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Date: 10/26/2022
SPRINGFIELD – The United Way of Pioneer Valley is stepping up to help both residents in the local community and in Puerto Rico. Through their Feed a Family campaign, 50 percent of all funds raised will go to Puerto Rico for hurricane disaster relief, while the remaining 50 percent will help support United Way’s two food pantries in Springfield and Chicopee.
Puerto Rico currently faces a lack of water, no power, damaged bridges and roads, landslides, catastrophic ruined crops and little access to food due to Hurricane Fiona.
Jennifer M. Kinsman, director of community impact at United Way, said these struggles touch our area as well.
“We work with so many residents and people from the community of our geographic footprint who came from Puerto Rico or still have relatives there, so it hits us any time something like this happens. We wanted to do our part to contribute, so we thought that we could combine it with our Feed a Family initiative,” said Kinsman.
Monetary donations are being accepted through Nov. 29.
“Although we don’t know exactly what’s needed down there, we’re working with partners in Puerto Rico and here who can identify the geographic spots that have the most need and what that need whether it’s food, water, blankets, whatever it is we’re going to get the money to them so they can get what they need,” said Kinsman.
To support the United Way’s food pantries, Kinsman said they are also accepting food donations. She asked that anyone interested in donating unexpired nonperishables give them a call at 737-2691.
“We’ve had a 600 percent jump in usage of our Springfield cupboard,” said Kinsman. “We’ve noticed such an influx of people coming to our pantries with the price of food increasing and we’ve been challenged to keep enough food on the shelves. So if anybody wants to make a donation of food, we’d be very happy to accept that.”
Feed a Family is the United Way’s largest fundraising effort in support of their feeding the hungry initiative. Kinsman encouraged residents to donate in order to make a substantial impact on those both in the community and thousands of miles away.
“I read the stories of what people lost in Puerto Rico when this happened and that hurricane just devastated some of the communities. I know we can make a difference if we generate some interest in our own community to support them,” said Kinsman.
Those interested in donating are encouraged to visit www.uwpv.org/feed-a-family.