The Copley Square Farmer’s Market and other local organizations are making it clear they’re still accepting government assistance for food purchases as the Thanksgiving season approaches.”We still can give out SNAP tokens for anyone who still has a SNAP balance, you can still use your HOP throughout the month because it’s a state-funded program,” said Zoie Schwartz, food access coordinator at the farmer’s market.The market is also trying to limit food waste by donating leftover food.”We, at the end of the day, partner with Brookline Food Rescue, so any excess food crops that the farmers have can be donate,” Schwartz said.The need for food pantries and assistance remains high as the government shutdown impacts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments.Organizations like Spoonfuls, New England’s largest food recovery and distribution nonprofit, are feeling the effects.”We’ve seen a huge increase in need over the past few weeks,” said Erin Ash, the senior director of programming at Spoonfuls. “We often say that we are the safety net. We are supplying programs that are distributing directly to the community.”It’s not just people going hungry, but pets as well.MSPCA-Angell is also calling for pet food donations as SNAP cuts and a government shutdown leave families struggling to feed their pets.”No pet should go hungry during this shutdown, but for us to stop that from happening, we need help,” said Alyssa Krieger, director of MSPCA-Angell Community Outreach. In order to help meet the increased demand, the MSPCA-Angell’s Community Outreach team said it will increase the number of food pantries that it holds during the month of November.”We’re already operating in some of the communities hit hardest by SNAP cuts — like Lawrence and Boston — so we know how to reach people, but ramping up to meet this increased need puts a huge strain on our resources and staff,” Krieger added. MSPCA-Angell distributes an average of 275,000 pet meals every month and needs to increase that number by at least 22,000 meals per week in order to meet demand. That is a roughly $6,000 cost each week, Krieger said. MSPCA-Angell is also working with the Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support coalition partner, Dakin Humane Society, to ensure that animals in the Springfield area are able to get food. Those who would like to donate are asked to send food via wish lists at mspca.org/wishlist or dakinhumane.org/shop. Food may also be dropped off at MSPCA-Angell shelters in Boston, Methuen, Salem and Centerville on Cape Cod, as well as Dakin Humane in Springfield. Monetary donations to help buy food may be made at mspca.org/foodsupport.
The Copley Square Farmer’s Market and other local organizations are making it clear they’re still accepting government assistance for food purchases as the Thanksgiving season approaches.
“We still can give out SNAP tokens for anyone who still has a SNAP balance, you can still use your HOP throughout the month because it’s a state-funded program,” said Zoie Schwartz, food access coordinator at the farmer’s market.
The market is also trying to limit food waste by donating leftover food.
“We, at the end of the day, partner with Brookline Food Rescue, so any excess food crops that the farmers have can be donate[d],” Schwartz said.
The need for food pantries and assistance remains high as the government shutdown impacts Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments.
Organizations like Spoonfuls, New England’s largest food recovery and distribution nonprofit, are feeling the effects.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in need over the past few weeks,” said Erin Ash, the senior director of programming at Spoonfuls. “We often say that we are the safety net. We are supplying programs that are distributing directly to the community.”
It’s not just people going hungry, but pets as well.
MSPCA-Angell is also calling for pet food donations as SNAP cuts and a government shutdown leave families struggling to feed their pets.
“No pet should go hungry during this shutdown, but for us to stop that from happening, we need help,” said Alyssa Krieger, director of MSPCA-Angell Community Outreach.
In order to help meet the increased demand, the MSPCA-Angell’s Community Outreach team said it will increase the number of food pantries that it holds during the month of November.
“We’re already operating in some of the communities hit hardest by SNAP cuts — like Lawrence and Boston — so we know how to reach people, but ramping up to meet this increased need puts a huge strain on our resources and staff,” Krieger added.
MSPCA-Angell distributes an average of 275,000 pet meals every month and needs to increase that number by at least 22,000 meals per week in order to meet demand. That is a roughly $6,000 cost each week, Krieger said.
MSPCA-Angell is also working with the Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support coalition partner, Dakin Humane Society, to ensure that animals in the Springfield area are able to get food.
Those who would like to donate are asked to send food via wish lists at mspca.org/wishlist or dakinhumane.org/shop. Food may also be dropped off at MSPCA-Angell shelters in Boston, Methuen, Salem and Centerville on Cape Cod, as well as Dakin Humane in Springfield.
Monetary donations to help buy food may be made at mspca.org/foodsupport.
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