NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city of North Adams and the North Adams Public Schools will once again collaborate on a food drive to benefit the Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative's Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry, located at 43 Eagle Street in North Adams. This year's drive will be held Tuesday, December 1, 2020, through Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, with the goal of helping to restock the shelves of the Friendship Center for the holiday season.

 

"We know that hunger and food insecurity have increased this year," said North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard. "The Al Nelson Friendship Center Food Pantry and other providers in the community have performed heroic service and dedicated work to meet the needs of our family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues who need supplemental food, a safety net, and to be treated with openness, friendliness, dignity, and respect. 

 

"Traditionally, our food drive has been a way of giving thanks and supporting the Friendship Center for Thanksgiving. This year, it felt appropriate to focus on efforts on helping to restock the shelves after Thanksgiving to hopefully help ensure happier holidays for everyone served by the Friendship Center."

 

Donations may be dropped off at collection boxes in City Hall, the schools, the library, the Mary Spitzer Center and the Police and Fire departments. Bernard and Superintendent of Schools Barbara Malkas will deliver the collected items to the food pantry on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 9 a.m., with an "inclement weather" date of Wednesday, Dec. 16, at 9 a.m. The delivery will include a weigh-in to determine how much has been collected to benefit those in the community in need of donations.

 

The Food Pantry has encouraged donations such as: tuna; peanut butter; brown rice; whole wheat pasta; pasta sauce; low sodium canned vegetables (e.g. potatoes, green beans, carrots); low sodium soups; whole grain cereals (low sugar) and/or oatmeal; canned fruits (no sugar added); and beans (e.g. kidney beans and garbanzo beans). In addition, personal care items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and shampoo also are needed.