Second Annual Light and Love Amherst Community Food Drive to Be Held on Jan. 19

AMHERST — The second annual Light and Love Amherst Community Food Drive, organized by state Rep. Mindy Domb, will be held from Jan. 6 through Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 19 to benefit the Amherst Survival Center. The food drive is inspired by King’s words: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Food donations will be collected at the Amherst Survival Center, in a drive-by fashion, on Monday, Jan. 19 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Amherst Survival Center is located at 138 Sunderland Road in North Amherst, across from Cowls Building Supply.

“I can’t think of a better way to honor Dr. King and start the new year — for us to come together as a community to care for one another and manifest his words into action,” Domb said. “Last year, our community collected 3,749 pounds of food through the MLK food drive. It would great to match that this year, given growing food insecurity and the additional food pantry on the UMass campus.”

The Amherst Survival Center indicated that the following items are most in need at this time: peanut butter, pasta and pasta sauce, cereal, canned soup, and oatmeal. The food pantry also makes personal care items available, including diapers and menstrual products.

Individuals, workplaces, and neighborhoods are encouraged to set up a food donation bin in their location and bring food donations to the center on jan. 19. Click here to learn more about how to participate in the food drive.