Spoonfuls Spotlight: Yes We Care, Inc.
Spoonfuls is proud to partner with organizations that remain steadfast in their commitment to and care for their community, with so many tasked with meeting an increased need in an uncertain nonprofit landscape.
Recently, we connected with Worcester-based Yes We Care, Inc.’s President & CEO, Rev. Clyde D. Talley, and Program Director, Yolanda Talley, to learn about what they’re seeing now – and how our partnership is having an impact.
Tell us about Yes We Care, Inc. and your food program.
Yes We Care, Inc. is an organization that promotes equity and support for those in need through comprehensive programs, from educational opportunities to food assistance. Our food distribution started in September 2020 in partnership with the USDA Farmer to Families Food Box Program when we were selected as a distribution hub during their COVID-19 response. The USDA stopped funding that program a year and a half later, but at that point, we were regularly serving many families and didn’t want to discontinue the service we were providing when there was still so much need.
We connected with the Worcester County Food Bank and expressed what we were seeing, that the needs of Worcester residents in our community weren’t being met. With their support and Congressman Jim McGovern’s, we were able to fill the gap left by the USDA and launch a full-time food distribution program. At the beginning, we were serving 60 families a week. Today, we’re serving around 500 families (an average of 1,000 individuals) a week with the help of Spoonfuls’ fresh food deliveries.
Who do you serve at your food distribution?
We serve people from all walks of life, from unhoused people, to immigrants, to the elderly, to local college students. Food insecurity is a reality for all types of people, and we all have those moments where we need a little help. One man who recently came in said, “I feel embarrassed coming here. I’ve got a job. I work. But it’s not enough.” You never know what someone is going through when they come here, but you know they’re in a time of need, so we treat every person who comes in the door with dignity and equal respect.
In recent months, we’ve been hearing a lot about an increased need for food across the state. What are you witnessing in Worcester?
There is definitely an increasing need in Worcester. We’ve heard from other food pantries in the area that they run out of food within the first couple of hours of their distribution. They then often refer people to us. We try to stock up on fresh produce, meat, and dairy and have it available because that’s what people want the most, but oftentimes, our other food sources don’t have enough perishable food to go around. Spoonfuls’ deliveries are a significant support in helping to ensure that we can continue to serve fresh food to growing numbers of people without increases in resources elsewhere.
Right now, there are many factors at play for people in need of food assistance. First, grocery prices continue to rise. Some folks we see used to buy eggs every week, and now they can’t afford to do anything of the sort – even those who are employed. People are often told to sign up for SNAP, but SNAP only offers so much money, and only to people who meet very specific qualifications. We’ve also heard from organizations that their numbers are decreasing as the immigrant populations they serve are becoming wary of ICE threats and may not feel comfortable seeking assistance from certain organizations, such as those with outdoor distribution locations in specific areas. The barriers accumulate and present overwhelming challenges.
How does Yes We Care, Inc. work to meet a growing demand for food? Does the food from Spoonfuls help supplement what you can provide?
We spend an extra few thousand dollars per week buying sought-after food, but Spoonfuls greatly impacts what we have to offer. Prepared food, produce, meats, snacks – the food we get delivered from Spoonfuls is almost always the food that folks want and pick first because it adds variety to our offerings, and it’s healthy. Spoonfuls doesn’t just bring any food, it’s extra food that people truly want, enjoy, and would purchase for themselves if they could.
There are some statistics out of ReFED that 31% of still-good food in the United States goes unsold or uneaten. How does that land with you, as someone who sees the deep need for food in your own community every day?
It’s discouraging. That amount of waste shouldn’t be happening when food insecurity is so prevalent – 31% is a lot of food! Why not redistribute what would otherwise be thrown away to those who need it to feed their families? It doesn’t make sense to allow good food to go to waste.
That’s why we love what Spoonfuls does, and the people in our community appreciate it. By recovering food and distributing it to us, Spoonfuls helps ensure that everyone who comes to us gets something decent and something that works for their lifestyle, from fresh, culturally relevant produce for the immigrant populations we serve, to prepared sandwiches and salads for people like college kids or unhoused folks that are on the go or don’t have kitchens to cook in. The supplemental foods that Spoonfuls provides are oftentimes the types of food that we would be unable to source or that the people we serve wouldn’t be able to afford. Spoonfuls helps and supports Yes We Care, Inc. in making our food distribution a trusted, pleasant place for people to come and get what they need to help feed their family.
