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Parish Cupboard seeks support

By Michelle Symington

Staff Writer



WEST SPRINGFIELD With the holidays approaching, the Parish Cupboard is not seeking food donations, it needs monetary support.

The organization, which serves about 210 local families with emergency food each month and about 30 people a day with its meal program, has been "doing ok" with food, according to Candy Boucher, executive director of the organization.

However, she said, "Finances are bad."

The Parish Cupboard does not receive any state or federal funding.

"All of our funding comes from donations from businesses and support from people and churches in the area," Boucher said.

She added that the Parish Cupboard is not a United Way agency, but receives some funding from them if donors allocate their donations to the Parish Cupboard through the United Way.

In order to try to increase funding, Boucher decided to do another "Cash for the Cupboard" month throughout November to draw attention to the fact that the organization is in need.

Boucher explained that the Parish Cupboard finished its fiscal year, which ended in August, with a $6,100 deficit.

She added that, at a recent meeting, the organization's treasurer said that the Parish Cupboard may suffer a $10,000 deficit if it continues to receive the support at the level it has been.

"The treasurer predicts that we can survive at this rate for two more years," Boucher said.

If the two years pass without any changes, she said that the organization would either have to cut back on staff or cut back on some of its services.

She said that cutting back would be "drastic measures other agencies had to resort to," which is not something she wants to do.

Boucher said that members of the community need to "realize that we are here to be the hands and hearts for their neighbors in need."

There has been a decrease in donations to the Parish Cupboard over the past year, according to Boucher.

"I think there is a notion that the Parish Cupboard is doing a very good job taking care of people who need us and because they do a good job we don't have to help them as much," she said. "We are asking because we really need the help."

She said that she is seeking donations of any amount, whether it be $2 or $20.

"It is all of our responsibilities," she said about helping neighbors in need.

Boucher chose November as a time to actively seek donations because "it is the most generous month of the year" when people are thinking of others.

"It is a hard time to be a donor because there are so many needs out there and it is hard to be asked," Boucher said. "But, asking is my job for the people who need us. We have a lot of respect for donors."

She said that for someone who would want to spend $10 or $30 on food to help, could instead write a check and send it in the mail.

"It is a lot more handy than lugging turkeys here," Boucher said.

Boucher explained that the food supply at the Parish Cupboard remains healthy because of the successful Letter Carriers Food Drive and because the organization has been "blessed" with support from the Food Bank.

The organization has been receiving 12 USDA items from the Food Bank recently, when in the past it has received two such items.

"It does make a difference," she said. "We give what we have and are trying to make it last as long as we can."

Boucher added that more food donations have been trickling in since the start of the school year, which is food that was not received over the summer.

The Parish Cupboard has also been stretching the food supply as far as it can, Boucher said, describing it as being like a savings account.

"The need hasn't gone down any," she said.

Anyone who would like to help support the Parish Cupboard can send donations to: Parish Cupboard, 1023 Main Street, West Springfield, MA 01089.