Second Congregational Church

2016 

Second Congregational Church of Greenfield, Massachusetts is passionate about helping people in food insecure situations throughout Franklin County. In recent years, the number of people in food insecure sitautions - not knowing where, how, or if they will be able to eat - has been steadily increasing. Second Congregational Church has been able to respond with increased efforts.

We need YOUR help in matching this rising need. So we welcome all compassionate and like-minded folks to join us.

 

Here's What We Do - Beyond Philanthropy 

Each week, we host the Franklin County Community Meals Program on Tuesdays and Wednesdays evenings. These two meals will feed between 100-200 people each week. The folks who come to these meals are sometimes out of work, sometimes barely making ends meet, and sometimes homeless. The meals they recieve are free, balanced, nutirious, and healthy.  

Each August, we participate in the Franklin County's "Fill The Belly Bus Food Drive" that helps collect goods for the local food pantries.

Each August we host the Free Harvest Supper Program that often serves upwards of 1000 people in a single afternoon with a free, healthy, nutritious meal. 

Each November, we hold a Thanksgiving Food Drive to benefit the food pantry on Osgood Street in downtown Greenfield.

People in immediate need can get an emergency food voucher from Fosters Supermarket (no alcohol, etc.), to help with basics (bread, eggs, milk, fruit, etc.). 

We have raised money for the SNAP Program and supported the doubling of the money used at our local Farmer's Market. In other words 20 regular SNAP dollars count as 40 when used at the Farmer's Market to encourage people to eat healthy.

We have provided space for people on WIC to meet, sign up, and receive benefits. 

We have hosted meals for the families who have been relocated to our local area hotels (who have nothing but a small microwave in their room with which to 'cook').

We offer emergency food packs for people who show up at the church - a brown bag with applesauce, canned ravili, crackers and chese, etc. 

 

What We Need Your Help With

Meals on Wheels is a great program which feeds people in need through the week. They do not, however, do so on weekends. To ensure that our elders and people who are disabled get fresh and healthy food each weekend, our church has committed to feeding these folks once a month.

We plan, buy, cook, package, and deliver the food one weekend a month to these people, but we need YOUR support and your help to continue this important work.

Costs to feed upwards of 150 people are at a bare minimum of $100. a month (as we stirve to use donated food and buy in bulk). Some months are double that. 

Every dollar donated through Valley Gives will go to directly support this 'Bread of Life' ministry that feeds the hungry on the weekends when there are no community meals and Meals on Wheels does not deliver.