People's Pantry of North Andover Opens New Doors

Tuesday, October 14, 2014 was a special day for patrons and volunteers of the People’s Pantry at the North Parish North Andover Unitarian Universalist Church. The day marked the Pantry’s first service in their newly renovated space.
The North Parish recently underwent construction of a new wing designed to accommodate church offices, activities, meeting space and a new location for the People’s Pantry.
The People’s Pantry is a volunteer-run food pantry serving those in need in and around North Andover. The Pantry’s doors are open to guests every other Tuesday from 9:30-11:00 am.
“Everyone that volunteers here is special and has an affinity for human kind,” says Founder Cari Marchese.
The space is a welcome change and offers patrons an easily accessible, new room in which to make their grocery selections as well as ample storage for pantry inventory which is delivered from The Merrimack Valley Food Bank in Lowell.
The North Parish held a dedication of its new wing on Sunday, October 19, 2014 which was also the Church’s 369th birthday. The completion and unveiling of the new space, in October, was timely for the Parish as well as the Pantry which was founded in October 1992.
To imagine that the pantry is celebrating its 22nd year is something for which Marchese has mixed emotions.
“When I started the pantry back in 1992, I thought it was a temporary solution to a recessionary period,” says Marchese. “I never thought we’d have 22 years of helping people with food. I am very excited to be able to do it, but it’s also a sad thing to be in crisis.”
For more information on the People’s Pantry visit www.NorthParish.org or call (978) 687-7948.