There’s something magical in the air this holiday season that is doing wonders for the people in need.
As many of our readers know, November was a difficult month for many as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits did not go out right away because of the recent government shutdown. While it was an extremely difficult situation for many, the response was overwhelmingly positive.
In an initial response to that, Mayor Domenic Sarno, Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi and Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Executive Director Andrew Morehouse, among many other local officials, formed a coalition to help people get the food they need.
As a member of our “So That Reminds Me” podcast team, I interviewed NEPM’s Monte Belmonte alongside Tyler Garnet for an episode on the March for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts that happened Nov. 22, 24 and 25. We learned all about the march and the need to raise money for people struggling with food insecurity. Each year, Belmonte leads a 43-mile march from Springfield to Greenfield over the two days. This year also included a 3-mile mini march in Pittsfield. That event returned for its 16th year.
Another annual event, Rock 102’s 32nd Mayflower Marathon, broadcast for 52 hours between Nov. 24 and 26, collecting both food and monetary donations for Springfield’s Open Pantry Community Services.
Aside from food security iniatives, events like Toy for Joy, which Reminder Publishing serves as a media partner for in conjunction with the Salvation Army and The Republican, WWLP’s Toys for Tots campaign and the Salvation Army’s red kettle campaign have also helped people in need during the holiday season.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I really thought — maybe more than ever — about thankfulness, gratitude and what the holiday season really means, especially in the wake of the March for the Food Bank and the Mayflower Marathon.
Even though the events are local staples, both shattered their records with an outpouring of support from so many people. For the Mayflower Marathon, they reached a new record of over $260,000, while the March for the Food Bank flew past its goal of $650,000, reaching $880,000 at the time of writing, with donations still being accepted until Dec. 31. From just two events, that’s over $1 million going to people in need.
I was nearly moved to tears to see the way people have come together to help the people that need it the most. To me politics are so frustrating — I have significant issues with both sides and their inability or unwillingness to solve problems — and politics circumvent the heart of the issue, the people and their needs. What happened with all these events is that people have rallied to support each other in a way that I could feel brewing, but did not expect to see happening on this huge a scale.
The hope I feel from the way people have come together comes from the fact that it’s people rallying to help their neighbors and people they may not even know, just for the sake of helping. This type of response gives me such a brighter perspective. If people come together, they can make meaningful change in the world around them.
We have the unique perspective of being able to share these stories of how people are helping each other, and I cannot be happier that we are able to deliver such good news to our readers in a time where many are frustrated with the way things are going, whether it’s toward specific issues or what’s going on in their lives. Being on hand for the kickoff event for the March for the Food Bank, the excitement in the room of people ready to help was palpable, and I am glad that I was able to share that with our readers.
There are so many ways to help people in need this season, and I would encourage folks to find a cause they want to support, and donate their time or money to — whether it’s one of the causes I’ve talked about here or something you already care about.
There’s so much good happening in response to all the negativity in the world, and I hope folks are able to see that, realize that and think about how they can help this holiday season. If you’re somebody who has already contributed to any of these causes, know that we see you and you’ve given me so much hope for the future.
