To the editor: Thanks to the many who helped with BRGNS’ annual holiday food drive

On Thursday, Dec. 18 some 30 volunteers gathered at Fletcher Farm for the annual Black River Good Neighbor Services’ holiday food distribution. They filled boxes with the ingredients for an all-inclusive holiday dinner, complete with turkey or chicken, stuffing, vegetables, bread, milk and more than a dozen other food items. The boxes were destined for the tables of those families who might not otherwise enjoy a holiday meal. In addition, and in the spirit of the season, toys and presents were packed for those families with young children.

Then, on Monday, Dec. 22, more than 70 volunteers descended on the distribution headquarters. According to Lee Potter, BRGNS vice president and program coordinator, “In all we delivered 246 boxes of food and 90 bags of toys to 116 families with 281 people, of whom 86 were children under age 13. This project has been a centerpiece of the Black River Good Neighbor Services’ program for over 20 years. It has grown substantially, although the staff and volunteers wish it wasn’t needed.” In addition to those who packed and delivered, many people gathered the food and toys during the previous months. This was a townwide effort.

Black River Good Neighbor Services would like to thank everyone who helped this effort, from those who helped gather to those who helped deliver, and all those who worked in between.

Thanks go to all who worked at the Dec. 6 Stuff-a-Bus, including the town of Ludlow for providing the school bus and the High School Interact Club who helped stuff it, and to all those who worked at the Dec. 7 Okemo Cares and Shares food drive, especially the Mountain Ambassadors and Okemo employees. Thanks to Okemo for donating turkeys, to the folks at Jeld-Wen for the same; to Black River Produce for giving fruit and potatoes; to Countryside Lock and Alarm for donating hot chocolate, and to numerous individuals who gave cash, which was used to buy perishable food items to complete the menu.

Toys were donated by dozens of organizations and individuals from across the BRGNS service area, all of which deserve thanks including Annunciation Church, Ludlow Garden Club, Friends of the Library, St. James Methodist Church, Ludlow Rotary, Ludlow Women’s Club, Tyson Ladies Aid, Ludlow town employees, Berkshire Bank, CTM Media and Cavendish Women. A special thanks is due to Diane Mueller and above all to Doris Eddy for her coordination.

Lastly, the Fletcher Farm School also gets special thanks for donating space for all of this to occur. This is truly a community effort, and the BRGNS’ officers, staff and clients deeply thank all of the many volunteers and donors who make this program possible each year.

For additional information about the program or about Black River Good Neighbor Services, please contact Audrey Bridge at 802-228-3663.

Peter LaBelle
President
Black River Good Neighbors Services