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Date: 8/1/2023
AMHERST — The Amherst Survival Center has secured $100,000 in funding, distributed over the next fours years, through a legislative earmark by state Rep. Mindy Domb (D-Amherst).
The funding is provided by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.
It “will support the center’s efforts to expand access to healthy food for area residents facing food insecurity,” according to a release from the center.
“I’m thrilled to play a role in bringing state funding to the Amherst Survival Center’s food pantry program,” Domb said. “The food pantry program is participant-centered and continues to meet a growing need in our community and across our region. The pantry offers a variety of food, fresh milk, personal care items, and baby diapers in addition to options for getting the food, be it in person or by home delivery.”
Domb added she was thankful for the work the center does.
“As pandemic-related support for hunger relief expires, these funds are even more important. I’m grateful to the Amherst Survival Center and other organizations in our district whose work every day supports our neighbors with dignity and generosity,” she said.
The earmark will provide $25,000 per year for four years to purchase food and personal care items to be distributed at the center’s food pantry, which plans to disperse more than a million meals worth of groceries to close to 6,000 area residents annually, in addition to those served by the center’s meal program and daily produce and bread distribution.
The pantry provides two full weeks of food per month for each household, including a selection of fresh produce, milk, eggs, cheese, prepared foods, canned goods, cereal, pasta, rice and frozen meat. The center stocks food to meet a variety of cultural diets, including Halal meat, various dried beans, Maseca flour and varied produce.
Executive Director Lev BenEzra encouraged those in need to consider the center as a resource.
She said, “If free groceries would be helpful to your family during this challenging time, please come!”
According to the release, with record-high levels of food insecurity, the demand for the center’s services has increased dramatically. The food pantry is now serving 33% more people each month than during the peak surges of the coronavirus pandemic, and 62% more than prior to COVID-19, and demand continues to rise as area families grapple with high costs of food, rent and cuts to SNAP and COVID-19 benefits. In response to this urgent need, the center has expanded its Food Pantry hours and increased the monthly grocery allocations for its shoppers.
“We are extremely grateful to Rep. Mindy Domb for securing this vital funding,” BenEzra said. “These funds will enable us to stabilize our pantry inventory, ensuring that we can continue meeting the increased demand for our services,”
The center, founded in 1976, connects area residents with food, clothing, health care and community, primarily through volunteer efforts.
“This funding could not come at a better time and will go directly to purchasing healthy food for our neighbors who need it most,” BenEzra said.
More information about the Amherst Survival Center can be found at www.amherstsurvival.org.