As trips to the grocery store get increasingly expensive, a Connecticut nursing home is offering a unique alternative to its employees. It’s bringing the shopping aisles to the halls where they work — in the form of a free food pantry.
Kara Rodriguez, vice president and chief human resources officer at Mozaic Senior Life in Bridgeport says the initiative was inspired by a similar effort at a Jewish community in Massachusetts.
“Food insecurity is a huge concern for so many people with the rising cost of everything,” says Rodriguez. “We’re always looking for a way to help our staff be able to make ends meet and to support them in ways that are meaningful. By being able to give them some groceries every week, it enables them to repurpose their income to other expenses that they have.”
Opened during the first week of May, Mozaic’s employee food pantry, or shuk in Hebrew, is open to employees at the lower end of the pay scale. Employees are able to stop by once a week to fill up bags of food for themselves and their families at no cost. Rodriguez says Mozaic spends about $25/person each week and also receives fresh produce from the nonprofit organization Nourish Bridgeport.
Although it has been only 10 weeks since opening, Rodriguez says the recipients are happy with the offerings. The menu is updated weekly and offers special items during holidays such as burgers during the Fourth of July or hot dogs for Memorial Day.
“I think we’re picking the right food items to give people. They seem really pleased with what they’re receiving,” said Rodriguez. “We do a mix not just of food, but we also do paper towels and dishwashing liquid — those staples that you need to keep your kitchen running and keep people fed.”
In addition to helping them save time and money, Rodriguez notes the pantry demonstrates the organization’s commitment to help relieve the burden on their employees.
“It’s hard work in a long-term care facility,” said Rodriguez. “It’s emotional work that everybody does. They come in every day and they give their all. They build the reputation of our organization for having and giving such high-quality care. Helping them in this way is hopefully giving them one less worry so that they can focus on what they need to do when they’re here. When they’re outside of work, there’s one less concern for them by having some meals for the week covered through what they pick up from our food pantry.”
Since its opening, Rodriguez says she has received lots of positive feedback from staff about their new one-stop-shop.
Nursing home employees may have a lot on their plates at work and, now thanks to the pantry, much of it is fresh from the garden.
“The employees who are recipients are so grateful, we’ve received so many blessings and thanks from those who pick up the food every week,” said Rodriguez. “I think it also helps us feel really good to work for an organization that is looking out for our own. So many of those who are able to contribute help us keep it going.”