On World Kindness Day, Close The Meal Gap In Brookline

BROOKLINE, MA— We’ve probably never needed World Kindness Day more in Brookline than we do in 2020. It’s been tough for the past few months on multiple levels, from the inconvenience caused by coronavirus physical distancing to real economic hurt among some of your neighbors who lie awake at night worrying about how they’re going to feed themselves and their families.

They could use our help on World Kindness Day —which is Friday— and in the months to come. It’s as simple as supporting Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the country, which estimates food insecurity could swell to 50 million Americans before 2020 is over.

Feeding America serves 200 member food banks, like the Greater Boston Food Bank, that serve and supply 60,000 food pantries, kitchens and meal programs in Norfolk County and elsewhere around the country.

Food insecurity isn’t a new problem in Norfolk County and in Brookline and greater Boston. Before the pandemic threw millions of Americans into unemployment, 43,410 or 6.2 percent of residents in Norfolk County were considered food insecure in 2018, which was actually down from 2016 and 2017. But the economic fallout from the health pandemic has swollen that percent to 11.2 percent of Norfolk residents who are on the brink of hunger.

In Brookline the Brookline Food Pantry is currently serving more than 600 families each week - compared to an average of about 200 per week prior to the pandemic. Each family can visit them once every two weeks.

You can help through food drives or by adopting a local family.

Café Landwer is setting up a food drive box at both of its locations (one in St. Mary's and another in Cleveland Circle) to collect non-perishable items that will be donated to Brookline Food Pantry on behalf of their guests. Guests that donate more than five items will receive a $10 e-gift as a thank you for the support. Donations will be accepted through Thanksgiving.

"Right now only a handful of states have a worse unemployment rate than Massachusetts," said Donna Pertel last month in a pantry video. "The need has never been greater. If you are able to volunteer, donate or do both, we welcome your support at the Brookline Food Pantry."

But to spread your donation further, consider making a tax-deductible donation to Feeding America. With its power to buy groceries in bulk, Feeding America can provide 10 meals for every $1 donated.