Norwich ― Like many military service members and veterans, Willow Clauson of Canterbury was proud and shy to ask for financial help when she lost her job six months ago.

A member of the nation’s first Easterseals Veterans Rally Point at 24 Stott Ave. in the Norwich Business Park, Clauson said she was “minding my own business” when Rally Point Director Lori Marriott approached her.

“She said, ‘Hey, I haven’t seen you in the food pantry in a while. Why don’t you go grab something?’” Clauson told about 35 people gathered Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of the expanded food pantry. “Ever since then, I’ve been here once a week, helping supplement my family with the groceries you give to me.”

Clauson, who served five years of active duty as a Navy corpsman and has been in the reserves since 2007, admitted it was difficult for her to tell her story without becoming emotional. She addressed an audience of local, state and federal political leaders, fellow veterans and media from across the state at Wednesday’s event.

“It is hard as a veteran to stand up and say, ‘Hey, look, I need help. Can you give me that helping hand,’” Clauson said.

Wednesday’s event celebrated the partnership that started last November between the Rally Point and the Gemma Moran United Way/Labor Food Center that greatly expanded the Rally Point’s fledgling food pantry.

Now, instead of offering a few non-perishable food items, the pantry’s shiny metal shelves teem with dry goods. New shelves have been set up in the adjacent clothing exchange room to offer hygiene products and more dry goods. Soon, more shelves could force part-time food pantry coordinator Tammy Stott to move her small desk into a nearby office.

In the commercial-grade kitchen, a large walk-in cooler installed three years ago, but barely used, now holds neatly-stacked cucumbers, squash, nectarines and other fruits and vegetables, along with fresh dairy products and dozens of eggs. Hillandale Farms donates 74 dozen eggs per month to the food pantry, Stott said.

The pantry accepts donations from the public as well. For information or to donate food items, contact the Rally Point at (860) 859-4148.

In the back corner, a freezer holds frozen meats and precooked meals. Recently, Clauson said, she brought home a rack of Kansas City barbecued spareribs. There were no leftovers that night, she told the gathering.

Rally Point volunteers cook meals every Wednesday for group meetings and lectures. Marriott said next week she hopes to advertise for a full-time kitchen manager. And once the kitchen meets all local health district requirements, she hopes to open it to offer grab-and-go lunches for workers in the business park.

The food pantry partnership started last November, Marriott said. The Rally Point wanted to allow time to get it up and running before holding Wednesday’s grand opening celebration.

The Rally Point, funded with a $2.5 million state grant, opened in 2021 as the first-in-the nation facility offering support services, space for socializing, support group meetings, lectures, individual services and an equipped exercise room.

Marriott said veterans’ agencies in Cincinnati and in New Hampshire plan to replicate the model, but for now, the Norwich facility is the only one in the nation.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, both noted the financial struggles the U.S. Veterans Affairs agency has had in recent years as it has tried to keep up with veterans’ services. Both said they aimed to address the VA deficit in Washington and welcomed the support of Easterseals to fill in part of the gap.

State Rep. Doug Dubitsky, R-Chaplin, said his district comprises eight rural northeastern Connecticut towns, and he has visited many of their VFW and American Legion halls. They all tell of dwindling membership as younger veterans are hesitant to join the clubs that have supported so many older generation veterans.

But, Dubitsky said, they increasingly talk about popular veteran coffeehouses and Rally Point.

State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, an Army veteran and Rally Point member, said female veterans especially are shy to come forward to access services. Osten said she is at Rally Point four to five times a week, especially using the gym. Marriott joked that whenever she introduces Osten to someone, she points out that she is a fellow Army veteran, but tries not to identify her as a state senator to allow her “to be Cathy” while at the center.

“This is a really important event,” Osten said. “Easterseals has taken on the challenge of representing veterans and in particular, veterans in eastern Connecticut. Eastern Connecticut has the largest population of veterans in the state.”

c.bessette@theday.com