Food Donations Needed for Letter Carrier's Food Drive, May 12, 2012

The annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive will take place on Saturday, May 12th. On that day, Wakefield residents are asked to leave a bag or box of non-perishable food by their mailbox. Letter carriers will pick up the food on their postal routes and deliver it that afternoon to the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry (WIFP).  The need for food assistance has been growing due to higher unemployment and a difficult economy. Last year alone, the WIFP provided food for approximately 225 families, and these families visited the pantry a total of 4,182 times for an average of 349 visits per month. 

The WIFP also needs volunteers to help with this drive especially on Saturday, May 12^th between 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm. To volunteer, please sign up online at the WIFP website: www.wifoodpantry.org, or email: volunteer@wifoodpantry.org.

While all non-perishable foods are welcome, donations of the following items would be most beneficial:

Protein Group

Canned tuna, salmon, sardines, chicken, ham
Canned chili, beef stew, baked beans

Peanut butter

Fruit & Vegetable Group

Canned fruit (in its own juice)

Dried fruit
Canned vegetables, especially corn and green beans
Diced tomatoes
Pasta sauce

Pasta & Cereal Group

All kinds of pasta.

A variety of cereals.

Milk Group & Miscellaneous Needs

Shelf Stable milk
Jelly and jams
Reusable shopping bags

 Please note that the Pantry cannot accept any food items that are opened or past their expiration dates or canned goods with dents and rust.

Thank you for your participation!!!

Gathering Change Invites You to "Dining for A Cause" To Benefit Local Food Pantries - Like Us!

Enjoy dinner at the Ninety Nine Restaurant in Lynnfield, MA April 23, 2012 and 15 percent of your guest check will be donated to Gathering Change, a non-profit group that collects spare change from our communities for distribution back into our neighborhood food pantries (ie... WIFP).

Date:  Monday, April 23, 2012
Time:  5:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location:  Ninety Nine Restaurant, 317 Salem Street, Lynnfield, MA

Please show your voucher when ordering from your server. Vouchers will be at the restaurant. Thank you!

Century 21 Commonwealth Sponsors Saturday Food Drive – April 14, 2012

Century21 Commonwealth is hosting the April 14 Saturday Food Drive to support the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry. Volunteers from Century21 Commonwealth will on hand from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the food pantry located at Americal Civic Center, 467 Main Street in Wakefield to help receive donations, sort and stock the food items.

In addition, Century21 Commonwealth is continuing its GIVE AWAY campaign to benefit the food pantry where participants can enter to win a $1,000 Apple gift card from now until the end of June, 2012. Here’s how it works.

1. Simply come by the Food Pantry for the April 14 Food Drive or stop by the Century21 Commonwealth office at 29 Albion Street inWakefield.

2. Drop off food items or a financial donation to the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry.

3. Fill out an entry form to win…. The $1000 Apple gift card!

Best of all, a lucky winner will be selected each month in April, May and June. Participants can summit a new entry form for each month which means a number of chances to win. Plus, your donation to the WIFP helps those families and individuals in Wakefield, who have fallen on difficult times due to job loss, illness, age or economic conditions. Anyone who demonstrates residence in Wakefield and needs food can receive assistance from the food pantry knowing
that their privacy, dignity and confidentiality are respected by volunteers who hold the belief that sometimes a helping hand is all you need to get back on your feet.