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| By Katelyn Gendron Reminder Assistant Editor WEST SPRINGFIELD Candy Boucher, executive director of the Parish Cupboard, is sending out a call to arms in an attempt to "wake up the community." In an interview with Reminder Publications, Boucher explained that the difficult economic times have caused a decline in community donations. "We need the help of our community now, more than ever," she said. Boucher noted that some parents and local students have organized food drives but more "spark plugs" or efforts such as these are needed to refill the food pantry's rapidly depleting shelves. "These tough economic times afford an opportunity for solidarity with the poor," Boucher said. "When you've lost a job, or aren't able to work due to a disability, or are living on a small Social Security check you never have enough money to go around. Now that most of us are facing cutbacks of one sort or more, we can see more clearly how life has been for some of our neighbors for a long, long time." She explained that the Parish Cupboard relies heavily on community donations because the organization cannot afford to buy all of the groceries from the Food Bank. Boucher noted that while recently conducting an emergency food distribution in Feeding Hills 20 of the 43 households served were new to the Parish Cupboard's food pantry. She said there is "some food [on the food pantry's shelves] but it's not very deep. Sometimes we pretty much have enough food to last us for the week." Earlier this month, the food pantry received donations from two canned food drives organized by local residents. West Springfield High School junior Katie Zmuda organized a food drive at the Westside versus Cathedral High School football game and the PTO at Granger Elementary School in Agawam also donated the collections from their annual two-week food drive. "We have chosen to encourage the communities of Agawam and West Springfield to imitate these great acts of caring exemplified by our youngest citizens," Boucher said. "Though increased need calls for increased giving, I believe it is easier to enlist the support of our community by using these positive examples." Zmuda explained that she got the idea for the food drive when watching a story on the nightly news detailing the increasing need for canned goods at local food pantries. She was able to donate four boxes of food to the Parish Cupboard and said she is thinking about organizing another food drive soon. "The overall experience [was gratifying], going to the Parish Cupboard itself and looking at the shelves and seeing how empty they were and knowing that you did something good for [those in the community]," Zmuda said. Laura Ewing, chair of the ADEPHI Committee of the Granger Elementary School PTO, said she believes it is imperative to teach young children about the importance of giving. "I believe that giving starts young and we set the example as parents and I believe that generosity is carried [throughout one's life]," she said. "Those that are given much, much is expected. My kids have no idea how lucky they are but they need to know they are helping somebody." The Parish Cupboard food pantry is open to Agawam and West Springfield residents Monday through Friday from 9 - 11:30 a.m. and lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. - noon. Residents in need of services must bring a piece of mail indicating their address. Monetary donations can be mailed to Parish Cupboard, 1023 Main St., West Springfield, MA 01089. For more information call 734-7969. |