TURNERS FALLS — As the state begins to reopen as part of Gov. Charlie Baker’s four-phase plan, the volunteers who have been giving out free lunches to students on Saturdays are calling it quits.
Ted Wilcox, a former Turners Falls High School basketball coach who has been preparing the meals with his wife, Toni, and Shady Glen owner Charles Garbiel, said this weekend will mark the final lunch distribution outside the diner from noon to 1 p.m.
Buying ingredients for the lunches — which include a sandwich, chips, fruit and bottled water — required donations, and Wilcox said he is thankful to everyone in the community who donated, allowing the volunteers to give out 500 meals since April 4.
“We couldn’t have done it without them,” he said.
Though the weekly lunch distribution was originally planned to support students who rely on their schools for free lunches on the weekends, the effort morphed into something bigger.
“We had a great community turnout to help kids, veterans, even some homeless people,” Wilcox said.
If there were extra meals left over, Wilcox said they were delivered to the Winslow Wentworth House or the Farren Care Center.
“Absolutely nothing went to waste,” he said.
Reach Shelby Ashline at 413-772-0261, ext. 270 or sashline@recorder.com.