Inauguration celebration to benefit the Open Pantry

Date: 1/5/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



SPRINGFIELD The day of President-Elect Barack Obama's swearing in as the 44th President of the United States will be one of celebration throughout the nation. In Springfield, it will also serve as a day to help those in need.

An inauguration celebration will be taking place downtown at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel will feature a midday meal and the live broadcast of the events from Washington, D.C. This is a benefit luncheon, and its proceeds will go directly to Open Pantry Community Services Inc.

"I came up with the idea for this because of it being such a historical time," Jacqui Avery, the local businesswoman who is coordinating the event, said. "A lot of folks will not be able to attend the event in Washington, D.C."

This is the first time something like this, involving both the inauguration and the Open Pantry, has been coordinated, according to Avery.

She said she has been an ardent supporter of both President-Elect Obama and Open Pantry. "Over the years, I have watched Kevin Noonan from Open Pantry passing out food to the needy," she said in a release. "When I saw President-Elect Obama and his family doing the same, I thought about doing a fundraiser that would incorporate both the inauguration and the Open Pantry. We can celebrate the inauguration while helping a wonderful cause."

"This [benefit] is fantastic," Kevin Noonan, executive director of Open Pantry, told Reminder Publications. "People [will attend because they] want to be a part of history."

Food pantries across the nation have been suffering lately, due to the increased demand placed upon them by people in need. "The holidays have been good," Noonan said, "but it's been touch and go all year long."

Avery's luncheon benefit is appreciated by the Open Pantry because the organization "has yet to see a penny" of the state aid promised to it in July, according to Noonan.

Seating for the celebration at the Sheraton will begin at 10:50 a.m. on Jan. 20, with lunch being served at 11:30 a.m. Entree choices include Chicken Cape Cod, New England baked scrod or London broil sliced flank steak. Tickets for the event are $25.95 per person and must be reserved by Jan. 14.

Checks made payable to Open Pantry Community Services Inc. can be mailed to S.M.H.I.C., P.O. Box 61255, Longmeadow, MA 01106.

To make a reservation by phone or for more information, contact Avery at 737-5355.