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Sandy Action Center reports rising demand; director urges continued city support
Summary
Sandy Action Center director Kirsten Pitzer told council the pantry served about 373 households monthly in 2025 (roughly 1,000 individuals/month), saw a 25% year‑over‑year rise in new households, and is capacity‑constrained; she asked the city to consider partnership opportunities and keep the center in mind for future support.
Kirsten Pitzer, director of the Sandy Action Center, presented data from her nonprofit’s 2025 operations and asked the council to consider closer partnership and planning to address growing demand.
Pitzer said the pantry served an average of about 373 households a month — translating to just over 1,000 individuals monthly and roughly 13,000 client visits across the year. She said the center saw a 25% increase in new households (about 600 new households in the last year) and that meal‑site programming produced 3,832 cooked meals last year. “Our senior box program serves 395 boxes over the course of the year,” she added, underscoring the center’s expanding work with seniors who are also caregivers.
Pitzer described the center’s operations — a self‑shop pantry model, a Lunchbox program serving unhoused neighbors Monday–Friday, and partnerships that supply roughly 120,000 pounds of salvaged food annually from local grocers and food‑bank partners. She told council that the building is at capacity and that the board is exploring options for growth and a potential drive‑through or larger footprint.
Councilors thanked the Action Center, asked about building needs and coordination with city programs, and encouraged staff to follow up so the nonprofit could provide a concise list of facility needs and partnership opportunities. Pitzer said she would provide details for staff to include in planning and budget conversations.
