Spring 2011 Newsletter - A new chapter for Acord
As the Acord Food Pantry celebrates 20 years of serving the local community, we also begin a new chapter in our story. With a soon to be completed newly renovated pantry space, a growing focus on meeting our clients' food and nutritional needs, and an ever growing community support, we look forward to entering our third decade.
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| A rendering of the new Acord at Firehouse Place by Siemasko + Verbridge Design Click to enlarge |
Acord at Firehouse Place
Housing and food go hand-in-hand – both are basic elements of survival and both are becoming increasingly hard to come by for a growing number of people in our community. That's why Harborlight Community Partners, the new owner of our Willow Street building, is a natural partner for Acord. By creating, preserving, and operating safe, affordable housing units, Harborlight strives to make homes available to all North Shore citizens.
Renovations to our building are underway and Harborlight will be creating a totally new look with four studio apartments. Acord will continue to occupy the remaining space on the first floor and benefit from a complete face-lift both inside and out.
The renovated food pantry will be smaller, but brighter, cleaner, and more efficient. Anticipated benefits include minimizing the need to move inventory from one place to another, providing the infrastructure to support our deepening commitment to high nutritional value food, and empowering patrons to select food directly off the shelves just as they would in a supermarket.
During construction, the pantry will remain open on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings. When the work is completed in the fall, we look forward to welcoming patrons, volunteers, and all members of the community to visit the new Acord at Firehouse Place.
It takes a community
Harborlight's commitment to Acord is an example
of how "it takes a community" to respond to the growing needs of area residents for food assistance. We continue to depend on
the generosity of our business partners, local
church congregations, corporate and individual
donors, and volunteers to keep our pantry's
shelves stocked. This is our community – the
backbone of support that has helped us realize
our mission for the last 20 years and will sustain
us as we move forward into a new chapter.
You may be asking how you can help. Here are three ways that you can join the Acord community:
- Contribute to the Postal Carriers food drive on Saturday, May 14 by donating nonperishable food items that have not reached their expiration dates.
- Donate to Acord's capital campaign that is focused on funding new financial commitments related to the renovation.
- Join our more than 100 volunteers who sustain our operations by picking up products at stores, or serving at the pantry one morning a month on a Wednesday or Saturday.
Thanks to our wonderful community for your continued support!
Make a donation
If you'd like to make a donation to the Acord Pantry, please send a check to Acord Pantry, P.O. Box 2203, South Hamilton, MA 01982. Please visit the Donations page for more details. REMINDER: YOU CAN ALSO DONATE ONLINE with a credit card via our secure website.
Desperately needed food items
Reminder: Please remember to check those
expiration dates on your food donations!
(Non-perishable, non-expired items ONLY please)
Baking Items – Brownie, Cake or Cookie Mixes
Canned Fruit – Pears, Peaches, Fruit Cocktail, etc.
Cereal – 17 oz. boxes of Cheerios, Raisin Bran, and oatmeal
Coffee – 1 lb. bags or cans
Diapers and Pull Ups – large and extra large sizes
Jelly – grape or strawberry
Meals in a Can – spaghetti, beef stew, raviolis
Personal Care Items – shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc.
Rice – boxes or bags of white and brown rice
Snacks – individually wrapped items of granola bars, cookies
or crackers
Tea – boxes of tea bags (70 tea bags or less per box)