Wendy Cowles Heads Up All-Volunteer Branford Food Pantry

As the economy continues to stall, Wendy Cowles hopes more Branford residents in need will find they can get help from the Branford Food Pantry (BFP). She's also hoping more individuals and organizations capable of assisting this non-profit in its mission will find ways to contribute or to continue giving.

Currently, BFP provides groceries, once a week, to nearly 100 families in town who need help putting food on the table. Families and individuals must first qualify for BFP assistance via a recommending organization, such as Branford Counseling Center (BCC). People in need may not realize they can contact BCC to see if they qualify for BFP assistance, says Wendy.

"What I'm wondering is, have we gotten to all the people who need us? They need to take that first step," says Wendy, now in her second term as BFP president.

BFP's storage and distribution facility occupies the basement of 30 Harrison Avenue (Branford's Volunteer Services Center building). One flight above and a bit more visible is the Community Dining Room (CDR). CDR is a separate non-profit that provides nutritious hot meals (including in-house, take-out, and delivery services) to those in need on the shoreline.

"People may know about the Community Dining Room and confuse it with us. They provide meals and serve the shoreline. We provide groceries, and only to Branford residents," says Wendy of the main difference between BFP's services and those of CDR.

The desire to better describe the services of BFP's remarkable, all-volunteer organization was the reason its board officially changed the group's name from Branford Food Council to Branford Food Pantry a little more than a year ago.

"Some people don't realize we're here. That's why we like putting the word out, because there are people in town that need our services. They could be families who need that [grocery] money to pay other bills, or seniors on a fixed budget," says Wendy.

The program was started more than 30 years ago by several Branford churches, which still play an important role in assisting the operation. Wendy, a Branford native now living in East Haven, has been a part of the organization for more than 25 years. She first got involved thanks to her parents, Marge and Traver Cowles.

Her dad was "jack of all trades," for BFP, collecting food and picking up deliveries for the years he was involved, says Wendy. Marge Cowles was a long-serving board member.

"When I started helping out, it was in two little rooms at the Congregational Church" on the Green, Wendy recalls. "My mom was short of packers one day and she said, 'Can you help?' That was 25 years ago! I was hooked…The volunteers are nice people, the clients are nice people."

Wendy said she's never met a more hard-working and dedicated group than the volunteers, and volunteer board members, of BFP. She gives much credit to its many past presidents, vice-presidents, and officers for helping BFP grow into the program it is today.

"Everybody in here is a volunteer and everybody is really helpful and compassionate. As long as I've worked in this organization, they've been fabulous people to work with-a really nice bunch of people who are hard workers."

As for the generosity of this community, on which BFP relies for donations of goods, services, and money for its operating budget, "It boggles my mind," says Wendy. "We are an all-donation-based program and we have come a long way because people have been very generous over the years."

Right now, BFP is in the midst of its annual appeal, reaching out to Branford families, individuals, corporations, and organizations for tax-deductible monetary donations of any amount. The money helps volunteers to buy needed food locally and through deeply discounted Connecticut Food Bank supplies. BFP also receives some food through federal programming.

"Due to our tax-exempt status, we can only do an annual appeal. That's our annual fundraiser and we're in the middle of it right now. People can make donations," says Wendy.

Donations by check may be sent to Branford Food Pantry, 30 Harrison Ave., Branford, CT 06405. Donations of staples (peanut butter, soup, coffee, etc.) can be dropped off any Tuesday or Friday between 8 and 11 a.m. Organizations planning food or fundraising drives in support of Branford Food Pantry should email

office@branfordfoodpantry.org to get started. Branford Food Pantry recently became a non-profit beneficiary of GoodSearch.com and GoodShop.com web search services; searching or shopping online through these pages results in cash donations to BPR. Visit

www.branfordfoodpantry.org or call 203-481-3663 for details on current programs, services, and needs.