NORFOLK – A food pantry for students is planning to expand its program to include adults and begin offering heat, clothing and other basic needs.

The Community Lunch Program for Kids, which provides food to Norwood-Norfolk students in need during school vacations, is working toward offering a new program called My Brothers’ Keeper to adults as well, said Director Wendy Chambers.

“CLPK volunteers were humbled by the living conditions of some families in our community while working with a $20,000 Humanitarian Grant provided by the Alcoa Foundation in 2020,” Chambers said.

“Volunteers worked with several families who did not have heat in the middle of winter, another family was unable to purchase a refrigerator during the hottest month of the summer,” she said.

“They found children went to school without socks and underwear. Many children did not have proper winter clothing during the coldest months of the year. And middle and high school girls would miss days of school each month because they did not have feminine hygiene products,” said Chambers.

The Humanitarian Grant included funding for a three-night stay in a motel for a homeless family with three children, one winter’s month of wood or propane fuel for two families with six children each, and a large variety of hygiene products (lice shampoo, soap, toothpaste and toilet paper, etc.).

Clothing was also purchased with the grant, including 149 winter coats, and many boots, snow pants, sneakers, pajamas and bike helmets.

Turkeys were given to 415 families at Thanksgiving, and food baskets were given at Christmas.

“Since seeing the impact of the Humanitarian Grant on local families in need, CLPK has decided to start a new program under CLPK, called My Brothers’ Keeper,” said Chambers.

In order to assess individual and family needs, CLPK works with local school counselors, food pantries, churches and other agencies and receives referrals of those in need.

The program will use funds from grants and donations to assist families and individuals in the Norwood, Norfolk and Raymondville area to address basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing and heat.

“My Brothers’ Keeper has already been blessed with a $2,200 grant from Northern New York Community Foundation,” said Chambers.

“Without the support of businesses, churches, civic organizations and very generous individuals, CLPK would be nothing but a small group of people with BIG dreams,” said Chambers.

Donations for the program can be made out to CLPK with My Brothers’ Keeper in the memo line, and sent to The Community Lunch Program for Kids, 42 S. Main St., PO Box 225, Norwood, NY 13668.