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8 MAY 2011<br />
Mary Anderson,<br />
executive<br />
director of the<br />
Family Pantry<br />
in Harwich, and<br />
Don Milbier,<br />
president<br />
of Patrissi<br />
Landscaping, are<br />
coordinating the<br />
construction of<br />
an approximately<br />
22,000-squarefoot<br />
garden.<br />
The yield will<br />
be available to<br />
Family Pantry<br />
clients. Mary<br />
was motivated<br />
by the fact that<br />
those of lower<br />
income are often<br />
more susceptible<br />
to obesity and<br />
its related illnesses<br />
because<br />
fresh produce<br />
tends to be more<br />
expensive than<br />
prepackaged or<br />
junk food.<br />
THe FAMIly PAnTry<br />
Bringing fresh produce to the table<br />
By Patricia B. Bertschy<br />
Think of a food bank and<br />
you think of pre-cooked<br />
pasta, canned vegetables<br />
and instant potatoes.<br />
Mary Anderson, executive<br />
director of The Family Pantry in<br />
Harwich, along with board member<br />
Don Milbier, wants to change that.<br />
Displaying bins of large naval oranges<br />
and fresh green beans, this pantry<br />
looks more like a neighborhood market<br />
than a food pantry.<br />
The Family Pantry provides food<br />
and clothing to individuals and<br />
families in need on the <strong>Cape</strong>. It was<br />
He a lt H & We l l-b e i n g<br />
started in 1989 as an outgrowth of<br />
the St. Vincent de Paul Society of<br />
Holy Trinity Church in Hyannis, and<br />
is currently an independent not-forprofit,<br />
nondenominational organization.<br />
The Family Pantry is the largest<br />
on the <strong>Cape</strong> that is open to all.<br />
“A couple of years ago,” says Mary,<br />
“there was a lot in the paper about<br />
pre-diabetes and obesity. I found it<br />
interesting that people who don’t<br />
have a lot of money can have a<br />
problem with obesity; you’d think it<br />
would be the opposite. But it’s be-<br />
continued on Page 9<br />
christine hochkePPel/caPe cod times<br />
About the author<br />
Patricia B. Bertschy is a self-proclaimed health nut<br />
who was excited to move to the <strong>Cape</strong> in 2007 and<br />
be surrounded by so much natural beauty. She<br />
volunteers for the Brewster Conservation Trust and<br />
spends her free time walking, biking and swimming.<br />
Originally from New Jersey, she spent 20 years<br />
with AT&T/Verizon as a data systems analyst and<br />
marketing manager. Following early retirement, Pat<br />
enjoyed a second career as a Certified Financial<br />
Planner. Currently, she is working on her memoir,<br />
contributes to an online magazine and is active in<br />
several writing groups. She lives in Brewster with<br />
her husband and two teenagers, who are keeping<br />
her young.
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