SPRINGFIELD -- Price Rite Marketplace and Feed the Children, assisted by community volunteers, joined forces on Wednesday in Springfield to provide food, school supplies and other essentials to families in need,
Price Rite and Feed the Children were expecting to provide approximately $200,000 worth of food and essentials to about 400 families totaling about 1,600 individuals. The families were pre-identified by Revival Time Evangelical Center.
For area residents waiting for the food and supplies in the parking lot at St. George Orthodox Cathedral in the North End, the feeling was gratitude.
“I’m very, very thankful,” said Donna Mattos of Springfield, the mother of three girls and grandmother of two. “People are struggling these days. Times are hard and people need all the help they can get at this time.”
“I think it’s a great program,” said Alicia Mendoza of Chicopee, who has a daughter and husband. “It’s my first time. It helps to take the burden off families. It allows them to utilize what they have for other necessities such as bills.”
Local officials gathered in the lot just prior to the distribution at St. George to thank the organizers and volunteers for the “feeding minds and bodies” effort.
The distribution included families receiving: a 25-pound box off food; a 15-pound box of essentials including shampoo, conditioner, lotion and other personal care items; a backpack full of school supplies, and additional “shelf stable” items from the store.
“It is so important for those who can to help those less fortunate and in need during these difficult times,” Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said. “A little love, compassion and understanding goes a long way.”
There are many who just need “a little helping hand,” Sarno said.
Others attending the event and praising the effort included: Joe Allegro, senior director of corporate partnerships for Feed the Children; Kathy Freedman, senior human resource manager for Price Rite; state Sen. Adam Gomez; state Reps. Carlos Gonzalez and Orlando Ramos; Assistant Schools Superintendent Lydia Martinez; and St. George Cathedral officials.
The Feed the Children organization conducts distributions across the country and Price Rite Marketplace also provides programs in multiple states.
Tahndrea Carter of Springfield, among those waiting in the parking lot, said it was nice to get some assistance during tough times. The distribution was expected to last about two hours.
“Not everyone can afford a lot, especially with the pandemic,” Carter said.
Dean Baiardi of Springfield said he, his wife and three children are grateful, noting that he went from working about 80 hours a week to “15 if I was lucky” during the pandemic.
“In these economic times, paying a mortgage is a crisis every month,” Baiardi said. “A penny saved is a penny earned. I’m very appreciative.”
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June 16, 2021 at 11:51PM
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