A Unique Holiday Gift Idea: Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry Donations for Those on Your Shopping List

It seems like we just finish the last piece of pie at Thanksgiving and the holiday gift giving frenzy begins. Does your uncle need another tie?

·       Does your wife want more body lotion?

·       Does the teacher need another mug?

·       Does the neighbor look forward to more holiday candles?

·       Do you need more socks?

The holiday season is filled with joy, love, and …stress.  We are preoccupied with decorating, cooking, cleaning, and most of all-- shopping. Why not take a different approach?

For your loved ones, friends, neighbors, colleagues, teachers and any “hard to buy for” people on your list, please consider gifting a financial donation in their name to the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry. 

Even with all the magic and happiness of the season, many of our neighbors in Wakefield are struggling to make ends meet and find themselves experiencing food insecurity due to a variety of circumstances:  job loss, medical expenses, or a low fixed income.  They may come home to find very little in their cupboards and refrigerators to cook or eat.  Resources and safety nets that many people relied upon for help are being cut, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federally-funded nutrition program that offers food assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families.

Working together with our generous Wakefield community, we can support our neighbors in need and provide the “gift of giving” to those we care about during the season of giving and all year ‘round.  Plus, donations to the food pantry go a long way. With a donation of just $25, WIFP can access food valued at $100 from the Greater Boston Food Bank. 

You will find a variety of printable cards on the WIFP website:

http://www.wifoodpantry.org/wi_celebratehonor.html

You can use this to fill out and send to people on your shopping list letting them know that a donation to the food pantry has been made in their name. Then, make your donation payable to:  Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry, PO Box 1624, Wakefield, MA 01880. Or, you can make a secure donation online on the website.

As always, the Board of Directors, staff and volunteers at the food pantry appreciate the incredible generosity of the people of Wakefield.  We thank you for this support and wish you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy, healthy New Year.