Volunteers from the Blessed Buy Thrift Shoppe present a check of $1,200 to the Westfield Food Pantry from proceeds of their third anniversary sale. From left are Anne Gelinas, Barbara James, Melissa Cahalan from the food pantry, Carol Whalen, Mayme Lajoie, Cindy Gaylord, Christina Pierce and Dorothy Cichonski.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
WESTFIELD — The Blessed Buys Thrift Shoppe gifted proceeds of $1,200 from its third anniversary sale to the Westfield Food Pantry last week. So far this year, the thrift store, located in the Old Town Hall at 20 Broad St., has given almost $5,000 to other nonprofits in Westfield.
The Westfield Food Pantry provides groceries to Westfield residents in need, averaging 1,200 people served monthly. The pantry, located at 101 Meadow St. in Westfield is open Monday and Thursday 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday, 5-6 p.m., and the first Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. to noon.
Clients may come once a month for a basic food bag based on the number of residents in their household. Items available generally include pasta and sauce, mac and cheese, canned fruits and vegetables, soup, rice, peanut butter, cereal, mean, drink items, tuna, fresh breads, dessert and seasonal fresh produce.
On their first visit to the pantry, people are asked for their household address, names and birth dates of household members and other general statistical information. No identification, proof or documentation is required in order to receive food.
According to information at westfieldfoodpantry.org, the pantry, which is run by two part-time staff, is 90% supported by community donations. 51% of our clients are children, and 14% are elderly. 16 weekly volunteers sort food, register clients and provide clerical support and the need for food assistance has increased by 203% since 2009.
Donations to the Westfield Food Pantry are welcome, both monetary and food donations. A list of food items needed at this time are on the website. Monetary donations to the 501c3 organization are tax-deductible and may be made online, or by mailing a check payable to the Westfield Food Pantry, 101 Meadow St., Westfield, MA 01085.
Cindy Gaylord, Blessed Buys Thrift Shoppe sale volunteer, said volunteers voted unanimously to give to the Westfield Food Pantry this quarter, in part became its food trucks parks outside of Blessed Buys on Thursdays, and they witness first hand the good work they do.
“For our third anniversary, we wanted to give back to an organization that serves the widest range of people in Westfield, as we strive to do,” Gaylord said.
The thrift store is currently running a sale on all summer items through the second weekend of September. Gaylord said the sale items are tagged at $2 to $5, although most of the lower end of that range. She said there is also a whole rack of fine men’s suits for $5.
Blessed Buys is open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
