This holiday season, several Arlington community members have continued the tradition of supporting their local food pantry, through donations, food drives and various collections in town.
The Advocate asked each person what moved them to give their time and money. The answers were as varied as their contributions, which ran from collecting money and food to helping run the pantry. For some, the idea of making a difference in the community was powerful; others were moved by nine simple words: "there, but for the grace of God, go I."
Sue Fish
Sue Fish, a long time donor and now a board member for the Arlington Food Pantry said she donates because there is food insecurity in Arlington.
“I do what I can to address that. It is simply an accident of birth that I have not experienced food insecurity,” she said.
While Fish said it was “inappropriate “ to say how much she donated this year, she said she was thankful for all those in town who also gave to the pantry.
The Fox-Jurkowitz Family
The Fox-Jurkowitz Family has been involved in collecting for the Arlington Food Pantry for almost a decade. Each year, the family holds a concert and fundraiser to collect food and funds for the pantry. In addition, they also put out collection jars at local restaurants and collect around $1,000 every year.
Henry Fox-Jurkowitz, a sophomore at Arlington High School said his mother Margot Fox started hosting the annual concert about eight years ago.
“My brother, Max, and sister, Lily, and our friends would help gather food while my mom sang. We wanted to do more but were too young to volunteer during food distributions,” Henry said. “We were excited when Warren Johnson, the food pantry coordinator for many years, invited us to prepare bags in the back of the Marathon Street location. About six years ago, we found a more consistent way to contribute and started an annual, holiday fund drive.”
When the family asked Arlington businesses to put out collection containers over the winter holidays, Henry said, Arlington businesses were very generous with their spaces, and Arlington residents were very generous with their donations.
“Our longest relationship has been with D’Agostino's [Deli] in Arlington Heights,” he said. “They are always extremely welcoming of our collection containers and encouraged us to start a summer fund drive, as well.”
In total, the family has collected over $6,000 and counting.
“It has been amazing to see how supportive our community is and to make the small difference that we can make. We will continue our collection this holiday season, next summer, and in years to come,” he said.
Zhen Ren Chuan Martial Arts Studio
Some of the students at Zhen Ren Chuan Martial Arts Studio hold a large donation drive outside of Stop & Shop & Whole Foods twice a year and they are doing two the next couple of weekends.
Owner Charles DeVirgilio said maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle is one of the best things you can do for your mind and body, as well as the community in which you live.
“In April of this year we donated over $2,500 of food. Last week on Dec. 10, we donated over 70 bags of groceries (approximately $3,000 of food). We have been doing these food drives for seven years now twice a year as a way to give back to our community of Arlington,” DeVirgilio said.
In addition to the donation, DeVirgilio said, the business has been very active in the community, cleaning up Spy Pond, donating a private garden to promote awareness of horticulture in Arlington, cleaning up Monument Park in Arlington Center and donating community window boxes.
Mary Decourcey
Mary Decourcey, a Board of Youth Services member has been organizing the Thanksgiving Food drive for many years. Food for the food drive was collected at all the Arlington Elementary and the Ottoson schools during the first three weeks of November.
According to Decourcey, the schools also donated over $4,500 in gift cards to give to families to purchase turkeys or other items for their Thanksgiving meal. Volunteers spent all day Friday sorting the food and creating the thanksgiving bags for distribution.
This past weekend, the food and donations were distributed, she said.
“I have been on the Board of Youth Services for over eight years,” she said. “The BYS has been organizing a Thanksgiving Food drive for over 25 years. Originally the board supported families with food baskets and turkeys at this time of year.”
More recently and as the need has increased, the Board of Youth Services has partnered with the food pantry and created a town wide food drive.
“We wanted it to be more accessible to families and individuals. It has turned into a town-wide giving event with Arlington public school families donating food and grocery store gift cards,” she said.
Other supporters in the food drive this year were Whole Foods, Mount Auburn Hospital, Arlington Eats, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Food Link and the Boston Area Gleaners. Also, she said, there were many community volunteers who helped with the sorting and distribution of the food. Mount Auburn Hospital donated over 150 reusable bags to the effort.
“I feel fortunate to be able to donate my time to help with this important need. I love to see the community come together to help our friends and neighbors out,” she said. “Food insecurity can happen to anyone. We never know when we may need some support in our own lives. It has opened my eyes to what a wonderful and giving community we live in. Those who receive are very grateful.”
