Pivot Stretches to Include a Food Pantry

Pivot Physical Therapy Clinic Director Tanya Dickson see a lot of bumps, bruises, and bodily injuries, but since the start of the pandemic, she and her team have witnessed another need: food.

When Patient Care Coordinator Christina Tudor came to her with the idea to start a food pantry in their clinic, Dickson was all in.

“An elderly patient had just been telling us that her cupboards were bare. She did not want to ask for help and was waiting for the Mountaire Bulk Chicken sales,” said Dickson. “We bought her some groceries and delivered them,” and the pantry was born.

Located at the front of the clinic, it offers non-perishable items to those who need. Dickson, Tudor and Physical Therapist Yngwie Edeen bring in food, and patients, mail carriers, delivery people and others have begun to drop off. 

They recently had a call from a mother of very young twins who was being assisted by Joseph House and staying in a local hotel but did not have a car. She needed milk and other supplies and they were able to bring her those.

“For people who really cannot get to us, we will bring the food to them,” added Dickson.

In addition, the clinic is beginning to work with families from East Salisbury Elementary, where Dickson’s husband is Dean of Students, and possibly Bennett Middle. Both schools have food pantries that cannot operate right now.

Meanwhile the clinic is seeing patients at a rate of one-per-hour for social distancing and is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Drop non-perishable pantry items just inside the front door and the staff will do the rest. 

Pivot Physical Therapy is located at 2618 N Salisbury Blvd Suite 130 (in the Panera Bread shopping center.) For more information call 410-324-7409 or email tdickson@pivoths.com.