It can be a financial challenge for a Weymouth family of four with an income slightly above the federal poverty line of $32,717 to enjoy a Christmas Day dinner because they don’t qualify for government food stamps, but the Weymouth Food Pantry is making sure these financially strapped households enjoy a holiday meal with the trimmings, according to interim pantry director Angie Iaria
It can be a financial challenge for a Weymouth family of four with an income slightly above the federal poverty line of $32,717 to enjoy a Christmas Day dinner because they don’t qualify for government food stamps, but the Weymouth Food Pantry is making sure these financially strapped households enjoy a holiday meal with the trimmings, according to interim pantry director Angie Iaria
Iaria said a fundraising drive has been underway during the past week on the organization’s Facebook page,
http://ift.tt/2Cip9xx to purchase 400 hams for distribution to households in Weyouth that would not be able to enjoy a holiday dinner.
"We are trying to get donations for all the hams that we will be providing," she said.
Iaria said the hams will be distributed Dec. 23 to families that have requested help with enjoying a holiday dinner.
"We are doing this a little bit late this year, but it also gives us time to keep up with our regular food distribution that we do to households on the day before," she said.
Each Christmas dinner will include an 8-13 pound ham, a huge bag of make-at-home fixings, fresh vegetables, and a sweet treat of the family's choice, according to pantry staff.
Iaria said the amount of families receiving food to enjoy on the holiday from the pantry is nearly identical to how many households were provided a Thanksgiving Day dinner last month.
"God love our people that support us," she said. "We have people dropping things off (food) every day be it the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. We have had companies send us food. We seem to be at the forefront of people’s attention. It is wonderful that we are tapping into all areas of the community."
Iaria said the percentage of households seeking food assistance from the pantry to enjoy a Christmas dinner or to have enough provisions in December seems to be equal to the amount of requests the agency received during the holiday season last year.
"We are that little extra help that we sometimes provide," she said. "We are there to help them out."
Iaria said household expenses especially increase during Christmas time for parents with children who are anticipating gifts.
"There are a lot of people living paycheck to paycheck," she said. "When it gets cold, you have to keep warm. I don’t feel they are living extravagant lives."
Iaria said about a third of the pantry’s clients receiving food assistance are seniors.
"We do some food delivery for seniors who can’t leave their homes," she said.
Iaria said approximately one of ten households in Weymouth have sought assistance from the food pantry on a yearly basis.
"It is amazing how it hits close to home," she said.
Iaria said the demand for food by schoolchildren increases during the holiday season when they are home on vacation between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
"They like to eat," she said. "They are around more."
Iaria said the pantry partners with Youth and Family Services to help low-income parents provide Christmas gifts to their children.
"They help out with providing presents for people who are in need," she said. "People can sign up at Youth and Family Services. We coordinate with them."
Iaria said the pantry staff directs the families who receive food assistance during the holiday season to Youth and Family Services if they are struggling to buy gifts for their children.
"We have flyers that Youth and Family Services passes out," she said. "It has been a great partnership in that way. We do try to make the holiday special for people."
A donation of $75 will pay the cost of three hams and produce for a family to enjoy on the holiday, according to pantry staff.
A donation of $15 will cover the cost of purchasing one ham by the pantry staff and a $30 contribution would provide a ham and fresh produce for a family to enjoy on the holiday.
Donations can be made online to the pantry website:
http://ift.tt/2Bh1HBu
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