Oxford Community Food Pantry Info

For years, the Oxford Community Food Pantry operated out of the United Church of Oxford on Fort Hill Park. In 2020, they moved their operation to the St. Paul's Episcopal Church Rectory at 34 Main Street. It is open Tuesday mornings from 8:30 to 11 a.m., serving the Oxford community, and is available through referrals from local churches for the Oxford residents who have food emergencies. Before the pandemic, anywhere from two to fifteen families/individuals would come for food, per day; twenty-seven families was a one-day high. It has grown since then. They’re always in need of nonperishable basics -“shelf-stable”- items that do not spoil or decay.

All around the food pantry’s storeroom are strong shelves which were donated by the Oxford American Legion, Fort Hill Post #376 in October 2008. Marv Hamstra, Food Pantry volunteer, is especially appreciative of the shelves as food items more easily accessible and more organized than before. Basics such as juice, applesauce, peanut butter, cooking oil, canned soups, fruits, vegetables, cereals, pancake mix and (refrigerated) meat are the usual stocked items. Marv volunteers once a week to pack the boxes full of food for families in need.

Also in 2008, a brand new upright freezer and a separate new refrigerator were purchased by the Pantry with proceeds and donations from the Common Cents Thrift Shop (then located in the United Methodist Church).

Barbara “Bobbi” M. Lawton coordinates the food orders and does all the administrative work for the Oxford Pantry. Careful records are kept of how many households, how many meals the food will create and a breakdown of age groups served. The number of meals is high, but with the economic downturn there are new people coming in all the time so Lawton expects the numbers to keep growing. She has concerns about senior citizens who need food assistance but aren’t able to drive, however, they do not have the manpower to provide deliveries.

The Oxford Community Food Pantry is for Town of Oxford residents only and for food emergencies only. People usually find out about it through “word of mouth” or by church referrals and are only allowed to come once per month, on Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. If a family doesn’t know where to go for food assistance, the Oxford pantry can provide helpful information. The Pantry gives thanks to the generosity of the Oxford American Legion, the Common Cents Thrift Shop, and for all the anonymous donors who have been supporting the Pantry. The Oxford Food Pantry is always in need of food supplies, and cash donations are always welcome.
For more info, contact the United Church of Oxford at (607) 843-5195 or email: Pantry@commoncents.chenango.org