Foundation for MetroWest Grants $110,000 to Local Hunger Relief Agencies

This summer, the Foundation for MetroWest launched a $55,000 Summer Hunger Challenge to support its MetroWest Hunger Relief Fund.

“Thanks to the generosity of Foundation donors and fundholders, we are delighted to announce that we have achieved our goal of distributing $110,000 to 51 hunger relief agencies in 30 cities and towns throughout the region,” said a press release.

“The MetroWest Hunger Relief Fund is an initiative of the Foundation that we are particularly proud of,” said Mary Crowley, Director of Operations & Programs. “As a community foundation, we have a unique opportunity to take a regional approach to supporting hunger relief in order to maximize impact. Our research shows individuals utilizing food pantries, community suppers, and other services often require more than what their hometown has the capacity to offer. By supporting organizations in 30 different cities and towns, our hope is that no matter where a MetroWest family looks for food support, they find what they need.”

To honor and celebrate the important work of our grantees, we invite all members of the MetroWest community to join us on Wednesday, October 7, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Bentley University for a panel talk: “Hunger in MetroWest,” followed by a celebration of our MetroWest Hunger Relief Fund grantees.

This event, co-sponsored by the Bentley Service-Learning Center is open to all who are interested in learning more about the prevalence of hunger in our region and the work being done in our community to address this need. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Jonathan White, Director of the Bentley Service-Learning Center.

Panelists will include:

• Joanne Barry, A Place to Turn
• Jessica Caouette, Share Our Strength
• Ashley Stanley, Lovin’ Spoonfuls
• Jonathan Tetrault, The Greater Boston Food Bank
• Matthew Tobia, Mt. Calvary Community Supper

To register visit: www.eventbrite.com/e/panel-talk-hunger-in-metrowest-tickets-18231870014

2015 MetroWest Hunger Relief Fund Grantees:

• Acton Community Supper & Food Pantry, Acton Mt. Calvary Community Supper, Acton
• Ashland Emergency Food Pantry Minuteman Senior Services, Bedford
• Gaining Ground, Inc., Concord Open Table, Inc., Concord
• Dedham Food Pantry
• St. Bridget’s Food Pantry, Framingham
• The Salvation Army, Framingham
• HOPE Worldwide New England, Inc., Framingham
• Jewish Family Services, Framingham
• Lucy & Joe’s Food Pantry for Frail Elders, Framingham
• Jewish Family Service of Metrowest, Framingham
• United Way of Tri-County, Framingham
• Holliston Pantry Shelf
• Project Just Because, Inc., Hopkinton
• Hudson Community Food Pantry
• Cooperative Elder Services, Inc., Lexington
• Lexington Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry, Inc.
• Marlborough Community Cupboard
• Maynard Food Pantry
• Medfield Food Cupboard
• Medway Food Pantry/Medway Housing Authority
• Medway Village Food Pantry
• Daily Bread Food Pantry, Milford
• The Salvation Army, Milford
• Millis Ecumenical Food Pantry
• A Place to Turn, Natick
• Natick Service Council, Inc.
• Needham Community Council
• Needham Community Farm, Inc.
• Friend of FIT, Northborough
• United Parishes of Southborough Food Pantry
• Stow Food Pantry
• Sudbury Community Food Pantry
• Walpole Community Food Pantry
• Grandma’s Pantry, Waltham
• Jewish Family and Children’s Service, Waltham
• Middlesex Human Service Agency, Inc., Waltham
• Sacred Heart Food Pantry, Waltham
• Springwell, Inc., Waltham
• The Salvation Army, Waltham
• Waltham Fields Community Farm
• Celebration International Church Food Pantry, Wayland
• Parmenter VNA & Community Care, Inc., Wayland
• Pierce’s Pantry, Wayland
• Wellesley Food Pantry
• Westborough Food Pantry
• Land’s Sake, Weston
• St. Vincent de Paul Society, Weston/Lincoln
• Westwood Council on Aging Food Pantry

Established in 1995, the Foundation for MetroWest is the only community foundation serving the 33 cities and towns in the region.

Since its inception, the Foundation has granted $10 million to charitable organizations and currently stewards more than $15 million in charitable assets for current needs and future impact.

The foundation is based in Natick.