SHELBURNE – Shortly after local legislators and executives of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts begin their journey next week from Springfield to Greenfield as part an annual campaign to raise awareness about hunger in the region, a local farmer will begin her own walk.
In conjunction with “Monte’s March” — the 43-mile walk led by Monte Belmonte of WRSI each November — Prudence Wholly of Shelburne and two others plan to march on Monday from her home on Zerah Fiske Road to Bardwell’s Ferry Road, and back again via South Shelburne Road.
“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, but it just doesn’t work out for people who work on a farm. You can’t just say, ‘I’m going to take off’,” said Wholly, a farmer in Shelburne. “This year, of course, with all the COVID stuff, and nobody going anywhere … I’ve decided I want to, and want to support it through the Shelburne Farmers March.”
Wholly’s group, which plan to go a distance of about 4 miles, will start their walk together at 10 a.m.
In advance of the walk, Wholly is raising money to donate to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. And while she doesn’t expect to raise Belmonte’s goal of $365,000, she hopes she can encourage as many people as possible to donate.
“I’m trying to do my part,” she said.
Wholly said people can donate cash or write a check out to her, which should be mailed to or dropped off at 314 Zerah Fiske Road, Shelburne, MA 01370. Alternatively, they can write a check made out to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, with a note at the bottom indicating its part of the Shelburne Farmers March donation. She’s also accepting cash donations.
“So far I’ve gotten around $340 that people have donated,” she said, adding that every bit helps.
Wholly said she believes there is an even greater need to support local food banks.
“I think there is a bigger need this year because people aren’t working,” she said. “Their kids are home — maybe they get meals at school, whereas now they’re not getting those.”
Because of that, there are more people in the region who need help.
“We don’t have any idea how fortunate we are,” she said. “Most of us can grow our own food and if we can’t, we can afford to buy it in a grocery store. I think it’s important to help out other people.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne