're all over . I mean , you know , it doesn't matter when your location is , you know there's going to be a food pantry somewhere in everyone's area where they can go to and find food . All they have to do is look online and search for food pantries . So you know , just to help out anybody that's not in our area , they can look in their own area and try to locate sources for helping for food and stuff like that . Absolutely .

Ben 23:36

In addition , in addition to that , freddie , I thank you for that point In addition to that , not only the community , but when there were disasters internationally , around the world specifically in Haiti , Jamaica , africa and Puerto Rico was another one yesterday an organization would come here and say do you have any food disaster , an earthquake , a storm ? And we gave what we could . But not only are we a food pantry , but we also incorporated as a distribution center to feed churches , organizations , temples , churches , churches , childcare and senior centers .

Fred 24:30

And we don't throw paper towels at people .

Louis 24:32

Yeah , okay , let's not get into that .

Tom 24:36

That is funny , that is nice though we tried to avoid the politics . Hey , that is pretty funny .

Louis 24:41

I have a question though , and it's probably a silly question , but when holidays come around I'm assuming it's a hell of a lot more busy , Like now Thanksgiving's coming I'm assuming you guys , the lines are .

Ben 24:51

How many churches do we give out to these ?

Janice 24:53

Oh , my God , it is getting .

Ben 24:54

And we got so many more picking up Wednesday .

Janice 24:57

It gets ridiculously busy , especially around Thanksgiving and Christmas . It's a lot more work . My volunteers they all tell me I need to pay for them to get massages . Everybody starts taking once they go home because everybody's looking for the turkeys or whatever food they can get so they don't have to buy them in the supermarket .

Fred 25:20

Right .

Janice 25:21

The other thing is it's like I said , it's very competitive . You got to be the first ones there to try to get one of the city or state offices , our government officials , to give you turkeys , because everyone is looking for it . So you get lucky when you even get a few , and hopefully , each year after that they try to increase it . So , like right now , I'm gonna go with Fred to King's Plaza . They're gonna give us some turkeys . It was actually one of the directors at the King's Plaza . She said she would drive this way and she would see all the people lined up , and so she called , and so that's how we got her to keep up with King's Plaza .

Keny 26:03

See it's good people out there , yeah , yeah , yeah , there are . That's awesome man , that is awesome . And I mean I said it's not a better gift when you feed somebody . In all honesty , you could buy anybody whatever thing , but when you feeding them and they can sleep easy , that the kids are fed man listen . And they're just a see , they're smiling their faces , bro .

Louis 26:30

They're thankful to have something like that .

Keny 26:31

Oh , yeah , that's awesome . Yeah , you guys are awesome out there . I said again I appreciate you guys . You guys are fabulous . How true is it ? Having said all day ?

Janice 26:40

You know , but we all , I have to say we also have some good clients that come every week . I mean , we know that . We know what they like , what they don't like . They don't even have to say anything , they cook for us . They eat some lunch . They bring us lunch More than one of them bring us lunch all the time as a thank you for all the hard work . They see the hard work we do . I don't really know of any other pantry where the people that come there will cook for them .

Tom 27:11

Yeah right , that's crazy , that's great , I love it .

Food Distribution and Volunteer Work

Louis 27:14

You guys are busy because when I was there , you guys were constantly moving Mm-hmm .

Janice 27:18

Oh , yeah , from downstairs all the way to the upstairs and outside . Yes , from when we start to we shut down . It's a lot of work and there are some volunteers that think it's only just handing out the food and sorting the food . But it's a lot more than that . It's a sorting . It's the cleaning up before , it's the cleaning up afterwards , when nobody likes to think about that .

Louis 27:45

Right , right . Yes , because there's a beginning and an end and you've got to . You know there's work that has to be done before you actually give that food out . And then after that you've got to clean up . So you know there's always something to do , yeah .

Fred 27:57

I try to come in at least an hour before everybody else in the morning , just so I can mop the floor and nobody's walking all over it .

Janice 28:04

Yes , he does Every time we're open .

Keny 28:07

OK , that's wild . Now I said that only because you just said it . Now , johnny , that I didn't know that people can basically pick their food after you guys just had , like the bag and it was like here , this is what's going on to everybody , they it's almost like a shopping , like they can actually pick what they want .

Janice 28:25

Well , it's actually , we started . When we started , we just gave everybody what we had .

Janice 28:32

Like a care package , just put it in the bag . And we handed them the bag . But the sad part is we realized not everybody , you know , wanted everything in the bag , so they would actually throw it out . Oh , what we decided to do is now what's called a choice system , which means they see what we have . We ask them on all the fruits and the vegetables and the dry goods . We are OK , do you want this ? And they'll say yes . If you want that , they'll say no . So we give them what they want . So that goes to waste .

Tom 29:05

Well , I'm assuming you get people who are maybe like vegetarian or vegan , or or they have food allergies . Yes , right .

Janice 29:12

Yeah , yeah they'll . They'll tell us we get a lot of immigrants , that we get Jewish .

Tom 29:20

The culture .

Janice 29:22

Muslim .

Tom 29:23

Muslim .

Janice 29:24

They all have specific names . Yes , and then we also are getting now a lot of people that are sheltered , so we specifically look out for those that don't have kitchens and they can't cook . So we'll put aside hand items with just a pop up top or things that can go in the microwave , so that we know when they come . Ok , we need to put these items in a bag because they don't have a stove or anything to cook with .

Fred 29:50

Or like a bed or cold cuts or , you know , like copper soup , things like that .

Ben 29:56

We also ran with the other non-phropathic organization with domestic violence with women , babies and all that .

Janice 30:04

Yeah , it's not only food that we give out . We have dog food , we have cat food , we have baby food , we have diapers . So we have a little bit of everything for everyone .

Fred 30:20

And there's even feminine items .

Janice 30:21

Yes , feminine products , and there's an agency that will give us donated items like plates . We got microwaves , so we'll put those things out and they go very quickly .

Tom 30:35

Oh , you mean like small appliances too , Like I said microwaves , small appliances , plates , cups .

Louis 30:40

That's fantastic .

Janice 30:42

We actually had Dollar Tree . There is a young lady that comes . She actually sometimes on Valentine's Day she'll bring us a whole bag of chocolates . This time she actually she brought us book bags , because I asked her . I said , do you guys have book bags ? Because everyone is lined for they have their children , their accent , and she actually brought us backpacks with books , crayons , pencils inside of it .

Keny 31:09

Wow , that's awesome . That is way groovy . And how big is your space ?

Louis 31:13

Small supplies are super expensive . You're going to need a bigger place soon .

Keny 31:17

Yeah , you guys are going to need something bigger , because I'm like God that's everything .

Tom 31:22

Yeah , so what is ? We didn't go over how . What is the size of your place ?

Janice 31:26

It's total of 3,015 upstairs , 15 downstairs .

Keny 31:30

Okay , okay .

Louis 31:31

Yeah , see , wow , yeah , but they utilize it good , because I was down there and they got Fred there , so they're going to definitely be organized , that's for sure .

Keny 31:39

Yeah .

Louis 31:42

They probably would , I'm sure . But , I don't want to say that she wasn't , of course .

Keny 31:47

Yeah , too late .

Louis 31:50

I know Fred runs in the family , so yeah , they had great space and they were and the whole system they had set up and how they worked it , you know , and people outside were patient , friendly and they you know they're talking with the people from inside out you know , it was just a great atmosphere just being there and seeing that .

Keny 32:08

Yeah , well , I'm glad you got something out of it . You know what I mean . I'm glad you enjoyed it . That was nice .

Louis 32:13

That's awesome . I'm glad you got another and not have to worry about being questioned .

Keny 32:16

Yeah , yeah , yeah . I'm just here because I want to .

Fred 32:19

And we even sent them home with some food . They did , yeah . Yeah , here's a little skinny there .

Janice 32:27

We've also been told many times that we have the best food and the best variety .

Keny 32:33

You see , then you know what , that's how . You know the people that you know , you guys take care of our appreciative yeah , they love you . You guys are doing the right thing all day , man . That's awesome . That is awesome .

Janice 32:45

For sure , and also just like Fred , who used to be on the line , majority of the volunteers that we have were on the line .

Louis 32:54

Wow .

Janice 32:55

And that's how we got them . They are there so dedicated . They come as early as us from eight o'clock and they stay till the end and we work their butts off .

Louis 33:04

Yeah , how many days a week is that ? Again , it's two right .

Janice 33:07

Yes .

Ben 33:09

Wow , two days a week . We go a little more than two because deliveries come Tuesday , deliveries come Wednesday , right , and then we have the churches or whatever's left over . We have a couple come Friday . So even though it's two days , it's a lot more than two days .

Tom 33:27

Right , but the actual serving of the public is two days Right Right .

Ben 33:32

Right .

Fred 33:34

And then there's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes the rest of the week . That doesn't involve giving out food , but you know , it involves paperwork maintenance .

Ben 33:46

I tell you about that . You know like a .

Fred 33:49

Tuesday every Tuesday we get a delivery for Wednesday , so someone has to be here to accept the delivery , and you know then , if there's frozen things they have to be put away . So yeah , there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes , aside from the two days that we actually give out food .

Louis 34:09

Right , yeah , so then it's definitely pretty much a full work week , I mean , when you think about it .

Ben 34:13

I mean , that makes sense . Yeah , pretty much , yeah , yeah .

Louis 34:17

Ben , you mentioned to me that you guys also work with some of the supermarkets where you're able to set up outside and do something like do that as well . Right , you mentioned that early when I was there over and we were talking about that .

Ben 34:29

Yeah , we had a revelation , Denise , through connections and diligence and work hooked up with stop and shop , and we came on right if the Catholic Charities . I didn't know what the heck was going on . I showed up , we had our shirts on , we had a table and we just started letting people , we started spreading the words and we were amazed . We and we said , you know what ? They're going to donate food . So I said , oh , maybe we should have a donation job and people coming up to you I can't give you food , but do you just take any money ? And just so many things like happen that that contract and it's a very it's one of the only ones right now still going with stop and shop .

Louis 35:21

Wow , that's fantastic . Yeah , they're really as good . Yeah , yeah , that is awesome

Food Distribution and Community Support

Louis 35:25

.

Janice 35:25

The whole the goal , Ben's goal , and it is it was a good idea . When I got in contact with the agency . They contacted me and they said they had the opportunity If we wanted to do it . There was more than one agency , you know we could they have the last lot and we filled it in and so he was there and he was like well , you know , this is a good thing , because what we actually got a bin of food , and that it just clicked . If we keep doing this , we can get extra food to distribute to the community .

Louis 35:58

Right .

Keny 36:00

Yeah , totally .

Louis 36:01

Yeah , that's great .

Keny 36:02

Yeah .

Louis 36:04

It makes sense , you know .

Keny 36:05

I mean it's like it makes sense , you know , and now .

Fred 36:09

We need volunteers to go sit outside the supermarket with the table .

Keny 36:13

Wow .

Fred 36:14

You know , hopefully people , when they come out they could throw a box of macaroni or a can of green beans or something you know right , donate to somebody else so to give you an idea ?

Ben 36:26

we went to excuse me . We went . What we did is we reached out in the Bronx I mean , we're in Brooklyn , new York City . We reached out in the Bronx , we hooked up with a stop and shop another you know supermarket and the pastor went out there and they said come on in . So now we're working the table , we bought a banner and now we want to spread this actually at some point with a team , like we're doing here now and throughout the United States of America .

Keny 37:01

Oh , that's awesome . Yeah , that is way cool . Hell , yeah , that's huge picture . Yeah , yeah , yeah . So now , so you guys run just that one . You don't have a couple that you run back and forth .

Ben 37:14

We actually , we were actually running for them at one time . Whoa , we had the bridge , we had the Vine intervention , we had two of them at Bishop Harding . Then one came over here where this was all ours . All the other ones we had to work through other organizations and other people and other commitments . So then when we saw what was happening and things were going on , janice and I said you know why we got to get our own place . And I'll tell you , it was a revelation . The day they brought us the keys and Janice and I walked over and opened this place and we said we did it .

Keny 37:57

Yeah , that's great .

Ben 37:58

And I can't tell you the feeling to keep this mission alive , and Freddie , janice , myself , we want to keep this going and we need all the support and Louie , you coming on here , ben , you were so grateful for what you did just to come in here and donate your time , your money and to believe in us and to carry on this mission .

Janice 38:28

I think the key thing is to understand the funding goes a very long way to keep us alive . What happens is donators , philanthropists . They will easily give , like the major , major programs , but the small ones rarely get anything . They don't look at you and they'll tell you . When you try to get any food or a grant that say , oh , we give to United Way or we give to Foodbecker or Red Cross . They donate to the larger corporations but they donate very little or nothing to the small ones and they don't realize we , as the small ones , do a lot , we do big things even though we're small .

Louis 39:16

Right , absolutely .

Fred 39:18

We don't . We don't just serve this community . People come here from all over . They will come from . Jersey , queens they come from Rockaway , from Long Island , from Queens . They all travel just to come to this pantry .

Keny 39:33

And where are you guys on Flatbush ? I forgot what you said . The address was .

Fred 39:36

Between Avenue P and Flatlands Avenue .

Keny 39:38

Yeah , you see , so that's yeah .

Louis 39:40

So that is coming off that side .

Fred 39:43

So yeah , everybody would be coming from the East it's towards Kings Plaza Right , exactly yeah .

Keny 39:47

So they will come in right off because that's the Rockway . So coming off , yeah , Bow Parkway coming down from Far Rockway .

Louis 39:55

Right , yeah and Reds .

Fred 40:00

Yes .

Keny 40:01

Yeah , all right . See , that was off topic . Sorry guys , I'm just thankful that .

Louis 40:04

I was able to come down and visit you guys and I'm glad to help out . It means a lot to do this and thank you for allowing us to do this with you guys . This means a lot to us as well , because this is what we , when we started this podcast , we said we just wanted to be able to help and do what we can and we have , and well reaching out to other people that helps .

Keny 40:34

Yes , and that's what our whole goal is . Yeah , anything . And so you know we appreciate you guys . You know definitely going to post this up and you know let everybody know donate and be a part of , because , even if not , you know people don't help towards yours , that they'll look out for their local , you know for their local food pantries and stuff like that . So , yes , right , yeah , yeah , yeah . So I appreciate you guys . You know making everybody aware , our listeners , and you know , especially now is that time of year , you know we're coming around to the holidays and stuff . You know give something , a little bit of something , back . You know just whether Santa Claus or you know , outside in front of your store , whatever you know Salvation Army , whatever you know give something back . You know the tots for kids or that stuff .

Fred 41:16

It's always important to give back because well , we like to also show our appreciation and thank you for showing an interest in what we do here , and it's always good to see you because that's the same , because you're very good Anytime you have the time . Don't be a stranger .

Louis 41:36

Yeah , maybe next time I'll drag these two . Yeah , yeah , yeah , yeah .

Keny 41:39

Definitely yeah , yeah .

Louis 41:41

Yeah , it's definitely a little bit Anything for a day off of my job .

Keny 41:45

I'll go and hang out with you guys , no problem , it's more fun .

Tom 41:48

You know , it's one of those things , though I always say like it's important to give back , because one day you might be in the situation exactly so yeah and it's always nice to know that there's people out there who are are ultra whistic . They're looking to take care of people right the community take care of the community and the people who live in it , so it's great .

Janice 42:09

Yeah , we definitely need volunteers , especially when the holiday time comes up , because I like to make sure my current volunteers be able to have to get some time to take a break , because we'll go nonstop and the more volunteers I have , the more they can rotate and take a break , have some lunch , do some rest a little bit and start up again .

Tom 42:32

There's that one saying you know it's , if everybody did a little , no one would have to do a lot , Right ?

Keny 42:39

Yeah .

Tom 42:40

Yeah .

Keny 42:40

Exactly . Yeah , yeah , yeah yeah .

Louis 42:42

What comes to volunteer work , so that that , believe it or not , we're at the end of the podcast

Thanking Volunteers and Listeners

Louis 42:47

. Yes , yes I wanted to thank all of you guys for being with us and with , again , technical difficulties , we got through it and we were able to get this done , and I'm super pumped about that . So yeah you guys so much Right , right , right .

Fred 43:01

Okay , thank you for having us on .

Keny 43:03

No , thank you , man . You did us , you know , a super service , being able to spread the word , you know , let everybody know how awesome you guys are , super appreciative . I thank you so much from the bottom of my heart . You know just that there's good people out there still you know .

Louis 43:17

so hang on the line real quick . We're going to finish up and then you guys just hang out . Don't ? Don't hang up on us , Okay .

Keny 43:23

All right , just hang out . Yep , so there you go . So that was the food pantry , sir Lewis , that you went and visited and you volunteered in , and you know , you made us , you made time and I look good . You know you went and you did it in our name , you know absolutely . So that was awesome , thank you , thank you . You're welcome bro , and I'd like to thank all our listeners and , you know , spread the word on us and .

Tom 43:46

Facebook Instagram .

Keny 43:47

Facebook Instagram like follow and all that other good stuff . Yeah , subscribe , we don't have to subscribe yet . Oh , yeah , oh yeah , oh , that's right . Yeah , yeah , yeah , so , yes . So , thank you very much , appreciate everybody . You guys have a good one , love , peace and hand Live long and prosper and go vegan Hello .