Rotary Holds Food Drive at Stop & Shop Many Items Donated to Food Pantry

The Rotary Club of North Reading held a successful fundraiser at Stop & Shop for the North Reading Food Pantry on October 13 and 14 collecting over 2,000 items from generous North Readingites and people from surrounding communities. 

With many people donating several items and one woman donating a full basket of items, Rotarians and Interact students experienced the true nature of giving.  They were moved by the woman who donated the full shopping cart of groceries and other items who said “I’ve been there and I’m so happy to be able to give back.”

Under the direction of Rotarian Doug Mercurio (Law Office of Douglas M. Mercurio PC ), North Reading Rotary President Michael Linnane (Linnane Insurance), Chuck Carucci (Commonwealth Oil), Dave O’Neil (Century 21 Spindler & O’Neil), North Reading Chief of Police Mike Murphy, John Norton (NRHS Athletic Office and Cota Funeral Home), Shep Speare, Molly O’Neill (The Savings Bank), Penny Esposito (Lady Di’s Barber Shop), Leigh MacNeil (Good Day Florist), Priscilla Gottwald (Reading Municipal Light Department), Janice Wood (Winter Hill Bank), Peter Majane (Winter Hill Bank), and Mike Scannell (NORCAM) and NRHS Interact students Dennis Rollfs, Tyler Stansbury, Kerri-Ann Donovan, Allie D’Orlando, Julia Crugnale, Rachel Roberts, Leanne Trischitta, Wes Waterhouse, Katie Dipietro, Emily Paladino, July Landy, Kiera Sapp, Kristyn Gallant, Nicole Nelson and Merri Mosie were on hand at the Stop & Shop entrances to greet customers and let them know about the solicitation.

On Monday morning, several Rotarians went to the Food Pantry to check the inventory … it was an impressive sight and the shelves are stocked for this week.