NORTHAMPTON — The Department of Health and Human Services has had an active April as it is hosting a food drive throughout the month to support the Northampton Survival Center and also just came off a week of events throughout the city in celebration of National Public Health Week.
Each April, the American Public Health Association unites communities nationwide to celebrate National Public Health Week, recognizing public health contributors and addressing key health issues. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of National Public Health Week, DHHS celebrated its success found while also looking ahead at upcoming challenges and creating a vision for the future through a series of events.
“It’s big,” said Division of Community Care Director Donavon Gibbs on the city’s efforts during National Public Health Week. “The DCC, we work with six other divisions in the Department of Health and Human Services which is what makes us whole. This week is just about letting the community know what this division does and how much we support and work for our community.”
One of the programs during the week included “Roots of Resilience” at the DCC Community Space where Grow Food Northampton had a table set up in the space. Grow Food Northampton Communications Manager Niki Lankowski was attending the event, speaking and introducing community members to farmers market snap incentives program, free mobile market and other various offerings they provide.
“Today I’m here trying to tell people about Grow Food Northampton if they don’t know about us already,” said Lankowski. “We have a SNAP match program [through the market] where people spend $10 from their SNAP card and then we give them an extra $10 so people get to ship with more at the market. People who have SNAP can get a pretty good boost by coming to our farmers market so that’s one thing I’m hoping that people who come here today can learn more about.”
Lankowski said it was so helpful for a group like Grow Food Northampton to be collaborating with the city and DHHS, specifically the Division of Community Care.
“I think it can help us to plug in because there are already trusted relationships. I feel like what we’re bringing is something everyone needs and wants which is food,” Lankowski added.
A COVID-19 vaccine clinic was also hosted by DHHS nurses who offered the clinic to individuals who are immune compromised or 65 years old and up. The week culminated with car seat inspections at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School where DHHS inspectors ensured car seat installations are correct and answered questions from attendees.
While the week of celebration and events saw success and a decent turnout, the food drive to support the Survival Center will continue on through the rest of April. Donation boxes will be located at Forbes and Lilly Library, the Senior Center, the YMCA, the Northampton Athletic Club and outside the DHHS main office.
Survival Center Development Director Danielle Brown told Reminder Publishing the great thing about food drives is they tend to contribute a lot of variety to the pantry.
“We’re giving out more than 14,000 pounds of food every week. That’s all kinds of nutritious groceries to our clients and while we are able to reliably source lots of staple goods, things like soup and pasta, tuna and canned vegetables,” Brown explained. “Things that might make cooking at home a little more fun, more flavorful. So we’re always looking for things like cooking oil, spices, coffee and tea, condiments, stuff that just makes food better, so that’s a big help in a food drive.”
The food collected is utilized to help offset the center’s food budget. Brown said they provide well over $1 million worth of food each year with about a $275,000 budget.
“Because of our relationship with local agencies, we’re able to leverage that amount to provide well over $1 million of food in the end so food drives definitely help us do that,” Brown said. “The city is great because they’re really putting a whole citywide focus on food insecurity which is a huge problem, and it’s great to signal boost, get the word out and help feed the community.”
All collected donations will be delivered to the Northampton Survival Center on May 1. To view the list of the most requested donations, visit tinyurl.com/2ea5kcy7. Brown added those looking for more information on donations can reach out to the center directly. The Survival Center is open on Tuesdays and Thursday between noon and 3 p.m., dedicated to processing donations.
Gibbs said the efforts from the DHHS this past week and the rest of the month with the food drive further their commitment to the city and the best interests of its people.
“We’re all doing our best to bring back the human-to-human services. Our collaboration is key and we’re going to continue finding new ways to build on that,” Gibbs added.
