ATHOL – During a recent visit to the Athol High School Family & Community Center and Food Pantry, U.S. Rep. James McGovern addressed the recent federal spending freeze that had so many concerned about the future.

His visit came just after the White House announced it was rescinding a memo, issued by the Office of Management and Budget, announcing a freeze on virtually all federal spending for grants and loans. The decision to rescind the order came 20 hours after a federal judge ordered a temporary halt to the spending freeze.

McGovern delivered news of the reversal during a visit Wednesday afternoon to the Athol High School Family & Community Center and Food Pantry.

It was good news for Shirley Mitchell, the director of the food pantry. Asked if she had been taken aback by news of the spending freeze, Mitchell said, “Everything will happen in its time, and we’re going to figure it out. I think that’s where we’re at. We have, thankfully, enough, thanks to donations from people.”

The food pantry, she pointed out, serves families throughout the Athol area, not just families of ARRSD students, so the demand is high.

Mitchell said she had concerns about the potential impact of the spending freeze on the Worcester County Food Bank, which receives federal monies for its operation.

McGovern said his office had been deluged with phone calls from municipal officials, leaders of nonprofit organizations and everyday citizens expressing worries over the halt in spending.

“This effects everyone,” said McGovern. “It didn’t just hurt blue states and Democrats, it hurt red states and Republicans, including MAGA Republicans. It cut funds for school lunch programs, for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs), for the WIC (Women Infants and Children) program, Head Start, Meals on Wheels – a whole host of programs that Americans all across this country depend on.

McGovern warned that, in spite of the decision to pull back the order from OMB, an executive order signed by the president is still in effect, “and he’ll try his hardest to implement it. But it won’t stand. It will not stand. The order is illegal. Congress has the budget authority, not the president.”

Mitchell said she would be keeping a close eye on developments going forward.

Before McGovern’s arrival, a long line of people seeking assistance from the food pantry had formed outside the facility’s doors, awaiting its opening at 1:30. Some carried re-usable bags they hoped to fill with the food items available to them, others carried backpacks, some carried plastic buckets.

Before it opened, the pantry’s tables, shelves, refrigerators, and freezer were full. People making their way through had a pick of fresh vegetables, pasta, coffee, canned vegetables and fruit, coffee, bread, individual fruit pies, and many other items to help them feed themselves and their families until returning again next Wednesday.

Mitchell’s staff and volunteers met everyone coming through the door and assisted them as they moved from the vegetables, to canned and boxed goods, to the fridge and freezer, with a final stop for eggs, bread, and pies.

Among the volunteers were twins Shania and Luna Luna, sixth graders at Athol Royalston Middle School, and their mother Carolina. Asked who volunteered first, Luna responded, “We kind of all did it at the same time.”

As to their reason for volunteering for an afternoon to help at the food pantry, Luna and Shania, almost in unison, said, “We like helping people.”

“We think it’s important,” Luna added.

McGovern spoke briefly with Mitchell, her staff and volunteers before departing. He thanked them for their work and told them he would try his best to make sure facilities like the food pantry don’t suffer from any spending cuts that may be proposed by the president and congressional Republicans.

The food pantry, located just off Lake Ellis Road, at the rear of Athol High School, is open each Wednesday from 3 to 5 p.m. Anyone wishing to donate any non-perishable food items to the pantry should call (978) 249-2435 or email smitchell@arrsd.org.

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.