Giving Their Best: A Food Pantry Opens in Milan

When the federal government shut down for 43 days, starting on Oct. 1, it threatened to leave some local families hungry. Milan resident Stephanie Fitzpatrick took action. 

“I was afraid people would lose their SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits,” she said. “Pine Plains has Willow Roots [and the Community Food Locker], but Milan had no food pantry. I knew I had to do something.” On Nov. 14, thanks to a flurry of support from others, she opened The Giving Shed, the town’s first food distribution center.

Fitzpatrick is a 35-year veteran of the volunteer Milan Rescue Squad and the owner of Rustic Tables Restaurant and Bar on Route 199, which welcomes residents facing food insecurity: A “pay it forward” board allows diners to leave prepaid meal coupons for others, and this year she prepared full Thanksgiving dinners for four Milan families. 

For weeks, Fitzpatrick considered how and where to establish a pantry. “It made sense to put it right outside my restaurant, so I asked my friend Michelle if she had an old shed,” she said. But Michelle Miller, who owns Bayhorse Structures on Route 199 in Milan, had another idea. 

“I’ve known Stephanie for more than a decade, so when she asked for help, I said of course,” Miller recalled. “But I told her to set things up at Bayhorse — there’s much better road access, and I wanted to use a bigger shed.” The structure she had in mind was 10-by-12 feet, complete with a front porch. “It just has never sold,” Miller said. ”The shed has been [donated for use as] an information booth at the Dutchess County Fair and Clinton Community Day. So I put one table inside to start with, then bought groceries to help fill the shed.”

Red Hook resident Tim Mollica, who has delivered and installed Bayhorse outbuildings for 25 years, donated food, too. “I didn’t have much in my life growing up, but I’m blessed with a good job now,” he said. “It’s tough out there. I want to help others so they don’t have to struggle so hard.”

Fitzpatrick contributed food from her restaurant, but it still wasn’t enough, so she asked for help from Lisa and Nelson Zayas, co-founders of Willow Roots. “Stephanie told us about her Giving Shed idea, and we loved it,” Lisa said.  

Willow Roots needed similar help when it opened in 2019. “Saint Thomas Episcopal Church [Food of Life] pantry in Amenia gave us tons of overflow,” Lisa said. “So did Neighbors Helping Neighbors [the Ancramdale Presbyterian Church food pantry], Red Hook Responds, and [Black Sheep Hill Farm owner] Jack Banning: He donated thousands of dollars worth of meat.” Willow Roots supplied the The Giving Shed with canned goods, pasta, rice, and adult diapers. 

Miller’s daughter posted information about the pantry on Facebook to raise public awareness. “We want people to know that they can take what they need, no questions asked, and the shed is open daily from dawn to dusk,” Miller said. “We accept donations, too, like unexpired canned goods, juice, and toiletries.” 

The shed has no electricity or heat, so eggs are kept in a defunct dorm-sized fridge to protect them from freezing — and from rodents. “We leave the shed open all day, so there can be critters in there,” Miller said. 

The Giving Shed has had a steady stream of customers since opening, and the pantry shelves emptied in the runup to Thanksgiving. “I was shocked to open its doors after the holiday and see that it had been refilled by others — people I didn’t even know,” Miller said.

Fitzpatrick, Miller, and Mollica continue to buy the groceries and personal care products, then restock the pantry themselves. “At first we were only going to stay open through Christmas,” Miller said. “But Tim said people are in even more need the week after. In fact, he thinks we should run it through the winter.” Mollica added, “We can’t continue to foot the bill for everyone — we need assistance: Giving is year-round.” 

Fitzpatrick agreed: “I’m not asking for volunteers  — we want to keep this simple. Those who can, please leave unexpired dry goods and personal hygiene items at the The Giving Shed. I’d like this to go on as long as possible.”

The Giving Shed is at Bayhorse Structures, 2 Academy Road in Milan, and open daily from dawn to dusk. Bayhorse is also a Toys for Tots sponsor and is accepting new, unwrapped toys through mid-December during business hours.