United Way food drive serves 900 area families

Volunteers from The Club: Lunenburg Teen Center — Mackenzie, Charlotte, Molly, Jules, and Andy — load donations into the car of Julie Meehan, executive director of the Gardner Community Action Committee, during the April Foods 2025 Drive. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Published: 06-19-2025 2:00 PM |
FITCHBURG – The United Way of North Central Massachusetts (UWNCM) has completed its annual April Foods Drive, distributing more than 7,500 pounds of food—valued at $14,625—to local agencies, helping 900 families across the region.
From April through June, donation boxes were placed in libraries, schools, grocery stores, and partner businesses throughout North Central Massachusetts. In addition to community donations, UWNCM partnered with local food pantries to distribute the food and teamed up with Growing Places to include fresh, locally-grown produce.
The overall impact of the drive totaled $26,533, thanks to $10,332 in in-kind donations and the efforts of 21 volunteers, who contributed 52 hours of service, valued at $1,650.
UWNCM extends special thanks to Local Roots Cannabis Crafted and Christ Church Fitchburg for donations toward fresh produce, Catania Oil for contributing two pallets of cooking oil (110 cases), and Point32Health for providing bags and hand sanitizer to support the drive.
Among the many dedicated volunteers were staff from The Club: Lunenburg Teen Center, who have supported the food drive for several years.
“No one in our community should have to worry about their next meal. This food drive is a
powerful reminder that when we come together, we can make a real difference. Every donation, big or small, helps put food on someone’s table and hope in their heart,” said Judy Tomlinson, UWNCM Director of Community Impact.
To learn more or find ways to support future food drives, visit www.uwncm.org.
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Agencies receiving donations:
Catholic Charities Worcester County
Clear Path for Veterans New England
Community Pantry at Athol High School
Gardner CAC
Ginny’s Helping Hand, Inc.
Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center, Inc.
Lunenburg Community Food Pantry
The Society of St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry at St. Joseph Church Fitchburg
Saint Leo’s Parish Church Food Pantry
The Salvation Army Athol Corps
The Salvation Army of Fitchburg/Leominster
The Spanish American Center, Inc.
Winchendon CAC
YMCA of Athol Food Pantry