Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 10/7/2020
EASTHAMPTON – Local students, teachers, administrators, and parents are getting a new lesson on how to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic. As school is now back in session, adjustments to this new normal continue whether in class or in bedrooms with remote learning. Although Easthampton children aren’t in the classroom physically, they are still receiving essential tools they need on electronic devices, and soon, meals on their very own front porch.
A nonprofit organization known as Pioneer Valley Power Packs was founded by Shelley March in 2017. The program provides students with enough food to last from when they leave school on Friday until returning Monday. March always dreamed of starting her own nonprofit organization, but it wasn’t until she had an Oprah Magazine in her hand that it all came together. The article on how to help others through grass roots efforts, convinced her that she had what it takes.
Through lots of preparation, research and countless conversations, Pioneer Valley Power Packs was finally established.
Maple Street Elementary School was the first to approve assistance from this organization. After meeting with the principal and asking for a poverty rate, along with a food insecurity percentage, March knew this was something some families in the community needed – and something her organization could help in feeding hungry children.
During the school year, families’ schedules increase greatly. Parents and guardians are working throughout the week and often can’t make it to the store or prepare a meal, March explained.
“It’s hard for kids to get food in rural areas, with a lack of transportation and limited open hours of the Food Bank,” she said.
Each pack includes two breakfasts, two lunches or dinners, and two snacks. All items are non-perishable, require easy preparation and are kid-friendly. The menu rotates monthly, allowing for variety and consistency with what the children like to eat.
A major focus of the program, emphasized by March, is inclusive diets. This can be due to lifestyle choices, religion, or food allergies. All packs come with diet menus, along with alternative options.
Before COVID-19, the Power Packs were delivered to Maple Street School anonymously. The principal issued a list of about 50 kids whom this would benefit. After delivery, a school administrator dropped them off in classrooms, based on the amount of packs requested. Following this, a volunteer placed the food directly in the child’s backpack.
Once the pandemic took over and schools began shutting down, Pioneer Valley Power Packs remained up and running. Rather than delivering to classrooms, March decided to do drive-thru pickups. Unfortunately, many parents never came.
“Whether at home or school, our mission is to get food directly in the kids hands,” March said. To ensure this happened, she and her volunteers took to the road. They delivered a months worth of food at once, making sure students had enough to get them through a quarantine.
With school being strictly online, Pioneer Valley Power Packs has established bigger and better plans to get through this pandemic. After seeing how much food was distributed at once, they decided to revert back to weekly deliveries. March, along with 30 volunteers have been working on creating packs for the first delivery of this school year. Starting Oct. 9, every Friday before 5 p.m., students will receive food at their doorstep.
March said they are proud to be expanding their meals this year, as they will now be serving Center and Pepin Elementary Schools.
After writing to Center and Pepin, while also receiving a referral from Maple Street, the principal couldn’t resist increasing this program to help more children. Not only is it beneficial to students, it’s also free. The school doesn’t need to use any of their money to assist in the production.
Some of the inventory is obtained through Western Mass Food Bank, including canned foods. Other foods are purchased through donations and grants. Donations can be made at pioneervalleypowerpacks.org.
March explained, “Feed The Kids is a golf tournament in Springfield, that raises money for a similar program. They graciously donated and backed me up as a start up, along with funds being donated from individuals.”
Other grants were received from River Valley Co-op and Walmart. Stop and Shop also donated gift cards. With these donations, March is able to purchase items at lower costs, including from the Food Bank.
March said, “During the school year, we deliver around 37 weeks, but are prepared for 40. We don’t do it for holidays or in the summer because there are other programs that allow kids to get food. We fill the little niche, which is actually a big niche.”
With the expansion of the organization to many towns throughout Pioneer Valley, March anticipates about 200 to 225 packs per week. The program now offers voluntary sign up, if parents want their child to take part in receiving the meals.
“My first year, through St. Phillips Episcopal Church, I put it out there if they wanted to help as an official outreach program. My volunteers consisted of about 10 close friends and their volunteers. Now that we’re bigger and delivering, we need more help,” March claimed.
Parents, community members, church members and teachers, are assisting this year in making this program the best it can be.
Jan Davis, a member of St. Phillips Church, recalls hearing about the opportunity to volunteer through Sunday Mass. The church kindly offered its space for food storage, group meetings and physical packaging. “We appreciated the opportunity to participate in a program that was serving the needs of our community. I've been an educator most of my life, so this was a natural fit since it involved the schools,” Davis said.
March added, “People know who we are now. Our name is out there and we can continue to expand year after year.”
The organization’s goals for next year include expanding to all elementary schools in Easthampton, at least one middle school, and possibly an elementary school in Northampton. March hopes to help as many students in the Pioneer Valley as she possibly can.
More information on Pioneer Valley Power Packs can be found at pioneervalleypowerpacks.org.