When unexpected expenses disrupt a family’s monthly budget food insecurity can result in uncertainty and fear on where their next meal will come from — and if it will come at all.
Mimi’s Pantry in Riverside was opened to ensure that people facing budget shortfalls could still provide well-balanced meals for themselves and their children. With nearly one in seven families in the local area affected by food insecurity Mimi’s mission is to be a temporary stop-gap for people struggling to provide meals for their families.
The inspiration for Mimi’s Pantry was a charitable woman in the Northland, Lillian “Mimi” Curtin, who owned and operated a small cafe and managed a deli at a local supermarket.
“Like many women Mimi had to figure out how to make ends meet, especially when it came to feeding her family,” Kelley Catterson, executive director at Mimi’s Pantry said. “Providing well-cooked, balanced meals was important to her because she knew it was critical to her family’s well-being.”
Even if it meant she would have to sacrifice something for herself, Mimi was always willing to give to others. She never wanted anyone to go without a meal and she would often waive the bill at her restaurant because she knew the customer was struggling financially.
Her empathy and generosity made a deep impression on her son, Dennis Curtin, who founded Mimi’s Pantry. She had inspired Dennis to also help people by providing nutritious food to them. One of her favorite sayings to her children was, “Try never did anything.” She expected them to see their efforts come to fruition. Employees and volunteers keep her advice alive at Mimi’s.
The pantry opened June 1, 2019 to Platte and Clay counties’ residents in need. Those individuals and families are permitted to come twice a month and shop for a week’s worth of groceries. Those who come to the pantry are required to show proof of residency with a utility bill, lease or other government issued mail and an ID.
The pantry uses a point system based on household size. Guests receive a set amount of points to use in the shopping area at each visit.
Employees and volunteers at Mimi’s know it is difficult to function in life when a person is hungry. ”It’s hard to focus in school or at work when one has the stress of trying to find their next meal or put food on the table for family,” Catterson said. “Not having nutritious food available can cause health issues, which also keep people from being able to succeed at work or school. Therefore, Mimi’s Pantry finds it a key priority to assist those in need with healthy, fresh options to help reduce and eliminate hunger.”
The pantry is stocked with a full range of food items needed to provide nourishing and balanced meals. Guests will find boxed and canned goods, along with a variety of fruits, vegetables, dairy and frozen meats.
“What makes Mimi’s different from many other pantries is that we offer a variety of fresh produce and refrigerated/frozen goods,” Catterson said. “We are a healthy pantry so one will not find many sweet options here. We want to give people nutritious and fresh choices.”
Mimi’s employs three and utilizes the help of 12-15 volunteers. “During our stocking shifts we have approximately five volunteers helping to get the pantry ready,” Catterson said. “We are always in need of volunteers. There are many things to do at the pantry ranging from helping our guests shop to stocking the shelves, unloading and sorting boxes, and helping to keep the pantry clean. If there is not a shift listed on our website that fits the schedule of individuals or groups wanting to volunteer their time, then we are open to creating a shift as there are always things to do to help keep the pantry running smoothly.”
Mimi’s pantry recently added a library where children and adults can take a book each time they visit and they can keep the books if they choose. The food pantry decided to offer the books because research has proven that proficient reading skills are an important key to education and success and the staff wanted to be sure that everyone had books available to read.
The pantry relies on the public for food and money donations. To find out more about donations and volunteering email info@mimispantrykc.org
Catterson said Mimi’s Pantry’s goal is to help people in need have nutritious and fresh food available to them. “There is plenty of food in the world, there is a distribution problem,” Catterson said. “If we can help distribute food to those in need, we are giving them a chance at better health and happiness in life. It is so rewarding to receive the hugs and the blessings from the people we serve. People are so grateful to have fresh food and choice. Not everyone has the same dietary needs or likes the same things so to be given a choice in a grocery store atmosphere when one is already down is quite an uplift for the spirit. To bring that joy and reduce the stress on individuals and families about where the next meal is coming from is what we love the most about what we do.”