Page 14 - BusinessWest/Healthcare News 2021 Giving Guide

NORTHAMPTON
SURVIVAL
CENTER INC.
265 Prospect St. Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-6564 www.northamptonsurvival.org Executive Director: Heidi Nortonsmith
YEAR ESTABLISHED
1979
OPERATING BUDGET
$857,000 (FY 2021)
SERVICE AREA
Eighteen communities throughout Hampshire County: Chesterfield, Cummington, Easthampton, Florence, Goshen, Hadley, Hatfield, Haydenville, Huntington, Leeds, Middlefield, Northampton, Plainfield, South Hadley, Southampton, Westhampton, Williamsburg, and Worthington
MISSION STATEMENT
The Northampton Survival Center is dedicated to improving the quality of life for low-income individuals and families throughout Hampshire County by providing nutritious food and other resources in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.
WHO WE ARE
AND WHAT WE DO
The Northampton Survival Center is a food pantry and referral service with locations
in Northampton and Goshen, serving 18 communities throughout Hampshire County. Our goal is to ensure that low-income individuals and families who suffer from
food insecurity and hunger exacerbated by COVID-19 have access to receiving nutritious foods on a weekly basis. We continue to see
a substantial increase in new clients as those who have lost jobs or whose businesses have failed find themselves having to rely on our services for the first time. Last year, 20% of our clients were seniors, and 26% were 18 years old or younger. The center is open three days a week all year long, and distributes approximately 17,000 pounds of food every week.
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RESPONDING TO COVID-19
While keeping all volunteers, clients, and staff safely distanced, our food-distribution program moved outside, where clients can come every week to receive pre-bagged food while staying in their cars. To make up for
the lack of choices inherent in offering pre- bagged groceries, we focus on providing a variety of fresh produce, shelf-stable items, and other popular items like bread, meat, and vegetarian and gluten-free options. Inside,
a small crew of volunteers work in safely distanced workstations separated by plexiglass. Partnering with Grow Food Northampton has enabled us to provide doorstep deliveries to low-income and senior-housing sites. Recently, we started offering food deliveries by taxi for some clients who are homebound.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
The center usually depends on a variety
of donations from hundreds of individuals, families, and organizations. Under the current COVID-19 configurations, we are accepting financial gifts only. These donations directly fund hundreds of thousands of pounds of healthy food for our community and allow our services to remain stable. Whether you are a business or an individual, please see
our website for details on different ways you can give financially. We are also asking all community members to help us reach people
who may be food-insecure for the first time, or who may need a little encouragement about using our services. Please share our information when you find the opportunity.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Due to the pandemic, we have scaled back our volunteer program and are not recruiting new volunteers at this time.
TESTIMONIALS
“I am amazed at the staff’s flexibility and devotion in this crisis. Their dedication has never wavered,” says Margaret, a longtime volunteer.
“You have food in the house, and you feel like a person,” says Cheryl, a former preschool teacher who struggled financially after her husband’s death. She marvels at how coming to the center affords balanced nutrition and relieves her isolation. She finds it stressful to navigate benefits like food stamps that “can get cancelled unexpectedly.” And, like many seniors, she appreciates how “coming here helps me brighten my life because I am able to take care of myself — be independent
and in charge of myself. Age, then, makes no difference.”
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Debin Bruce, President
Anthony Scibelli, Vice President
Michael Skillicorn, Treasurer
Rich Webber, Clerk Brian Adams Angela Combest Lisa Downing Ellen Frank
Rick Katsanos Margaret Miller Cher Willems
48 DECEMBER 2020 GIVING GUIDE
BusinessWest /HEALTHCARENEWS