Van and Volunteers Needed for Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry

Wakefield -- we need your help!

We are looking for someone who owns a cargo van or preferably a 16' box truck with a capacity of 5,000 lbs to assist us with a three hour round trip every other week (on a Wednesday or Monday) to go to the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) to pick up our food order and deliver it to our Pantry. The use of this truck would enable us to get much needed food at a very low cost and some free items as well to help keep our Pantry well stocked. We would be unable to operate at our current level and quality without the GBFB food source.

 

Please contact us at volunteer@wifoodpantry.org. Thank you!!!!!

Tonneson + Co sponsors a 5K Run/Walk Lake Quannapowitt on July 14, 3013 to benefit the Kids First Program

Tonneson + Co will be hosting a 5K run/walk around Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA on Sunday, July 14, 2013 at 10:00 am. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry to benefit the Kids First program.

 

The Kids First program provides food to families with school age children during the summer months. Many families receive free or reduced price breakfast and lunch during the school year, but this help is not available during the summer. The Kids First program provides the added food items to help replace those meals.

 

To register for this event, please visit the Racewire website or click here for the event page. The registration fee for this event is $25.00.  There is also a facebook event for this 5K run/walk where you can show your support and invite others.

 

If you are interested in volunteering at the event or becoming a sponsor, please contact Karianne Bekier or Brittany Quarantello at 781-245-9999 for more information.

Star of Bethlehem Lodge of Masons Donates $1,000 to the Food Pantry

 

The Star of Bethlehem Lodge of Masons in Wakefield recently donated a very generous $1,000 to the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry for all the work the pantry does for the community. 

 

In the photo:

 

Left to Right:  Maureen Miller (WIFP), Flo Calore (WIFP), Joanne Turco (WIFP), John Brownell (Master, Star of Bethlehem Lodge of Masons), and Michael Morris, (Junior Warden, Star of Bethlehem Lodge of Masons)

Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry Receives Grant from The Savings Bank Charitable Foundation

The Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry (WIFP) was one of several local nonprofit organizations that received a financial award from The Savings Bank Charitable Foundation. The foundation, established in 1997 through an initial endowment of $550,000 from The Savings Bank, presented a total of $ 26,700.00 to eight (8) nonprofit organizations during the 16^th distribution of funds. Over the past 17 years, the Foundation has made donations in excess of $ 450,000 to organizations in local communities.

            The $4,000.00 award was presented by The Savings Bank Charitable Foundation to Linda McManama, Joanne Turco, Wendy Dennis, and Gene Moulton, volunteers and leaders at the pantry. According to the WIFP, the pantry will use this money to support its Supplies for Seniors Program. Supplies for Seniors provides highly nutritious and desirable foods targeted for the senior clientele. Fresh fruit, vegetables, a well-thought-out selection of food items, and essential household supplies are offered monthly to the residents of Hart’s Hill and Crystal View community centers by a team of volunteers who organize and distribute to their client base.

            “We are thrilled to be selected as one of the recipients of The Savings Bank Charitable Foundation,” commented Maureen Miller, Director of the WIFP.  “As always, The Savings Bank demonstrates its commitment and generosity to the people of Wakefield, especially our neighbors in need.”

            For more information about the Supplies for Seniors Program at WIFP, please visit the food pantry website:  www.wifoodpantry.org.

 

Photo Caption: The Savings Bank Charitable Foundation recently presented the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry with a $4,000 financial award during the 16th distribution of funds.  Taking part in the award presentation were (from left to right) The Savings Bank Charitable Foundation Director Bob DiBella, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at The Savings Bank; The Savings Bank Charitable Foundation Director Susan O’Neill; Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry:  Linda McManama, Joanne Turco, Wendy Dennis, all long-time volunteers and leaders at the pantry; The Savings Bank Charitable Foundation Director Jack MacKay; Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry volunteer, Gene Moulton, and The Savings Bank Charitable Foundation Director, Glenn Dolbeare

A Big Thank You to All Who Gave or Helped During the 2013 Letter Carriers' Food Drive

Over ninety volunteers helped Saturday, May 11^th to support the annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive, Stamp Out Hunger, and stock the shelves at the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry (WIFP). Individuals and families as well as groups such as the Boy Scouts, WHS Football Team and the Kelly Sober House were all on hand to help unload, sort, and store the food. 

This year’s drive was very successful resulting in about 6 tons of food being collected to help our Wakefield neighbors in need. It’s estimated that this amount of food will allow for nearly 300 visits to the food pantry.

"Wakefield is very fortunate to have letter carriers who are willing to pick up and deliver many  pounds of food, along with their regular mail delivery each year," commented Maureen Miller, WIFP Director of Operations. “We’d like to thank each and every one of them for their help.”

For thirty years, the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry (WIFP) has been focused on eliminating hunger in our town by providing a variety of food and other items to those in need.  The pantry has served over 439 households this year alone with an average of 390 visits each month. Half of the families who come to the pantry are employed but unable to make ends meet with current salaries. The other half pantry clients are unemployed due to disability or retirement.

“The biggest thank you goes to everyone in Wakefield who took the time and thought to donate food and to the volunteers as well as our local newspapers who always support us to spread the word,” she said.

For more information about the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry, please visit:  www.wifoodpantry.org.