CUPBOARD NOT BARE: M. Dennis Coyne, coordinator of the Mazzoni Center’s food bank, has served in that position for almost a year. “I find the work here fulfilling and gratifying,” Coyne said. About 2,100 people are served annually by the region’s only HIV food bank.

Recent federal AIDS cuts are affecting agencies throughout the Delaware Valley. But officials at the Mazzoni Center, a local GLBT health center, say their HIV food bank will continue unhampered.

“Food is one of the basic components of keeping people with HIV/AIDS alive and healthy,” said Nurit L. Shein, executive director of Mazzoni. “We at Mazzoni are committed to ensuring the continuation of this service.”

The food bank at 1201 Chestnut St. — the only one of its kind in the region — has been in existence for 18 years and serves about 2,100 people annually.

The food bank’s annual budget is about $94,000, which is relatively small compared to Mazzoni’s overall $5-million budget. But officials say it’s an aspect of their budget that’s vital to the agency.

Individuals may access the cupboard at least twice monthly, and receive the equivalent of four meals for each member of the household. The only requirement is that a person be HIV-positive, or be part of a household that has an HIV-positive member.

There are no income guidelines, but the program is geared to those with limited finances. “The only criteria is a diagnosis of HIV,” Shein said. “Over 90 percent of our clients are under the poverty line.”

She said the service is affirming to those with HIV.

“It’s a message of support, which will act as a morale booster,” she said. “It’s a comforting show of support.”

While the food bank doesn’t routinely distribute perishable items, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, clients can get items such as pasta, white rice, breakfast cereal, soups, canned beans, vegetables and fruit. “We do have frozen foods, including meat, at times,” Shein said.

Every effort is made to stock the cupboard with nourishing items, she said.

“Every bag that’s given is balanced with the nutritional needs of the individuals,” she added. “We don’t give junk food, because we want to help people get nutrition and get what they need.”

Corn, breakfast cereals, peanut butter and pasta are especially popular items, said Shein.

The city Health Department recently announced a $2.4-million reduction in Ryan White funds for the region. Agencies are still waiting to learn exactly how their program funding will be affected.

Shein said mechanisms are in place at Mazzoni to seek alternate funding for the food bank, including private foundation grants.

“We constantly seek private foundation dollars for the food bank,” she said. “We also do food drives, usually around the holiday season, so we can give people turkeys and trimmings for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. That’s the only time we have the fresh produce. We give them a whole package, so they can make Christmas dinner or Thanksgiving dinner.”

M. Dennis Coyne, coordinator of Mazzoni’s food bank, said PhilAbundance, a local hunger-relief organization, is the main source of food for the pantry.

Once a month, the food bank also receives food from the SHARE Food Program, a regional nonprofit that supplies food to individuals and organizations.

The food bank operates from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, he said.

For more information, visit www.mazzonicenter.org or call (215) 563-0652.