Volunteer Newsletter – February 2025
This past month seemed to go by pretty quickly, but here it is – newsletter #2. I’m sure many of us are looking forward to some ice-free weather or some spring skiing!
If you have any concerns regarding our client’s continued access to food, please know that the following statement is visible at the top of our website.
A NOTE OF REASSURANCE IN A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY about the status of federal grants, loans, and other financial assistance: The Northampton Survival Center is open and fully operational and intends to continue in full force in our efforts to relieve food insecurity for Hampshire County residents in accordance with our mission.
We appreciate all the care our volunteers offer our clients and we can assure everyone that Yes, we are open and Yes, we will remain open!
Recent News
Kilee, our Program Coordinator, has done a tremendous job in putting together Welcome Bags for any new clients. These welcome bags include a cookbook (we have an English version and a Spanish version); 5 jars of spices; a client info page; a community resource page; a map and explanation of the drive through service as well as a magnet with a QR code where clients can view our hours, daily menu, online pantry recipes, newsletter and resources.
Our February monthly client newsletter included information regarding PVTA access; local warming centers and the reminder that we are not a government agency; getting food from us does not impact citizenship or visa applications and that we are open even if there is a government shutdown.
Client Newsletter
https://www.northamptonsurvival.org/pantry-digest/
February Pantry Fresh recipe was Potato Gnocchi with Mushroom and Cream Sauce. It was another big hit!
Here is the link to the current and past recipes:
https://www.northamptonsurvival.org/pantryfresh
Exciting news: Meals in March – We are grateful to be the recipient of a restaurant grant which is being used to provide fresh meals to NSC clients from LaCruzana and Uya Poke Bowl. We will start offering these to our clients Monday, March 3rd and will be available every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through the month of March.
In our continuing endeavor to provide expanded services to our clients, starting in April, we will be extending our drive-through hours on Wednesdays from 12-3pm to 12-6pm. Additional curbside pickup times will also be available. This adds a second day of later hours, which our clients will find very helpful. More opportunities for volunteers and clients alike! Additional info will be coming your way soon
Nametags
You’ll notice that the volunteer name tags have changed –Chris, our Office Manager, is printing new name tags a bit at a time. Feel free to use your current one until your new one appears on the name tag rack behind my desk. If you would like any name or pronoun changes, just let me know.
Speaking of name tags- This month’s trivia question is “What do you think are the top two most common names of our active volunteers?” You’ll find the answer at the bottom of the newsletter.
Volunteer anniversaries – We have 13 volunteers celebrating anniversaries this month- from 1 year to 21 years! Michael Filas holds the distinction of being the 2nd longest volunteer at NSC. Who’s #1? When her month comes around this year you’ll all be the first to know!
In the past, new volunteers received a Volunteer Handbook along with a name tag on their first shift. You can now access the Volunteer Handbook on line
https://www.northamptonsurvival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/NSC-Volunteer-Handbook-January-2025.pdf
February Staff Spotlight
Bryan Comer joined us in May 2024 in our new part-time Development Coordinator position, and he also doubles as our resident Champion of Winter, reminding us of the daily joys of what many consider a dark and gloomy season. He grew up in Colorado and associates the season with play and exploration in the mountains, so he’s been thrilled to have a snowy winter this year to bust out his micro spikes and walk his dogs, Bebop and Biloxi, down the ice-caked sidewalks and through the Northampton Meadows. Bryan moved to Northampton with his partner Leanna in 2010 to attend the UMass MFA Program for Poets & Writers, and his expertise has been a boon for grant writing to fund the Center’s dreams. He also manages our development database, meticulously recording all of our financial and in-kind donations, like an archivist of the data that drives our relationships with our many generous donors. Since he works in the back office, he doesn’t have the chance to interact much with our volunteers and clients, but he loves soaking up the sun at his desk in the front corner windows that face Prospect Street—if you’re visiting on a Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday, please feel free to wave hello!
A few of Bryan’s tips for this final stretch of the season: Buy an electric blanket, heated eye mask, and a massage mat. Step outside at night, even briefly, just to consider the cold on your face and the silence in the air. Find small ways to celebrate the light within and around us—every day is growing a little bit brighter and hums with the possibilities of the season ahead. Capture that hum: try a new hobby, or take a deeper dive into one you already have. (You can even borrow one of Bryan’s: lately he’s been teaching himself to play bass guitar, watching all 33 Japanese Godzilla movies in chronological order, and will happily talk your ear off about his favorite band, the adventurous Australian psych rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard.)
February Volunteer Spotlight
Terri Hamill is a retired computer hardware technician and SFF (science fiction/fantasy) author living in Florence. She’s been published with Black Hare Press (*Something In My Eye*, a horror novella) and by *On the Premises* Magazine (*Grimm’s Anatomy* in Issue 44). She lives with her daughter (who is also a published author) and three obscenely pampered cats.
USDA Civil Rights Training Form
Thank you for stopping by my desk and signing this form. We will continue to ask new volunteers to sign the form, and if you are interested,d I have some video links regarding civil rights issues
Reminder: POFD (Post Office Food Drive) – All day event held at NSC Saturday, May 10th – Many volunteer opportunities available! The week prior we have volunteers prep the shopping bags with our flyer and distribute them throughout Northampton and Florence. Then we rally for the big day! Last year we received over 19,000 pounds of food from this event.
Future volunteers: I had the pleasure of speaking to the 6th grade class of New Hingham Elementary School earlier this month. They are doing a project on Think Globally; Act Locally as it applies to food security. They were quite attentive and I’ll be giving them a tour of our Pantry next week.
Trivia answer: We currently have 11 Dave/Davids and 8 Sue/Susans (and a few close iterations of Susan).
For new volunteers, if you would like to read January’s Newsletter you’ll find it here. https://www.northamptonsurvival.org/volunteer-newsletter/
“No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another. Thank you.”
This is attributed to Joseph Addison, English political writer and poet.
Diane Drohan
Volunteer Manager
Northampton Survival Center