Workers at The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts are seeing an increase in the number of people needing access to free food this year, including some who had always held good jobs in the past.
Lorraine's Soup Kitchen in Chicopee, where Janette Duclos, left, of Chicopee, and Steven Veit and his daughter Kait, 15, both of Easthampton, volunteered as seen here in 2007, will again be a location for a free Christmas dinner.Organizations throughout the Pioneer Valley are preparing to serve free Christmas dinners this week and those in charge expect the number of guests to be higher than usual because of the poor economy.
Open Pantry Community Services in Springfield has seen a 19 percent increase in the number of people taking advantage of its regular food and meals programs, and the number who showed up for a free Thanksgiving dinner went from 500 last year to 700 this year.
“There are people who were previously employed who are now laid off and seeking help for the first time,” said Allison B. Maynard, the Open Pantry director.
So her organization will be prepared for a crowd when the Open Pantry welcomes guests to the High School of Commerce Saturday at 11 a.m. and serves its annual Christmas meal at noon.
“Every year, we are always so grateful to the community for coming out and supporting the meal financially and volunteering. We feel honored to be able to provide the meal for people who would have no other place to go for the holiday season,” Maynard said.
At The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, the staff has seen an ever increasing need demonstrated at soup kitchens, pantries and shelters it serves, even though the National Bureau of Economic Research announced that the recession had ended in June 2009.
“We need to rethink who we consider to be ‘the hungry,’” said Andrew Morehouse, executive director for The Food Bank.
“The reality is, in this economy, food insecurity could affect anyone. This trend mirrors what we’ve seen happening around the country as a result of high unemployment, cutbacks and furloughs, and stagnant wages that don’t keep up with the cost of living,” Morehouse said.
Some college-educated people who have always thought of themselves as middle class are included now in the ranks of those finding it difficult to obtain enough food.
Andrea Allen-Glenn, coordinator of emergency food services at Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services in Springfield, said one man who visits their pantry is a former banker who “speaks seven languages.”
“He just can’t find a job,” Allen-Glenn said.
In Holyoke, Kate’s Kitchen on Hamilton Street will serve a free meal of ham, potatoes and pineapples on Christmas day, Saturday, at noon to about 150 people. Executive director Karen M. Blanchard said the needs people are struggling with in the difficult economy that was seen at Thanksgiving have remained high as Christmas approaches.
A lean, baked ham with pineapple raisin sauce will be featured at United Church of Ware when dinner is served there Saturday and also distributed to homes in the area.
United Church of Ware organizer David C. Gravel said people interested in the take-out meals should call him at (414) 967-6554 in advance to make arrangements.
The Westfield Soup Kitchen on Meadow Street, not normally open on Saturdays, will be open in the late afternoon on Christmas Day to provide a holiday dinner for those wishing to participate.
In Amherst, Not Bread Alone will serve its annual Christmas meal at First Congregational Church, 165 Main St., with doors opening at 11 a.m. Between 40 and 80 typically come to the meal traditionally served and prepared by members of the Jewish community of Amherst.
In Northampton, MANNA Soup Kitchen will have a Christmas Day meal at Edwards Church beginning at noon. Elaine Ulman of MANNA said the non-profit organization will also deliver meals on Christmas day. Between deliveries and walk-in diners, MANNA expects to serve more than 300 meals. For a home-delivered meal, call (413) 586-5336.
In West Springfield, the West Springfield Parish and Interfaith Association will hold its annual, free Christmas Eve dinner from 4 to 5 p.m., Friday, at First United Methodist Church at 802 Main St. Santa will pay a visit and bring toys for the children.
Rose A. Desrosiers, the West Springfield association’s outreach coordinator, expects to serve about 400 people.
“I have seen the numbers grow because there is such a need out there because of the economy,’’ Desrosiers said.
People who want meals delivered in West Springfield may call the West Springfield Senior Center, (413) 739-0247, and ask for Diane.
In Chicopee, there will be two seatings at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen at 170 Pendexter Ave. on Christmas Day. The first serving will start shortly after 11 a.m.
Christmas Eve Dinner:
• First United Methodist Church at 802 Main St., West Springfield, 4 p.m.
Christmas Day Dinners:
• Edwards Church, 39 Edwards St., Northampton, noon, (413) 586-5336.
• First Congregational Church, 165 Main St., Amherst, 11 a.m.
• Westfield Soup Kitchen, 101 Meadow Street, Westfield, 5 p.m., (413) 572-9147
• Kate’s Kitchen, 51 Hamilton Street, Holyoke, noon
• United Church of Ware, 49 Church Street, Ware, noon, (413) 967-9981
• High School of Commerce, 415 State St., Springfield, noon, (413) 737-5337
• Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen, 170 Pendexter Ave., Chicopee, 11 a.m., (413) 592-9528
Opportunities to donate:
www.openpantry.org
www.foodbankwma.org