Volunteer Newsletter – May 2025
Don’t ask me where the month went!
I am happy to report that the annual Post Office Food Drive was another great success! Our final tally was 15,655 pounds of food. Many thanks to everyone who helped from beginning to end! Out of the hundreds of boxes of donated food, we have a minimal number left to be QC’d (quality control). Our clients have been delighted with the various selections of items now stocked on our pantry shelves. And I have witnessed how much it adds to the client-volunteer experience when our Personal Shoppers express how good it feels to offer something special to a client.
Alexander, our Assistant Program Director, wrote a lovely piece regarding the POFD which was published in the Gazette: https://www.gazettenet.com/Letter-61237728
Not to be outdone, Dane Kuttler, one of Board Members submitted an article to the Gazette this month: https://www.northamptonsurvival.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot_20250502_072519_Daily-Hampshire-Gazette.jpg
Information on a literary fundraiser benefiting The Northampton Survival Center is below. All are invited to this literary event: Word to Table with Simeon Berry, winner of the Academy of American Poets Award, along with Elizabeth Denny, Olena Jennings, Sean Sutherland, Jaya Tripathi, and Anton Yakovlev. The event will raise funds for farmers in Hampshire and Franklin Counties of Western Massachusetts, and food pantries serving our region, including the Northampton Survival Center and the Center for Self-Reliance in Greenfield.
https://wordtable.betterworld.org/
Yesterday, we started our Kids Summer Food Program where we offer additional items across the food categories for our clients who have school-aged children. In July and August, when kids are fully out of school, we increase the number of available items even more. Clients can ask for a prepacked bag or select the available items of their choosing.
Our Combo Bags of shelf stable items with catchy names like Cookie Time, Happy Valley, and Pantry Partner started as a way to help both clients and volunteers with what we refer to as choice-fatigue. The names and items change monthly, and since it began in April, we have given out over 1200 bags. That’s a lot less picking off the shelves while serving clients and packing orders. Another win-win!
Our new Weekly Fresh Van program starts this Thursday, and if all goes smoothly, we’ll be adding it to Tuesday distribution sites in the near future.
We continue to collaborate with our neighbor, Abundance Farm, whose Pick Your Own (PYO) season will be getting off the ground as soon as the crops start coming up from the ground! Their Community Harvest hours will be Wednesdays from 3:00 to 6:00 pm and is available to clients and community members. During PYO season, they display a harvest list of what crops are ready to be picked and provide all the supplies needed for harvesting. We hope you will check it out when the time comes for picking veggies, berries, herbs, flowers, and more.
This past month’s Pantry Fresh kit was Italian Tuna Salad – something light and fresh for the semi-Spring-like weather we had.
This month’s recipe will be a hit for kids and adults alike – it’s a make-your-own Summer Fun Popsicles!
Remember, you can click on the link below and try any or all of them out yourself!
Pantry Fresh recipe link
https://www.northamptonsurvival.org/pantryfresh/
Volunteer Anniversaries:
Reed S 18 years
Jake G 13
Paul T 7
Patty T 5
Lisann G 3
Beth N 3
David W 3
Sheila C 2
Joan J 2
Jeff K 2
Dave L 2
Sheila C 2
Emma R 1
Danielle R 1
Volunteer Highlight:
Sherry McGuire – our longest serving volunteer of 28 years tells me that one of the highlights of her week are the two weekly shifts she volunteers at NSC.
Sherry was on the NSC Board for over a decade and was the clerk for our Board of Directors for 10 years. She also served on the Program Committee and continues to serve our clients in countless ways.
Sherry is fully enjoying retired life with gardening, shopping, and spending time with family and friends.
Other volunteer commitments include Bethlehem House and Our Lady of Blessed Sacrament.
Staff highlight:
Alexander Léger-Small Assistant Program Director
I joined NSC back in the worst days of the Covid-19 pandemic after previously interviewing for a different role at the Center that wasn’t a good fit. I was lucky enough to make an impression on staff that when another position opened up, Heidi reached out to me, and I jumped to join an organization that I was in awe of. In the 4 years I’ve been involved with Pantry, my awe has increased with all the incredible work we do here and the amazing dedication of our volunteers.
A couple of things you may not know about me: I studied Fashion Design in downtown Chicago for my undergrad, where I fell in love with printmaking, weaving, and textiles.
I’m a mediocre cook, but I ran a cocktail bar for about 4 years in downtown Amherst, so I can make a wicked Old Fashioned or Ramos Gin Fizz.
I always want to see pictures of your pets. Next time you see me in the Pantry, let me tell you how beautiful your dog is!
Better Impact is the volunteer database where the schedule is posted and where volunteers can sign up or remove themselves from a shift. The June through September sign-ups will be available soon. Please familiarize yourself with the site if you haven’t done so already. Better Impact link
https://app.betterimpact.com/Login/LoginNoSearch?agencyGuid=65faad77-baa1-465f-99d7-fe0303e55ac6
Volunteer Handbook: