Watch the 30th Year Commemoration Video on YouTube

30th Year Commemoration - Watch the 30th Year Commemoration Video on YouTube

Thirty years ago the Mission Committee of the First Baptist Church opened their doors to those in need by setting up a pantry.  This was in response to the many calls for help that Reverend Keech was receiving asking for food assistance.  The first pantry was actually a metal supply shelf filled with the canned food donated each Sunday by parishioners of the Baptist Church.  During it’s first year the food pantry helped 17 households.  Unfortunately, the need continued to grow and it grew rapidly.

Soon the First Baptist realized it needed the community at large to assist with the pantry.  As a result the Wakefield INTERFAITH food pantry was formed.  Each month a different congregation was responsible for stocking and providing food to those Wakefield residents who were in need.  By 2001, the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry was incorporated into a 501-3(c) non-profit with members from all congregations and the community on its board.  In 2010, the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry moved to larger accommodations at the Americal Civic Center to allow for use of the Greater Boston Food Bank, more storage, refrigeration and longer hours.

To commemorate these last 30 years, a group of volunteers with the help of WCAT has produced a documentary of the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry.  The documentary called “Hunger Hurts; A Community Responds” was shown on WCAT and is now available to watch on YouTube.  Please share this video with your neighbors!