SPRINGFIELD — With a few minutes remaining before the official end of the 31st Mayflower Marathon, Mike “Bax” Baxendale of Rock 102 announced the preliminary tally of the 56-hour food drive for the Open Pantry Community Services (OPCS) was $236,049.81 — only the second time the event broke the $200,000 mark.
Baxendale explained to Reminder Publishing that people still had until the following Monday to make contributions through a Paypal link on the radio station’s website.
Baxendale and his co-host Steve Nagle have over the past several years increased the food drive to include a comedy night at MGM Springfield as well as a special fundraising game of the Springfield Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds effort raised $5,000 in food and cash as well as $10,000 in a raffle.
“The community always steps up,” Baxendale said, “That’s the real joy.”
Nicole Lussier, executive director of The Open Pantry, said the agency has seen a 40% increase in demand for its emergency food program. She believes the impact of inflation on some households is the reason for the increase.
According to the agency website, 9,000 individuals received food via OPCS’ Emergency Food Program in 2023. The agency’s emergency food program serves a part of Springfield.
She added the agency’s staff is seeing many new clients and noted people do not know the struggle which their neighbors are facing.
In action, the outcome of the drive, she said, “it’s awesome, very good, mindboggling.”
She said, “We can buy a lot of food with that money.” Lussier added the donation will not only see the agency’s needs through the holiday season but well into next year.
Beth Ward, community outreach manager at MGM Springfield, said this was the casino’s third year in hosting the drive and the business is very happy to assist with helping OPCS.
