Come Celebrate With Us
Join us as we celebrate 35 years of nourishing our neighbors in need and the people who have made The Pantry a vital part of our community.
Enjoy refreshments, reconnect with friends and neighbors, and help us mark this special milestone.
Families initially served
8
Families served each week today
550+
Individuals served each week
1700
Northern Westchester communities reached
21
From Eight Families to Thousands of Neighbors
Thirty-five years ago, the community of Mount Kisco was confronted by the recession of 1990-91 which hit the region significantly, creating a meaningful divide between affluent households and lower-income working families. A need evolved that was easy to overlook: local neighbors were struggling to put food on the table. Although Westchester was and remains one of the region’s more affluent counties, significant numbers of households faced low incomes, high housing costs, and limited financial resources.
The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry was born from a simple act of compassion. Members of three local congregations -Temple Shaaray Tefila, the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, and the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco - recognized that people in their community were experiencing hunger and needed help. What began as a grassroots response to eight families grew rapidly, as congregations, volunteers, and community members came together to ensure that their neighbors had access to food with dignity and compassion.
This response became the foundation for what is now The Pantry - an organization that continues to carry forward that same fundamental belief: no neighbor should have to face hunger alone.
Why The Pantry Was Founded
How The Pantry Has Grown and Changed
In the last 35 years, this small, faith-based community effort has grown into a vital resource for thousands of neighbors across Northern Westchester. Over the years, The Pantry has evolved from a traditional food pantry into a choice pantry, providing guests with the dignity of selecting fresh, nutritious foods that meet their household's needs and preferences.
Today, The Pantry's work extends well beyond food distribution. In addition to our weekly pantry distributions, we provide bi-weekly home delivery for elderly, sick, and infirm neighbors; the Morning Fuel Up Program, which provides nutritious breakfasts to immigrant workers, and the Schools Out Supplement (SOS) Program, which helps families bridge the gap when children are out of school and school-based meals are unavailable.
This growth reflects both the changing needs of our community and The Pantry's commitment to responding with compassion, dignity, and innovation.
Who We Serve Today
Today, The Pantry serves approximately more than 550 families and 1,700 individuals each week, reaching neighbors across 21 communities in Northern Westchester.
Our guests represent the full spectrum of our community - including working families, children, seniors, individuals experiencing temporary financial hardship, and neighbors facing circumstances that make it difficult to consistently afford nutritious food.
The need for The Pantry's services demonstrates an important reality about our region: food insecurity does not exist in isolation from affluence. Even in a community with significant resources, rising housing costs, food prices, medical expenses, and other household expenses can make it difficult for families to make ends meet.
The Essential Role of Volunteers
Volunteers have been at the heart of The Pantry since its founding, and that has not changed in 35 years.
Our volunteers are more than an essential source of labor; they are an extension of our mission and a vital part of the guest experience. They help create the welcoming, respectful, and dignified environment that defines The Pantry.
Last year, 675 volunteers contributed approximately 14,200 hours in support of our mission. Their collective contribution allows The Pantry to accomplish far more than our staff could accomplish alone.
There are many ways for individuals, families, students, businesses, and community groups to become involved. Opportunities include:
How Volunteers Make a Difference
Pantry Distribution:
Greeting and assisting guests, stocking shelves, organizing food, and helping guests navigate the choice pantry.
Food Sorting & Preparation:
Sorting donations, checking and organizing food, preparing products for distribution, and maintaining an organized pantry environment.
Food Rescue:
Helping collect and transport donated and rescued food from community partners.
Home Delivery:
Preparing food orders and assisting with deliveries to elderly, sick, or infirmed guests who cannot travel to The Pantry.
Special Events:
Supporting fundraising events, community outreach, food drives, and other activities that raise awareness and resources for The Pantry.
Fundraising Support:
Helping with projects that strengthen the organization's ability to serve guests and engage the broader community.
Group & Corporate Volunteer Opportunities:
Bringing together employees, students, congregations, civic groups, and other organizations for meaningful service projects.
For 35 years, The Pantry has grown not only because need has grown but because community involvement has grown. From the first volunteers who came together to help a handful of local families, to the hundreds of volunteers who support thousands of neighbors today, volunteers have remained at the heart of what we do. As we look toward the next 35 years, we invite our community to continue this legacy of service because when we work together, we can ensure that every neighbor has access to nutritious food and the dignity, compassion, and support they deserve.
Powered by Our Community
675 volunteers contributed approximately 14,200 hours last year, helping The Pantry provide a welcoming, respectful and dignified experience for every guest.
Help Us Celebrate 35 Years
For 35 years, volunteers, supporters and neighbors have worked together to ensure that our community has access to nutritious food and compassionate support.
Join us as we celebrate this shared legacy—and look ahead to the next 35 years.
Sunday, October 25, 2026
1:00–4:00 p.m.
Pantry Located at: United Methodist Church
300 East Main Street
Mount Kisco, NY 10549