ATHOL – U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy III made a special delivery on Tuesday, donating several bags of groceries to the North Quabbin Catholic Community Food Bank located in the Our Lady of Immaculate Church rectory during a tour in central and western Massachusetts to support hunger awareness.
Rep. Kennedy, Deputy Press Secretary Brian Phillips, Jr., and Special Assistant to the Congressman, Enrique Pepen, stopped at the food bank on their way to join Rep. Jim McGovern at Monte’s March For A Million Meals in South Deerfield and a visit to the food pantry at the Leominster Spanish American Center.
The soft-spoken and focused Congressman spoke with Gayle Bassett, OLI church secretary and North Quabbin Catholic Community Food Bank chair, asking numerous questions about the organization. Bassett told him that they consistently serve 60 to 70 families a month from Athol, Royalston and Petersham which are part of a three-parish community, and that the food bank is open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. She pointed to a table lined with bottles of fruit drinks and cans of chick peas and told him about a little boy who came in and was excited to see milk on the table. Father Edwin Montana of Our Lady Immaculate Church said, “it’s a blessing to be able to help.”
The Congressman also questioned Father Montana about the recent arson fire at the church.
Down in the basement where the food is stored, Father Montana told Rep. Kennedy, “We’re there for whoever needs it, whoever can benefit from it.” Bassett said there are 12 volunteers who help hand out food.
Rep. Kennedy graciously posed for pictures with the food bank staff before heading to South Deerfield.
Prior to Rep. Kennedy’s arrival, Bassett explained that the food comes from the Worcester County Food Bank in Shrewsbury and private donations from parishioners. She buys supplemental food at Market Basket and other places. “People leave bags on the steps of the rectory. We get donations from different places. We get monetary donations from the annual Foodathon. In five years I’ve spent less than $200.”
She said there are no qualifying requirements to receive from the community food bank, only proof of address in one of the three towns. “We have statistical information to hand in monthly to the Food Bank which determines the allotment of food we get.” She said the NQCCFB has been associated with the Worcester County Food Bank for five years.
Bassett and helpers have picked up “about a ton of food each month,” or, 1,200 to 1,900 pounds. “Whatever they have is what I get,” adding, “They do get a very good variety of food; pasta and sauce, veggies and fruit, cereal.” She said they try to buy non-perishable food, recently acquired a refrigerator and has also become USDA certified “so we can get fruits, vegetables, dairy and frozen foods.”
Bassett said parishioners at St. Peter’s Church in Petersham filled about 15 bags of Thanksgiving fixings for the food bank.
Kathy Chaisson can be reached at 978-249-3535, ext.656 or kchaisson@atholdailynews.com.