The Mission’s food pantry is bustling on Tuesdays. A line of people is waiting for the door to open at 9:00 a.m. On particularly busy days, almost 100 people come through the blue, double doors. While some neighbors fill their carts and leave, others stop by to chat, sip coffee, and grab a sample of the newest “Taste Test Tuesday” food.
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Every week, the Mission gets food for the pantry from different sources including retail donations, The Emergency Food Assistant Program (TEFAP), and products purchased from Good Shepherd Food Bank. While the food can be different week to week, Food Pantry Coordinator Stacy Openshaw explains that certain items are usually on the shelves, things like chickpeas or dried beans.
She noticed that many of these items were things that neighbors did not know how to use or cook.
So, next to some of these underused items, she started sharing recipes. While people expressed interest, the items were not flying off the shelves. When Stacy began bringing in samples of some of the recipes, she noticed neighbors were more likely to grab both the item and a copy of the recipe. This spring, a volunteer who loved to cook started coming to the pantry; they began coming up with a new recipe each week to share. “Taste Test Tuesday” was born.
Every Monday, volunteers look over what kind of items are plentiful—last week—it was loafs of French bread and then they find a recipe that they can make with that item. On Tuesday, bread pudding was available to sample, alongside a recipe. While neighbors wait to shop, they often will grab a cup of coffee and something to eat. One popular recent “Taste Test” was bean soup.
The benefits are two-fold: people are learning new ways to use the items on the pantry’s shelves, and neighbors have a reason to stop and chat with one another, creating the community and belonging that are central to Mission programming.
“Taste Test Tuesday helps remove the uncertainty around unfamiliar ingredients while also creating a welcoming, community-centered space which is at the heart of Mission programming,” shares Monica Olivares, Downeast Director. “It’s not just about providing food but creating connection and dignity in the process.”
Learn more about the Mission’s Food Security Programs.