Florence Bank donates $50,000 to Northampton Survival Center for program expansion
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Florence Bank has pledged $50,000 to the Northampton Survival Center to help expand food access for residents in Hampshire County.
The bank’s contribution, combined with a food security infrastructure grant from the state, funded the purchase of an electric van for the center’s Fresh Van program. Operating as a mobile food pantry, the vehicle delivers fresh produce, dairy, bread, and grocery items directly to local low-income, disabled, and senior housing complexes. Weekly deliveries allow residents to select their own fresh food on site.
Florence Bank President and CEO Matt Garrity visited Tobin Manor in Florence to observe the new vehicle during a delivery.
“The Northampton Survival Center provides critical support to our communities and we are proud to support the Fresh Van program,” Garrity said. “The new delivery van allows the Center to expand its impact by providing fresh, nutritious food to folks who may not be able to easily visit the Survival Center.”
In addition to the mobile delivery service, the Northampton Survival Center offers outdoor drive-through and curbside pickup options for clients. The organization operates food pantries in both Northampton and Goshen, distributing more than 900,000 pounds of food to more than 4,000 clients throughout Hampshire County.
“The Fresh Van goes beyond delivering fresh, nutritious food to our neighbors,” said Northampton Survival Center Executive Director Heidi Nortonsmith. “It brings a festive atmosphere and a sense of community right to their doors and allows clients the dignity of choosing their own fresh groceries without having to worry about how to get to the Center.”