NEWBURY – Food banks, like the First Parish Food Bank, are entering their busiest season. The volunteers that serve food to hundreds of people each week have been preparing since August to meet the demand for turkeys.
Jean Merrow, who heads this food bank, has 211 turkeys waiting in the giant freezer at Shaheen’s Grocery in Amesbury. But even that number may not be enough. She is hoping at least 20 more will be donated before this Friday.
Last week, the food bank in an outbuilding behind the First Parish Church delivered sacks of food to 330 households. That is up from the 298 households they served each week in October. It filled more than 1,100 requests, delivering 5,268 bags of food, weighing almost 50,000 pounds to 2,868 people during the month.
And the need is growing. Of the 415 households that requested food assistance last month, there were 19 new households that came to the pantry for the first time.
The food bank accepts food donations every Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The turkeys can be picked up on Friday, Nov. 22 at 20 High Road, Newbury.
To donate a turkey to the pantry, email info@newburyfoodpantry.org. ♦
