Brookline High School Warriors Volunteer At Food Pantry

BROOKLINE, MA — Four days before their big Thanksgiving game, the Brookline High School football team joined other volunteers Sunday to lend their muscle to the Brookline Food Pantry.

"The BHS Warriors Football team worked very hard, and quickly, to unload the truck full of donations before they walked to Stop and Shop to load up again, then unload back at the Pantry," Lisa Hines said. "I was there as a football mom, but was so pleased to see so many people from all over town helping to ensure a lovely holiday for all."

There were also families and several Girl Scout Troops at the pantry sorting and packing bags of meals to be distributed this week. The girl scouts donated homemade pumpkin pies.

The Brookline Food Pantry will supply 400 families with Thanksgiving dinner this year. Each month the pantry helps hand out more than 1,000 meals. It's a number that has been rising over the past several years. Many of the visitors to the food pantry are seniors or the temporarily homeless. But there are also young families who are having trouble making ends meet.

Each year the pantry asks for volunteers to help unload food and prepare meals or set up the pantry. They also look for volunteers to deliver food to people who can't make it to the two locations in person.

The BHS Warriors Football team unloaded hundreds of pounds of carrots, apples, white potatoes and yams - and more than 4,000 pounds of turkey, according to Hines.

The pantry has two locations, one at St. Paul's church and one on Egmont Street. Residents who fit requirements can come fill grocery bags once every two weeks.

The Warriors home game on Thursday is at 10 a.m. at Parsons Field, 178 Kent St.

• Read more about the game: Thanksgiving Football: Brookline Warriors V Newton North Tigers
• If you're looking for ways to donate to the pantry this holiday season or any time of year: Brookline Food Pantry
• Read more: Spotlight on Food Insecurity in Brookline

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).