Emily Potts receives a donation from Ticona Suggs at the Reduce Hunger Food Drive at the Lynn Stop and Shop on March 5.
By THOR JOURGENSEN
NAHANT — The Democratic Town Committee from Nahant and Swampscott finished an eight month-long drive to collect non-perishable items for local food pantries.
Meeting shoppers at the entrance to Stop and Shop in Lynn, the committee handed shoppers a list of non-perishable foods needed by pantries.
John Moynihan, Swampscott food drive coordinator, said shoppers donated hundreds of pounds of food, including soup, cereal, pasta, canned goods and toiletries.
“The food drive started in 2009 in response to a challenge from then newly elected President Barack Obama for citizens to do something in response to community needs” Moynihan said. “It has been running uninterrupted since July of that year at stores in Lynn, Swampscott, Danvers and Peabody.”
Town Committee members said the monthly food drive helps to reduce food insecurity for many families in Lynn and other North Shore communities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a consistent access to adequate food that is limited by a lack of money and other resources during the year.
Many Lynn families choose between buying food or paying the rent, utilities or other bills, said Emily Potts, Nahant’s food drive coordinator. She said committee members during the drive saw an increase in the number of families requesting food from local pantries.
Potts said shoppers, especially in Lynn, generously meet the need.
“Many people donate more than one item,” she said. “It is not uncommon for someone to contribute and say, ‘It makes me feel good to be able to do this. I once needed the help of a food bank myself.’”
Drive participant Faith Peterson meets with store managers to schedule the food drives.
“I’ve seen individuals stop with a grocery cart with four bags of groceries,” she said. “They leave three with us and walk away with one bag.”
The drive is a collective effort of volunteers, the grocery store, food pantries, and people who donate. Interested in volunteering? Contact Potts at emilypotts0101@yahoo.com or Moynihan at moynihan_john@hotmail.com.
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com