The food pantry at the Pleasant View Senior Center will receive donated food from the East Longmeadow High School boys’ varsity basketball team.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
EAST LONGMEADOW — For the third year, the East Longmeadow High School boys varsity basketball team will be collecting non-perishable goods for the Pleasant View Senior Center. However, the food drive is also an opportunity to enrich the lives of all involved.
Assistant coach Gary DeStefano explained that the team will collect foodstuffs at home games from Dec. 2-23. Additionally, the school has teamed up with Monson Savings Bank to offer a second drop-off location at its East Longmeadow branch. In 2023, the team dropped off about 200 pounds — more than 12 grocery bags — of donated food.
“We’re incredibly proud of our boys’ basketball program for stepping up and dedicating their time at the Senior Center. This is an event we look forward to every year,” said boys varsity basketball head coach Brendan Abad.
Food Pantry Coordinator Elizabeth Baron said 85% of the food distributed by the pantry comes from physical donations. She can also order from the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts once per month and partners with the organization Spoonfuls, which rescues unsold dairy, meat and produce from Big Y Supermarkets.
Individuals and families of two can receive two bags of non-perishable goods, a bag of produce and a small bag of meat from the pantry every two weeks. Council on Aging Director Erin Koebler said there has been a 25% increase in those visiting the pantry since January. Baron said she expects the number of recipients to increase as cold weather forces people to spend more of their income on home heating, leaving less for groceries.
Despite the spike in need, Baron said, “We’re very proud that we’ve never had to turn anyone away.”
While the help in stocking the pantry’s shelves is deeply appreciated, there is more to the food drive than nutrition. Each year, the team spends the afternoon with the seniors at the center. In years past, the teens and the seniors have played chair volleyball. Last year, the students joined the seniors for line dancing. This year, DeStefano said, the team was challenged to a cornhole tournament.
“[The seniors] love athletic people. They’re so competitive,” Baron said, “and they’re trash talkers.”
Koebler said, “We’re always trying to encourage intergenerational activities, and sometimes, it’s contrived, and it doesn’t go over well, but this is so genuine.” She explained, “Being socially active and engaged is just as important as being physically active, which is why it’s so great that the coaches are getting their team involved.”
Baron also praised the coaches for being role models and encouraging the players to spend time with members of the community they might not otherwise meet. “They are actively engaged with these seniors. It’s great to see,” she said, adding, “It plants seeds [of community] in the 16-, 17-year-olds.”
Abad said, “By spending time with our senior residents, our student-athletes are learning the importance of connecting across generations. Their efforts to donate canned food, lend a helping hand and share stories with our seniors show our program’s commitment to giving back and building a stronger community. This experience has been rewarding not only for the senior residents but for our student-athletes as well, who are learning the value of compassion, service, and leadership off the court.”
