Coop Food Pantry Selected for New Client Intake Program
COOPERSTOWN—The Cooperstown Food Pantry has been chosen by the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York to implement Service Insights, a web-based platform for registering food pantry clients when they arrive for food distribution. This new method is free and designed to better meet the needs of those the Cooperstown Food Pantry serves and be more precise in learning what food products satisfy clients.
The electronic intake process, which launched in Cooperstown on June 26, reduces paperwork and redundancy for food pantry clients and its volunteers. The database is secure, and the data collected are only used to understand how well the food pantry is helping its community and if other communities need to be served.
Service Insights was made possible by Feeding America, whose vision is an America where no one is hungry. The Regional Food Bank serves 23 counties, comprised of 600 pantries, with a goal of making the software available to all pantries. The Regional Food Bank chose Cooperstown Food Pantry for this new opportunity because it has a good reputation for successful pilot programs, swift action, and a strong relationship with the Regional Food Bank, who graciously donated two tablet devices for the new intake system.
“The Regional Food Bank of NENY is grateful for the outstanding partnership of Cooperstown Food Pantry and for its ongoing commitment to enhancing the lives of our food insecure neighbors.” said Susan Lintner, director of community impact at the Regional Food Bank in Latham.
Will Kleffner, executive director of the Cooperstown Food Pantry, said, “This all came about through Maggie Johnson, the director of the Community Cupboard in Edmeston. Maggie and I serve on the board of the Hunger Coalition of Otsego County, and we often collaborate on issues related to feeding programs. We even occasionally trade various pantry items to ensure that we can meet the needs of the people we serve. Maggie mentioned our interest in moving toward more modern methods to our partners at the Regional Food Bank and they selected us for this pilot program.”
Located at 25 Church Street and currently in its 46th year, the Cooperstown Food Pantry provides an important safety net for area families forced to choose between paying for utilities, medicine, gasoline, or food. To receive assistance, call (607) 547 8902 or visit https://cooperstownfoodpantry.org/.