Newton Mayor Setti Warren and Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera announced that the two cities will partner in the fight against food insecurity this holiday season. Working with the United Way and United Parcel Service (UPS), the partnership builds on an annual citywide food drive in Newton to help support the city’s four food pantries, which serve more than 1,200 residents a month. After a recent Boston Globe report revealed that Lawrence is experiencing a shortage of supplies for those in need, donations will now be collected in Newton for Lawrence as well this year.
“I am proud to be partnering with Mayor Dan Rivera on this important initiative and want to thank United Way and UPS for working with us on this effort,” Mayor Setti Warren said.
“Food insecurity impacts all of our communities and I am pleased that Mayor Warren and I can partner and pool resources to support those in need in both of our cities,” Mayor Rivera said. “Thanks to the United Way and UPS, we are working together to make a difference.”
“Collaboration is critical to making real progress on complex issues like food insecurity that are a reality for so many families across all of our communities,” said Michael Durkin, President of United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. “I’m proud that United Way is able to partner with Mayor Warren, Mayor Rivera, UPS, and our partners Greater Lawrence Community Action Council (GLCAC) on this drive to help more families in Lawrence put food on their tables this winter.”
“GLCAC is very pleased to be the conduit for these food resources for the city of Lawrence. Because of our WIC program, we are painfully aware of the food insecurity many our residents suffer, and we are happy to participate with the cities of Lawrence and Newton, and our partner the United Way in providing food for our residents,” Executive Director Evelyn Friedman said.
The following items will be accepted through December 30th at more than 40 locations throughout Newton: canned fruit and vegetables, jarred pasta sauce, peanut butter, jelly/jam, ground coffee, tea, cake and pie crust mixes, baby food, juice boxes and bottles, vegetable oil, bar soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, and diapers. For more information and a complete list of drop-off locations, please visit www.newtonma.gov/fooddrive
