Community Action Pioneer Valley is roughly halfway to its $40,000 fundraising goal to support its two food pantries in Greenfield and Shelburne Falls.
Executive Director Lev BenEzra said Community Action Pioneer Valley launched its “Keep Our Neighbors Fed” campaign earlier this month to help meet increasing needs in the community due to soaring grocery prices, decreasing federal aid and the arrival of summer, which brings an end to the school lunches that many families rely on.
“We are so appreciative of everyone who has turned out so far to support this really important campaign, and are really looking to our community to please step up for their neighbors at this really critical juncture,” BenEzra said. “Based on the needs we’re seeing within our food pantry — which do also go up over the summer when lots of families have kids home from school and are missing out on school-provided lunches — we have a $40,000 funding gap.”
Community Action is looking to raise the $40,000 by the Fourth of July so that the money can be used to allow the pantries to meet the needs of area residents throughout the rest of the summer and beyond.
“This is an opportunity for us to be thoughtful that our neighbors, who are already stretched thin and barely making ends meet, are facing rising costs where there’s nothing left to give,” BenEzra said. “Whatever someone can offer goes toward filling this need across our community. Whether it is $10, $100 or $1,000, that all goes directly to providing this critical resource for our communities and our neighbors.”
The Center for Self-Reliance in Greenfield and the West County Emergency Food Pantry in Shelburne Falls receive food from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, but also purchase food to supplement the produce, meats and shelf-stable goods it receives from the food bank. BenEzra said the pantries have been seeing more new visitors seeking assistance, and familiar visitors needing even more help.
A recent report from The Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham found that 48% of households in Franklin and Hampshire counties struggled with food insecurity in 2025. Food insecurity is defined by the National Institute of Health as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate, safe and nutritious food.”
According to the report, food insecurity has more than doubled since 2019 in Franklin and Hampshire counties, and 75% of families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits said they still need extra support.
BenEzra said the report was “upsetting, but not surprising,” based on what Community Action has seen at its food pantries. With housing expenses, utility bills, health care expenses and rising gas prices increasing the strain on people’s budgets, more and more residents are turning to food pantries for help.
In the first three weeks of the fundraising drive, Community Action has raised almost $20,000. BenEzra said community members have been wonderful, even showing up at the pantry with checks and signing up to be monthly donors.
“We know that this is a community that really believes that everybody should have what they need, and we know that this is a community that shows up for each other,” BenEzra said. “And so, we are asking folks to do just that.”
Joining community donors is Greenfield Cooperative Bank, which gave Community Action $5,000.
“The level of food insecurity facing Franklin and Hampshire counties is deeply concerning, and we are proud to help launch the Keep Our Neighbors Fed Campaign in support of Community Action’s vital work,” Greenfield Cooperative Bank President Tony Worden said in a statement. “We hope this matching gift inspires others to give and helps ensure neighbors across our region continue to have access to healthy food and trusted local resources.”
For more information or to donate, visit communityaction.us
