SOS: The Pantry is out of Tuna Fish:

There is some alarm about this. The tuna fish has been added to the wish list.

The Starkist chunk of light tuna in water is 5 oz. Can, pack of 8, $7.98.

We can feed most families for an 8-pack of tuna for several nights.

Just after 2:30, I received a message from Sarah Harrington at the Cambridge Food Pantry about the Tuna Fish. She diligently monitors what people take home and what the pantry runs out of, especially midweek.

So is always updating the Amazon Cambridge Pantry Wish List.

When she needs some additional support, she texts me. We step in and try to help when there is a special and urgent need.

Some items are more central than others. Tuna Fish is a big deal.

“Hi,” she messaged at 3 p.m., “we are out of Tuna Fish. Can you provide it for us?” Of course, I said, we’ll try.

Wednesdays are the busiest days with the largest traffic for the pantry.

It’s the middle of the week, and parents start worrying when their food runs out, and they can’t afford to buy more as the weekend approaches. It’s an awful position to be in.

The last week, a record-breaking 417 people came through the pantry Wednesday, plus another 173 backpack kids. Before this, the record was 120 families.

(The pantry has also run out of canned chicken breast.)

Tuna fish is an essential food for the pantry and families to look for; it is healthy, popular, and often the only fish these children and their families get to eat. Local children help out, and so do the elderly.

The people who support the Mansion in Cambridge scan all ages and classes.

The young (top) bring the backpack food to the school for distribution, and the older and old come in throughout the week to organize the food and distribute it for display and distribution.

I won’t be able to attend tomorrow’s backpack assembly at the pantry. I have a doctor’s appointment; Maria is going instead. Please consider sending a tuna can or two. I’m sending two packs.

Thanks, you are making a huge difference.