Annual North Quabbin Food-A-Thon set for Tuesday

Sixteen years ago a small group of Athol and Orange officials and citizens decided to try a “boot drive” to raise funds and collect food donations to help support local food pantries and feeding programs. The event was so successful it was repeated again and again.

The 16th annual North Quabbin Food-A-Thon will be held Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Food-A-Thon provides food and money to support five local food pantries and feeding programs. The recipients are: the Orange Food Pantry and the Community Meals Program in Orange (both parts of the Franklin County Community Meals Program), Our Lady Immaculate Pantry in Athol, the Salvation Army Pantry and Meal Program in Athol, St. Vincent DePaul Pantry of St. Mary’s Church in Orange and the Good Neighbors Pantry in Wendell.

Volunteers conduct the “boot drive” on the Main Streets in Orange and Athol and over the past 15 years have collected nearly $415,000. More than 11,000 non-perishable food items were collected in 2018. 

Food is collected in various locations in Athol and Orange including the Main Street intersections in downtown Athol and Orange, and at Hannaford’s, Walmart and Market Basket grocery stores. Food is also gathered at local businesses, in the public schools and by community groups such as Girl and Boy Scout troops. Elementary Schools in Orange have red-wagon parades to deliver the food they collect. All the food is brought to the downtown parking lot in Orange by 6 p.m. and then divided among the five programs.

The fiscal sponsor is The Orange Historical Society and checks may be mailed to it; please make the checks out to “The Orange Historical Society” and write “Food-A-Thon” on the memo line. Checks may be mailed to he Orange Historical Society, PO Box 28, Orange, MA 01364. 

Sponsors for the Food-A-Thon include Pete’s Tire Barns, Hannaford Supermarket, AOTV, WVAO, Walmart, Witty’s Funeral Home, Market Basket, Lyman Signs, The Highland Press, Lyman Excavating and the Orange Historical Society.Local businesses donate food to feed the volunteers including the Diemand Farm, Friendly Town Pizza, The Pizza Factory, Hannaford Supermarket and Walmart.