Last week, I was honored to meet Jodi Payne, Executive Director at the GUNNISON COUNTRY FOOD PANTRY (GCFP). Upon entering the "pantry," one would be forgiven for thinking they were in a grocery store. The immaculate aisles are filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, foodstuffs, meats, eggs, and dairy. Emphasis is put on offering healthy food selections.
But it is not just the groceries that make it compelling; it is how they offer it. Note—this is not an exhaustive list.
✅ Located off the main road, behind other buildings, for discretion.
✅ Knows each visitor by name.
✅ Delivers food to seniors and those without transportation.
✅ Partners with local schools to identify and stock food for children in need.
✅ Tailors food to serve demographics, e.g., eggs & avocados for Hispanics.
✅ Provides Spanish & Cora translators.
✅ Leaves food boxes at post offices and the sheriff's office for quick pickup.
What struck me the most, though, are the possibilities for the pantry.
Jodi shared just a few ideas:
☑ Provide "facilitators" who help pantry visitors build resumes, complete job applications, navigate the federal and state government, and more.
☑ Reduce the number of people needing a food pantry in the first place by addressing the root causes of poverty.
The pantry's energy and innovation are infectious. For an organization serving a smaller county, they distribute thousands of pounds (!) of food daily. Jodi and her team have a genuine, can-do attitude and empathy to provide their visitors with an efficient, dignified experience. The private sector could learn a lot from this example of "customer focus and care."
All that said, there is also a disturbing trend at play. Seniors, Gen Xers (55+), and immigrants are a growing segment of the pantry, reflecting the need for all of us to look out for our neighbors who may be part of these cohorts. There are many more of them than we realize.
Please help your local food banks by donating food, money, or time. A civil society depends, at minimum, on providing its population with a nutritious meal that is served with respect and decency.
Image Credit: https://gunnisoncountryfoodpantry.org/
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Michael Benedict published his first book, The Civil Society Playbook: A Commonsense Plan for a Return to Civility, in 2024. His career spans 25+ years in senior-level marketing positions at Fortune 1000 companies, tech startups, and marketing consultancies. His book covers areas of incivility that are not frequently discussed in the media. It offers solutions - actions - that anyone, regardless of age, can implement to improve civility in all aspects of society. He can be reached at michaelbbenedict@gmail.com. The book is available on Amazon, Apple Books, and Audible.
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