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Susan Swenson’s class at ABC Nursery School in Chelmsford recently collected 275 pounds of food during the Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. With Swenson are, front row, from left, Trishaa Bhadoriya, Jianna Arora, Atharva Pattewar and Stone Hogan, and, back row, Johann Pacheco, Alyson Benoit, Viraj Kotadiya, Katie Soohoo and Landyn Kydd.COURTESY PHOTO
Updated: 07/19/2016 06:37:45 AM EDT
LOWELL — The Merrimack Valley Food Bank is sponsoring the USDA Summer Food Service Program at multiple locations throughout the city on weekdays through Aug. 17. The summer lunch program provides lunches to children involved in activities at city parks, recreational centers, summer school programs and summer youth programs. Kids 18 and under can enjoy free food at the following locations:
Caleb Group, 77 Chestnut St., lunch, 11 a.m.-noon; snack, 2 p.m.-2:30 p.m.; Christ Jubilee Ministries, 101 Smith St., lunch, noon-12:45 p.m.; Lowell Community Health Center-Teen Block, 161 Jackson St., lunch, noon-1 p.m.; snack, 3:45 p.m.-4:30 p.m.; Lowell Housing Authority, 580 Chelmsford St., lunch, noon-12:45 p.m.; Lowell Housing Authority-Mercier Center, 21 Salem St., lunch, 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; McPherson Pool, 1000 Bridge St., through Aug. 12, lunch, 12:15 p.m.-1 p.m.; North Canal Summer Program, 517 Moody St., snack, 9:15 a.m.-9:45 a.m.; lunch, noon-12:45 p.m.; O’Donnell Splash Pad, 1170 Gorham St., through Aug. 12, lunch, 1:30 p.m.-2 p.m.; Olga Nieves Park, 123 Adams St., through Aug. 12, lunch, 11:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m.; Raymond Lord Memorial Swimming Pool, 81 Cross St., lunch, 12:15 p.m.-1 p.m.; YWCA, 41 Rock St., through Aug. 12, lunch, noon-1 p.m.; snack, 3 p.m.-4 p.m.
No registration or ID is necessary. For more information visit www.mvfb.org or contact Suellen O’Neill at 978-454-7174.
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Posted Mar. 22, 2016 at 3:23 PM
CONCORD
The Jericho Road Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to community strengthening and development through talent-matching partnerships with professional volunteers, raised over $72,000 at its annual spring fundraising gala, Bridges to Change.
More than 200 local philanthropists, public officials, heads of business and finance, entertainers and other guests gathered in support of the event at the Nashawtuc Country Club on March 10.
“I am so happy to see the turnout for an extraordinarily effective program. Congratulations to everyone who works for the Jericho Road Project,” said Rep. Cory Atkins, who was in attendance.
Proceeds benefit Jericho Road Project’s work in Lowell and around the country. Since 2003, Jericho Road Project’s volunteer experts — strategic planners, marketers, IT experts and web designers — have helped nonprofits deliver stronger services to communities in Massachusetts and across the country. Currently, the Jericho Road Project serves almost 1 million people annually through affiliates in Roxbury, Worcester, Lowell and Lawrence, as well as in Texas and California.
Guests were treated to a film screening introduced by Amy Pessia, executive director of Merrimack Valley Food Bank, which centered around the vision and mission of Jericho Road Project in action.
“Jericho Road Project listened to our needs and tailored the volunteer match to our culture and the volunteers have been instrumental in helping with our needs assessment and strategic planning at a pivotal point in our organization’s history,” said Joe Hungler, executive director of Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell. He appreciated the support which saved a significant amount of money and allowed them to take on projects that they may not have considered without Jericho Road Project’s support. Abdul Kamara, a youth community speaker relayed how the leadership team at Boys and Girls Club of Greater Lowell, gave him confidence to set aside a life that wasn’t going to help him achieve his goals, and he’s now on track to complete his college degree.
The event also featured recognition awards, and Dorothy Chen-Courtin accepted JRP’s Distinguished Service award. Chen-Courtin has served as chair of the board and has devoted her expertise on nonprofit management, bringing Jericho Road Project success and acclaim and a vision of national expansion. She said the award, “reinforced a sense of humility and a commitment to social justice.”
A second Distinguished Service award was presented to Margo Winslow, another board member who has chaired the fundraising efforts of Jericho Road Project.
“The enthusiastic support for Jericho Road Project by guests, funding institutions and individual donors reflects a deep and unwavering commitment to social justice work,” said Daniel Bush, national executive director. “Board co-chairs, Ben James and Sven Olson, bring an unprecedented moment in JRP’s history in its recognition of the valuable support to nonprofits with pro bono volunteer support and expand its vision, prescience and strategy to grow locally and nationally.”
Read More »Daniel Bush spotlighted longstanding patrons, including the Jericho Road Project Board, philanthropist Nancy Donahue and a growing list of key supporters namely NetScout, Enterprise Bank, UMass Lowell, UPS Foundation and Lowell Sun. These funders ensure that Jericho Road Project can provide support to nonprofit organizations.
A community service recognition award was presented to Tewksbury CPA firm Moody, Famiglietti and Andronico for their support of local nonprofit capacity building. MFA has played a role as a partner in Jericho Road Project’s Leadership Connection for years, hosting the event in Massachusetts and helped revamp the financial oversight curriculum.
After cocktails and dinner, guests competed for travel-themed live auction prizes: a stay at an apartment in Paris; lodging at a Kennebunkport cabin, paired with a lobster dinner on the beach; a murder mystery-themed novel tour of Charleston; a rugged trip to a Montana ranch; and a family lodge excursion to Trapp Family Resort. Other items included high-end dinners; Red Sox and golf sports packages; dinner with a local fire chief; and a chance for a child to ride to school in a police car.
The evening’s gala committee chairs included Debora Gardner Hussey and Halley P. McIlwain; committee members Joan Kennedy, Letitia Parker, Nancy Carey and Stephanie Tully; and Jericho Road Project staff.
“This occasion served as a celebration of JRP’s work and as a call to action, to rally around growth and expansion of our organization’s broad mission to bridge communities by matching professional talent of volunteers, promote community development, strengthen social service and change lives locally and nationally,” Bush said.
in In The News
TYNGSBORO — A hallmark of an Academy of Notre Dame education is a commitment to community service.
One of the ways NDA students, faculty and administration demonstrate that commitment is with the school’s annual food drive. This year, more than 1,740 pounds of nonperishable food items were collected and delivered to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank in Lowell earlier this month.
With additional monetary donations, the equivalent total was well over a ton of food. According to officials at the food bank, that amount will feed 400 to 500 families.
“The goal was to fill an academy bus, and we certainly accomplished that,” says Clarissa Samuels, director of transportation. “We’ve been doing this as long as I can remember. Our efforts this year beat, by at least 20 percent, anything we’ve done in the past.”
Although donations came from throughout the school, nine seventh- and eighth-grade students from the Lower School’s Beta Club helped load the bus, and six pitched in to help deliver the food to the bank. Three Upper School students from the National Honor Society also assisted. Also, two bus drivers donated their personal time to make the delivery.
“It’s impressive what they’ve done here today,” said Amy Pessia, executive director of the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. “We are blessed to have NDA as a partner in the community. They are doing a great job preparing the students to continue serving our communities.
The students all described how grateful they feel for their own good fortune and how good it makes them feel to help those who are less fortunate.
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LOWELL — The Merrimack Valley Food Bank is lobbying for an extra $3 million in next year’s budget for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program, stressing that the need for food banks across the state remains high.
About 37 percent of people in need across the state do not qualify for government benefits, according to MVFB. That means they rely on the state’s network of more than 800 food pantries.
MVFB stressed their need at a legislative open house on Friday.
The emergency assistance program supplies food to food banks throughout the state, including in the Merrimack Valley.
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In total, it distributed 326,212 pounds of produce.
The food bank distributed food to an average of over 32,000 people every month last year.
The requested increase includes $2 million for food and $1 million to level-fund administrative support, according to MVFB Executive Director Amy Pessia. That means a total increase from $17 million to $20 million for MEFAP.
Pessia said a number of Greater Lowell legislators attended the open house, including state Reps. Tom Golden, Rady Mom, a member of Marc Lombardo’s office and Sen. Eileen Donoghue.
“We are so appreciative of the support that our delegates have shown in the past for this, and we were confident that they know people need food to do anything else,” she said.
Follow Amelia on Twitter and Tout @AmeliaPakHarvey.
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LOWELL — The John Harrington-Mary Costello family owned The Sun for more than 100 years and were always mindful of being good corporate citizens
The Sun was founded in 1878 by John H. Harrington and his newspaper was to be the voice for Irish Catholic Democrats.
He had one daughter, Mary Harrington, who married a man named Costello, who was a major plumbing contractor in the rapidly growing city of Lowell. Her husband died at a young age, leaving her to raise three young boys.
Her sons Thomas, John and Clement joined the family business, but Mary Costello was involved for many years and felt The Sun should be a major supporter of community causes and families in need.
She privately took on many personal cases when she heard of a family who needed help with medical bills or basic needs.
When The Sun got the franchise to run the Golden Gloves in New England, the company created Lowell Sun Charities to begin a formal structure in helping individuals and community causes.
All the net proceeds were deposited to Sun Charities and distributed to community groups.
Between Sun Charities and The Sun Santa Fund, we estimate that $14 million has been donated.
The fourth generation of the Costello family continued the tradition of Sun Charities until they sold the newspaper and charities has continued under the MediaNews Group ownership.
Last year alone, Sun Charities donated to 65 community organizations and helped hundreds of families enjoy the Christmas holidays.
Lowell has a strong history of companies giving back and The Sun is proud to join with folks like Enterprise Bank, Lowell General Hospital, Trinity EMS, The Lowell Five, Watermark, the Demoulas Foundation, Anton Cleaners, the Behrakis Foundation, Eastern Bank, the O’Connors, McCallums, Pride Star, Washington Savings and so many others who continue to make good things happen.
The Gloves have been a winter tradition in Lowell for 70 years. We all owe a lot to loyal fight fans who for decades have come out in freezing weather, some times in snow storms, to enjoy some good boxing and raise a lot of money for charity.
Several local businesses are helping to boost the Gloves this 70th anniversary year, by being a “Sponsor for the Night”. Some of the sponsors will be linked to a charity and the sponsor and the charity will have tickets for 100 fans to attend the Gloves.
Some of the agencies supported by Sun Charities this year include: Boys and Girls Club of Billerica, Lowell High School scholarship fund, Chelmsford July 4 parade committee, Lowell Festival Foundation, Nashoba Valley Technical High School, Lowell General Cancer Care Walk, Lowell Community Charter School, Community Teamwork, Lowell Catholic High School, Caring Partners Inc., Grotonfest, Lowell Humane Society, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, the Lowell Plan, The Paul Center, Women Working Wonders Fund, March of Dimes.
Also, Ironstone Farm, Middlesex Community College Foundation, Salvation Army, House of Hope, LGH Auxiliary, UMass Lowell, LHS Distinguished Alumni, Special Olympics, Middlesex 3 coalition, Merrimack Valley Economic Development Council, St. Patrick’s School, Lowell Community Health Center, Greater Lowell Family YMCA, the American Textile Museum, Girls Inc., Chelmsford High School, Open Pantry, Dracut Scholarship Foundation, We Share a Common Thread.
Also, Westford Charitable Foundation, Catie’s Closet, Central Food Ministry, the MRT, Lowell Historical Society, Pollard Memorial Library, United Teen Equality Center, Lowell Latin Lyceum, Immaculate Conception church, Lowell Summer Music Series, Whistler House, Renaissance Club, New England Quilt Museum and Table of Plenty.
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Fred C. Church Inc.’s 2015 charity of choice was the Merrimack Valley Food Bank with more than 80 employees contributing through a payroll deduction program. For many years Fred C. Church has offered its employees a payroll deduction program for charitable giving. In recent years, the agency has supported individual local charities such as The Wish Project and the Boys & Girls Club of Lowell. Mike Reilly, president and chairman of Fred C. Church said MVFB was chosen because of its focus not only on Lowell but throughout the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire. Fred C. Church Insurance, headquartered in Lowell, is one of New England’s largest privately-owned, independent insurance agencies.
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The credit union hired Mark Cochran. Cochran, by everyone’s account, has filled Mayotte’s shoes, and then some. As its leader, he has overseen impressive growth, including a new five-story, state-of-the-art corporate headquarters at Tremont Yard in Lowell; new branch offices in Methuen, Dracut and Westford; a new main office on Merrimack Street in Lowell; asset growth from $600 million in 2007 to more than $1.1 billion today; and membership growth edging towards 70,000.
In terms of the partnership, Cochran is ubiquitous, representing JDCU at dozens of local events. Now he has another to add to his busy calendar: The Merrimack Valley Food Bank will honor Cochran, of Dunstable, at its 22nd-annual golf tournament on Monday, September 14, 2015 at Indian Ridge CC in Andover.
“For over a decade, Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union employees have contributed significantly to the success of the food bank’s mission. Dozens of the credit union employees have served on our board of directors, fundraising committees, and in our food distribution center,” said food bank Executive Director Amy Pessia. Through the We Share a Common Thread Foundation, the food bank has also received financial support enabling it to distribute more nutritious food to families throughout the community, Pessia said.
“I am deeply honored by this recognition from the Merrimack Valley Food Bank,” Cochran said in a statement. “The Food Bank does incredibly important work to help those less fortunate in the region and I am happy Jeanne D’Arc is able to provide assistance through volunteer efforts, food drives, and monetary donations. Credit unions are all about people helping people, and the Merrimack Valley Food Bank certainly lives that same mission. We are proud to be involved in their efforts and I am humbled by this honor.”
The food bank provides food for nearly 70,000 people monthly in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, through a network of member food pantries, shelters, day and residential programs in over 30 communities.
Cochran was recently awarded Community Teamwork Inc.’s Community & Volunteering Award at the organization’s 50th Anniversary Gala. He is also a board member and treasurer for both the Lowell Plan and D’Youville Life & Wellness Community and is a member of the board of governors of Lowell General Hospital. He also serves on the Supervisory Committee of Eascorp, a corporate credit union, and is vice-chair of Octant Business Services, a jointly owned credit union service organization. Additionally, Cochran is president and CEO of the Credit Union’s We Share A Common Thread Foundation.
Golf registration begins at 11:00 and a shot gun start at 12:30. Non golfers can enjoy the awards dinner at 6:30pm. Contact Debbie Callery at 978-454-7272, or via e-mail at dcallery@mvfb.org, for more information.
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LOWELL — As it is in almost every household everywhere, so it is with the Merrimack Valley Food Bank; the cupboard shelves do not replenish themselves.
But if the past nine years are any indication, Thursday night’s 10th Annual Grape Expectations, which will be held at Lenzi’s in Dracut, promises to help immensely.
“There will be lots of wine, lots of food and lots of fun,” said MVFB Community Relations Coordinator Deb Callery. “This event gets bigger and bigger every year, which we love. We are all passionate about what we do at the food bank and that is to try and feed as many people as we can.”
Close to 400 people attended last year’s popular fundraising event. Donations come in from sponsors too numerous to mention, Callery said.
This fiscal year, which ends on June 30, the food bank is on target to distribute more than 3 million pounds of food. The MVFB serves 120 feeding programs in 34 cities in towns in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. Through that network, food is provided to approximately 65,000 a month.
“We don’t have families coming here, we have all the food pantries. We are kind of like the supermarket to all the pantries,” Callery said.
But back to Thursday night’s event, which costs $60 to attend. Callery said. While guests are sampling the myriad of merlot, chardonnays, cabernets and more, which come from close to a dozen local wineries, they can feast on delicacies from The Chowder Factory, Love & Quiches, and of course, Lenzi’s.
“Lenzi’s is coming up with a special macaroni and cheese dish that we can’t wait to see and taste,” Callery said, adding a silent auction will feature close to 100 items and a raffle that offers the winner round-trip airfare for two donated by Southwest Airlines.
Guests can also try their luck by participating in a wine bottle ring-toss game.
“Ring the bottle and it’s yours,” Callery said. “The thing that blows me away every year is that everything is donated. We depend on donations, which come in throughout the year. Anywhere from five- and 10-dollar donations to $2,500. We appreciate them all but sometimes, when you see a $10 donation, you almost appreciate it more because you know it probably came from someone who couldn’t afford much more. We cherish that.”
All this takes place while the Mill City Rockers, formerly the FunRazrs, provide a backdrop of popular tunes.
The benefit takes place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Lenzi’s on Route 110 in Dracut. Tickets are $60 and can be purchased by calling Deb Callery at 978-454-7272 or by visiting www.mvfb.org.
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