GREENFIELD — Despite changes in format necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supper for Six event raised $3,000 and collected 221 bags of food this year.
The event, which is organized by Women’s Way, a program of the United Way of Franklin County, collected donations of nonperishable groceries in a drive-thru format in the United Way parking lot on Davis Street on Tuesday.
“Women’s Way planned this event via a Zoom call, which seems to be the new normal for many of us,” Chair Charity Day said. “We decided a drive-thru event was the safest for donors, volunteers and partner agencies.”
Day said food insecurity has been a huge problem for many Franklin County residents, especially since last March when the pandemic hit the area.
“There’s a real increase in food needs and it continues to grow,” she said. Of the Supper for Six turnout, she added, “Once again, we saw the amazing generosity of Franklin County residents, even during a pandemic.”
Women’s Way is a group of local women who want to be “hands on” when it comes to helping others. The group does all types of collections, like Blooming Backpacks, Supper for Six, an oral health drive and more.
“We partner with United Way agencies,” she said. “The agencies are on the ground doing the distributing of the things we collect.”
The food that was collected was given to local food pantries and nonprofits for distribution, including the Greenfield Salvation Army, Community Action’s Center for Self-Reliance, Franklin County Community Meals Program, The United Arc, the Mary Lyon Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County and Montague Catholic Social Ministries.
The money raised will be used to purchase gift cards to local supermarkets, and those will be distributed through the agencies as well.
Greenfield Cooperative Bank, Greenfield Saving Bank and Franklin First Federal Credit Union donated the reusable bags for the drive.
For more information about Women’s Way, United Way and its other programs, visit uw-fc.org.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.