After the Globe reported on Wednesday that meals pantries throughout the state are struggling to keep up with demand throughout the holidays amid the COVID-19 pandemic, readers wished to understand how they may step in to assist.
With turkey day upon us, it could be too late to volunteer, however listed here are just a few methods you’ll be able to nonetheless become involved — even the day of.
Donate cash
Meals banks and pantries throughout the state are accepting money donations. Listed below are hyperlinks to donate to the state’s 4 meals banks:
Some meals pantries additionally settle for reward playing cards. Individuals can buy reward playing cards to grocery shops and drop them off on the Merrimack Valley Meals Financial institution. The Higher Boston Meals Financial institution is encouraging cash donations as a substitute of reward playing cards, stated Catherine Drennan, a spokeswomen for the meals financial institution.
Ship groceries to a neighborhood meals pantry
Some meals pantries are accepting meals donations amid the pandemic, and it’s best to test with their native meals pantry forward of time to see what they are going to settle for and what they want most. Individuals can go grocery buying and drop off non-perishable items like canned greens, rice, and canned fish and rooster at a meals pantry, whereas some are accepting produce and meat. The Higher Boston Meals Financial institution will not be at the moment accepting meals donations as a result of COVID-19.
The Merrimack Valley Meals Financial institution has arrange registries for individuals to order groceries by means of Walmart and Amazon that may be delivered to the meals financial institution’s warehouse, Debbie Callery, assistant govt director of the meals financial institution, stated. Particulars can be found on the food bank’s website.
Extra persons are inquiring about find out how to assist now, stated Linda Zimmerman, the chief director of Neighbors in Want, a meals pantry in Lawrence. But it surely’s vital “to recollect persons are hungry on daily basis,” she stated, and there are issues Massachusetts residents can do when the vacations move.
Listed below are just a few concepts:
Volunteer
Whereas many organizations have scaled again or altogether paused their volunteer operations as a result of COVID-19, some are nonetheless accepting volunteers for after Thanksgiving. Individuals are capable of volunteer with the Salvation Military and the Higher Boston Meals Financial institution.
Neighbors in Want can be accepting volunteers. Individuals can test in with their native meals pantries and organizations to see if there are volunteer alternatives accessible.
Host a meals drive
The Merrimack Valley Meals Financial institution is encouraging individuals to host meals drives, by which individuals can set some extent of supply, reminiscent of their house, college, or office, for individuals to drop off meals that shall be distributed to native meals pantries and applications, Callery stated. The Merrimack Valley Meals Financial institution offers a meals drive toolkit to elucidate how individuals can manage them and offers fliers and posters to assist individuals unfold the phrase.
Amanda Kaufman might be reached at amanda.kaufman@globe.com. Observe her on Twitter @amandakauf1.
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