Portland Food Bank Making Strides to Recover

The Portland Senior Center was one of the town facilities hard hit by the torrential rain on July 8, and for a few days the Food Bank, located downstairs, was closed while an intensive clean-up took place.

Now, Ruth Maio, who oversees the Food Bank, says it's ability to serve the needy in Portland is returning, but not yet back to normal. Supplies of many non-perishable food items are available again, but it will take another several weeks before clothes and other items are fully accessible while the Senior Center continues to undergo final repairs. 

Standing in the cramped shelving area of the Food Bank, Maio recounted the impact of the storm that doused Portland with 5.5 inches of rain.

"It was terrible" she said, "We lost food items, books, toys and clothing."

The food bank lost almost all of the clothing it made available to the disadvantaged, and all the food located on bottom shelves or stored temporarily in baskets or boxes. Five truck loads of ruined items were taken to the landfill. 

Maio believed the water was 5 inches deep in the food storage room. One town official on the day of the storm said it was even higher in other parts of the basement. All around the basement rooms there is new wallboard, installed after ruined sections near the floor were removed. Maio said other repairs focused on new shelving to make certain all items are far enough off the floor so "that it will never happen again."

Maio is very thankful for the help and hard effort from volunteers and for new donations to get the pantry back in operation. The food bank is open from 10 a.m. until noon on Mondays, and also 10 a.m. until noon Thursdays.

People who are in need of help to feed their families can sign up on the first floor and make out a list of provisions they need.  Volunteers then come down and fill baskets and return to the people waiting upstairs.

The shelves which are close together, are neatly organized with sections that include brands of soups, many varieties of pasta, rice, rice pilaf and even couscous. They have canned stews and ham, and thanks to a recent donation, some hot dogs are in a refrigerator. There are also pudding packs, tea and coffee.

"We have to work in tight quarters" Maio said.

There is no room for people to come and take what they need off the shelves, which was the case even before the flood.

It was different for clothes, which were hanging in a big room in the rear of the basement. Parents, she said, could come down and pick out what they needed.

"All the clothes we take in are in excellent condition" Maio said.

There were also toys. Many times there was a surplus from the holidays, Maio said, and a mom who was incapacitated or completely out of funds, would be able to send someone to secure a gift for a birthday.  

Right now there is a hold on donations for clothes, because she said "we have no place to store them." It's hoped it's a situation that will be rectified in two or three weeks, when town workers finish all repairs. 

Yet, there were still some clothes available in another room being sorted and folded by a volunteer. They were on a billiard table in a room adjoining the pantry. Among the clothes were sweat shirts and T-shirts. There was also a person who was allowed down to pick out some clothes for her family. She said her time of need began with a devastating fire several years ago.

Claudine Trudall was deeply grateful for the clothes and for all the Food Bank offered. She called Maio "just fantastic" for her caring and constant effort, along with the staff.

"It means so much," she said. 

Those who want to donate to the Food Bank, located at 7 Waverly Ave., can call Maio at 860 342-0527.  

The Food Bank address is Post Office Box 71, Portland, CT 06480.