By Terry Gould

April 2026

The Otis Food Pantry family is grateful for the warmer season. Winter was very long and we are looking forward to moving some of our pantry back outside to enjoy the sunshine and warmer weather. Thank you to every individual, family, business and organization for supporting us through the cold season. The pantry remains busy, serving well over 50 households each week. Our magical blue safe box continues to keep our shelves stocked. 

April showers bring May flowers and, for many of our local gardeners, seeds. So many of our local gardeners have already started to plant seedlings for the coming growing season. The pantry would like to continue the harvest sharing from last season. So many people took part in sharing their harvest overflow last year: local gardeners, foster farmers, volunteers, and community garden and pantry families as well. It was an amazing happening every single week. 

If you are a local gardener and would be willing to plant an extra plant or row that would yield a bit extra at harvest time, we hope you will share the overflow with your neighbors at the Food Pantry. Volunteers are willing to arrange to pick up any donation from gardeners on late Tuesday afternoon or early Wednesday mornings before regular pantry hours. Most of our gardeners drop off their overflow every Wednesday morning between 8:00 and 8:30.

The Pantry received a donation of vegetable and herb seeds last fall, and we have shared them with anyone who stopped in. We still have some left and if anyone would like some, please stop in any Wednesday morning between 9:00 and 11:00. The Otis Food Pantry has evolved into a true community family and we are grateful.