I hope this email finds you safe and well amidst this devastating crisis.
We are overwhelmed with gratitude for all who have asked, "How can I help?" To everyone who has reached out, cooked, picked up boxes, sewn masks, stocked pallets of canned goods, and contributed to our COVID-19 Hunger Response Fund, I cannot thank you enough.
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Kevin Gutting, Daily Hampshire Gazette
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This
article,
published in the Gazette on April 2, describes what our "new normal" looks like at the Amherst Survival Center.
We've taken additional steps this week to ensure people continue to have access to food while preventing the spread of COVID-19.
This week we began food delivery with some amazing partners, and plan to expand this more (thank you
Amherst Senior Center, CHD, the VA, and ServiceNet!).
We are requiring
face coverings/cloth masks for all staff and volunteers (thank you Mask Sewers!).
We are buying more food.
On Friday, 157 people came for lunch, produce, and bread, lining up outside despite the cold rain.
People are scared right now...scared they're going to get sick, scared they're going to run out of food for their families, scared they won't have jobs to return to, scared that they are alone. The Amherst Survival Center is providing much needed relief. In a recent voicemail, a teary Amherst senior said, "I got my groceries. Thank you so much.
I just didn't know what I was going to do."
If you need food, please come. We are open. We have food. We are here to help. See our website for information about our
updated services, and about options for accessing the
Food Pantry, including delivery and alternate pick up.
If you can give, please do.
We need to pull out all the stops now to make sure we're able to keep getting
food to people who need our support. Our
COVID-19 Hunger Response Fund will ensure that we have the capacity to meet the demand. And right now, we have a wonderful match opportunity.
A generous donor will contribute $5,000 if we can match it by 4/15.
Our community always rises to the challenge, and this is no exception. Please share what you can to provide food for your neighbors as they navigate this crisis. Donate now to the
COVID-19 Hunger Response Fund.
