GREENFIELD — Women’s Way, the affinity group of United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region, is gearing up for its annual Supper for Six food drive to ensure families in need don’t go hungry during the upcoming February school break.
The collection event will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Baystate Franklin Medical Center. Donors should bring bags through the main entrance to the Supper for Six registration table to have their donations processed. Wednesday, Feb. 11, will serve as a snow date for the event, if needed.
“This is for our community, for the kids in our community, for the families in our community, and we just want it to be a success to help the kids and families and moms that are working hard to feed their kids,” said Terry Desautels, chair of Women’s Way.
Those making donations are encouraged to bring reusable bags filled with nonperishable items such as canned vegetables and proteins, pasta and grains, and nut butters and jelly. Additional helpful items include baby formula and baby snacks, toiletries and paper goods, and cooking oils.
Rates of food insecurity in Massachusetts have increased in recent years, according to the 2025 Greater Boston Food Bank’s Fifth Statewide Food Access Report. In Franklin and Hampshire counties, 50% of households experienced food insecurity in 2024 — a 13% increase from the year before.
With 73% of food-insecure households with children in Massachusetts participating in school and summer meal programs, a school break can pose questions about food access. Visits to food pantries have been found to surge during vacation weeks.
“Hopefully it’ll be a success and we’ll help a lot of families through that week,” Desautels. said. “We’ve been doing this for many years, when food insecurity wasn’t as big of an issue as it is today. … I think it’s even more important for us to be doing this this year.”
Last year, more than 300 bags of food were collected, feeding more than 320 students and families. This year, Desautels said the goal is to collect 250 bags. So far, Supper for Six has received 120 bags of food from The Bement School in Deerfield.
A variety of food pantries and family programs will distribute all donations to families in advance of the February school break, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts, The United Arc, the Mary Lyon Foundation, the Franklin County Community Meals Program, Community Action Pioneer Valley’s Center for Self-Reliance food pantry, The Salvation Army and The Heartwing Center.
Anyone who brings a donation to Tuesday’s collection event can stay to enjoy some light refreshments. The event will also include a speech from Heather Wood from The Heartwing Center and Cheo Ramos of the Center for Self-Reliance.
“You [can] hear where the bags are going to, and what they mean to these agencies receiving them,” Desautels said. “It just means a little more than just bringing bags and not saying what they’re going for.”
Anyone who would like to donate bags but is unable to make the collection event may contact the United Way office to arrange an early drop-off. All monetary gifts made by check, gift card or online will go toward purchasing additional food for distribution.
For more information, such as nonperishable item suggestions and other ways to give to Supper for Six, visit uw-fh.org/womensway, call 413-584-3962, ext. 106 or email program@uw-fh.org.