By Jason Klaiber
Staff Writer
For those in need of clothing, knickknacks or even meals for their family, 600 W. Manlius St. in East Syracuse awaits.
At its new location next door to the Family Dollar, the 2nd Time Around Store & Food Pantry still runs in conjunction with St. Matthew’s Church as a non-profit, all-volunteer organization.
Before its move in December and re-opening in January, the operation had taken place in the basement of the former St. Matthew’s School and—for the 50 years before that—in the basement of the church on West Yates Street.
“We’re very pleased with this new location,” Barbara Hemmerlein, a co-coordinator of the food pantry, said. “It’s the first time we’ve been in a storefront with a parking lot.”
This time around, however, payments have to be made to occupy the space, whereas at the prior locations finances would go toward coverage of only utility costs.
The thrift store and food pantry both rely on donations from community members, the income from in-store purchases and anything brought in by the volunteers, who sort through and examine the received materials.
Local residents can register as food pantry clients only if they live within the East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District limits.
After signing in, clients will be led around by a helper in the process of securing food.
The amount of food each client leaves will add up to five days’ worth of meals, a total dependent on the number of people in a given family.
The formulas stating the proper portions for each category of food can be found on signs hanging on the racks in the back-room pantry.
The choice pantry regularly stocks food items such as canned meats, sauces, pastas, peanut butter, fruits, vegetables, soup and bread.
Frozen items include margarine and hot dogs.
The pantry also has personal items on hand, such as soaps, deodorant and other hygiene supplies.
On occasion, cake mixes and quartered artichoke hearts will sit among the donations.
Select items missing labels or ones that have become outdated or dented will be free to any takers.
The volunteers acquire items at reduced rates from the Food Bank of Central New York, whose workers deliver and help unload pallets of food.
Participants in school-wide drives and local parishioners, among others, rack up inventory as well.
The thrift store does not accept larger-sized donations like furniture, televisions or computers due to limited floor space.
The West Manlius Street operation’s busyness will fluctuate week to week, according to the other co-coordinator Mike Rauer.
Sometimes people will show up when they receive their social security check or run out of food stamps.
Hemmerlein, who has volunteered for over 30 years, said senior citizens, veterans, people with illnesses and prisoners have all made their way through the door.
“It’s a great place to volunteer,” she said. “People want to help and they don’t know how. This is one way.”
