AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
Back to Blog
Somerville stop and shop9/18/2023 ![]() ![]() On the way to the store, Shah sat in the back, taking a phone call.Ĭorazzini recalled delivering groceries to one family, where a 6-year-old child came to the door. On Friday, Corazzini participated in a Zoom call on his cell phone as he balanced two bags of potatoes on his shoulders, bringing them into the church. School officials often juggle their jobs as they carry out the trip. ![]() The more delicate products, like eggs, rest on top other boxes. That leaves space for the narrow crates of milk to fit in the aisle. Shah, who used to deliver groceries for a summer job, said the team "got it down to a science at this point." He said he makes sure the lighter and smaller boxes go in the overhead storage containers, stacking the larger boxes in the seats. Growing needįor Friday's trip, Corazzini was accompanied by Explorers program coordinator at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School Larissa Patrocinio and Out of School Time coordinators Nayagara Viera and Reyad Shah. It's a great opportunity to have an exit strategy for some of these items," said Jones, a Boxborough resident. "We're getting items we wouldn't normally get pre-COVID. Due to more people eating at home and stocking up on groceries, certain products are sold out at food wholesale suppliers that sell to grocery stores. The arrangement also helps Stop & Shop cut back on food waste, said Jones. "You can't really walk into a store and purchase a ton of product like this, with everything going on." "My job is to make sure they get the food," said Jones. Once it arrives, Jones holds the food until it's ready to be picked up. He orders the eggs, milk, chicken, bread, juice, and other items at the beginning of the week. A parishioner at the Framingham church, he also lived in the city for a number of years. ![]() Stop & Shop store manager Melvin Jones helps secure the food in bulk. 'My job is to make sure they get the food' They have enough funding to carry on until the end of January, said Corazzini. Since then, the church has received funds from the Foundation of MetroWest's Feed Framingham rolling grant program. It was first funded with donations from the church. "Folks don't need a lot of hoops to jump through," said Lloyd. Reverend Anthony Lloyd, who has served as a pastor at Greater Framingham Community Church for 28 years, said it removes "red tape" that often prevents people from getting help. They do not need to meet a set of requirements of qualify, as is the case with many state and federal programs. A majority of Framingham Public Schools students live on the Southside, while most of the schools are located in the north, meaning they may live far from distribution sites.įamilies who benefit from the service are identified by the schools. While the district also offers free grab-and-go meals at all schools, the program removes the barrier of transportation. These numbers are according to national nonprofit organization Feeding America. Twenty percent of children in Massachusetts are food insecure, a 102% increase compared to percentages before the pandemic. The hunger rate in Massachusetts is up 59% since 2018, meaning more than 1 million people in the state do not have enough to eat. It began as a partnership between the school district and the Greater Framingham Community Church in April, as the pandemic and economic fallout has worsened food insecurity. ![]() Closing the gapsĬalled the Grocery Bag Program, the school district is turning to interfaith partners for help to feed hungry families amid a disrupted food supply chain. This week was the Trinitarian Congregational Church in Wayland, while other times Plymouth Church in Framingham pitched in. The following day, the food is delivered to Framingham families by volunteers from various churches. "You definitely get your steps in," said Corazzini, who leads the district's work on equity, diversity, and community engagement. Later, they return to the church to unload the food. He then made his way to the Alewife Brook Parkway grocery store, playing Christmas music during the drive.Ĭorazzini, store employees, and a crew of school administrators stowed groceries in every nook of the car. That morning, Assistant Superintendent Joseph Corazzini picked the van up from Fuller Middle School and stopped at the Greater Framingham Community Church to grab a credit card. It's a ritual that takes place every two weeks. Crates of mangoes and jasmine rice were crammed in shelves above the seats, while boxes of milk filled the aisle. FRAMINGHAM – During a normal school year, the district's small white bus carries about a dozen students to sports games.īut on Friday, it was parked outside a Somerville Stop & Shop, packed with $3,000 worth of groceries for 65 school families. ![]()
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |