ORANGE — Carol Courville said volunteers with the first North Quabbin Food-A-Thon 14 years ago would have been “beyond grateful” to collect $5,000. They wound up collecting $13,500.
What started off as a plan for four people to spend a 12-hour day collecting food and money for local food pantries has blossomed into an annual event with volunteers from several area businesses. Courville, the executive director at Athol-Orange Community Television, which is also a donor, said $23,179.30 and 18,407 food items were donated last year.
The 14th annual North Quabbin Food-A-Thon is slated for 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16, at Main and Exchange streets in Athol and the Main streets intersection of Orange. The Orange Historical Society is again the fiscal sponsor, and the event will be broadcast live all day by WJDF radio and AOTV.
Courville said volunteers will use pickle jars to accept donations. Courville said the Food-A-Thon is the brainchild of former Orange Town Administrator Rick Kwiatkowski.
All Food-A-Thon proceeds will be divided among the Franklin County Community Meals Program (including the Orange Pantry), Wendell Good Neighbors Community Food Program, Our Lady Immaculate Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul’s of St. Mary’s Church and The Salvation Army Food Pantry and Community Meals Program.
Donations of food and money can also be made on the Food-A-Thon day at the Hannaford supermarket, Walmart, the Market Basket supermarket and AOTV. Checks should be made out to “The Orange Historical Society,” noting “Food-A-Thon” in the memo line on the check, and mailed to: The Orange Historical Society, P.O. Box 28, Orange, MA 01364.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 258.
On Twitter: @DomenicPoli