Beverly Bootstraps To Hold Election Day Food Drive Amid Massive Demand

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Bootstraps is holding an Election Day Food Drive amid record demand in recent months.

Beverly Bootstraps officials said there were 1,621 visits to the food pantry in August — a 600 increase over the same period last year.

There will be collection bins at each of the polling sites in Beverly on Nov. 7: Ayers Ryal Side School, McKeown Pre-school, Cove School, North Beverly School, Centerville School, and the Beverly Public Library.

The Beverly Public Schools Citywide PTO helped coordinate this effort.

Top 10 Items Needed:

Peanut Butter

Boxed Pasta

Mac & Cheese

Canned Veggies

Diapers/Pullups Size 3-6 and Baby Wipes

Cereal

Tuna Fish

Cooking Oils/Sprays

Soup

Personal Hygiene items (Full Size: Shampoo/ Conditioner, Soap, Deodorant, Razors, Toothpaste/ Toothbrushes)

Other items requested often include non-dairy shelf-stable milk, canned fruit, canned beans, paper towels, free & clear detergents (100 fl oz or smaller) and household cleaning products.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 54 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations.

Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)