With $76,500 raised from 117 community members during the capital campaign, the center will be used to power the Fresh Boost initiative by delivering groceries from the 138 Sunderland Road site to those in need. I got a refrigerator car.
Executive Director Lev Ben-Ezra said the van meant serving more people and delivering more produce and other perishable items to attendees.
“This is especially needed now, as more people are facing food insecurity this fall than at the peak of the pandemic,” Ben Ezra said. “More people are using the Amherst Survival Center than ever before.”
“This van is a visible symbol of our community’s collective commitment to achieving food security for all,” she added.
Lisa Queenin, the center’s development manager, said those who donated to the purchase of the van were publicly recognized for their generosity at www.amherstsurvival.org/van2022.
Feedback from participants and demand in the field demonstrate the importance of food pantries. In 2019, food pantries provided approximately five days of food per household per month. In 2020, this increased to 8 days of food per household each month, and then to 10 days of groceries.
But BenEzra said the center needed to add a second store on the premises to meet the goal of providing each family with enough food for a full two weeks.
As a result, the center began offering additional Fresh Boost monthly grocery stores on-site in October and delivered Fresh Boost to several routes in November.
With a second Fresh Boost delivery now underway, refrigerated vans are making sure food is available to all delivery households in need.
BenEzra said people in need of food, clinics and community activities are welcome to contact the centre.
Local residents can support the Fresh Boost initiative in many ways. These include emailing [email protected] to learn about volunteering during the winter months, and donating by delivering non-perishable foods, especially cereals, pasta and rice. Donate from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays, or from 7:00 pm on Thursdays, from 9:00 am to noon on the third Saturday, or at www.amherstsurvival.org/donate.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at [email protected].