Lazarus House Receives 100 People Tewksbury’s Second Impact Award to Battle Food Insecurity

Thank you to Ginny Perron for photographing the event.

At last Wednesday’s 100 People Who Care Tewksbury quarterly giving event, members selected Lazarus House of Lawrence to receive the group’s second $10,000 Impact Award. Lazarus House director Jeffrey Hassel spoke eloquently about the agency’s mission, zeroing in on the problem of food insecurity in the Merrimack Valley.

Lazarus House provides pre-bagged groceries sufficient to create at least four complete meals to more than 1,200 families per week from its pantry. That’s in addition to its soup kitchen, which now serves “to go” meals from its Lawrence location. Hassel displayed a rendering of the agency’s new facility, which breaks ground today. 100 People Tewksbury member Todd Johnson is on the board of Lazarus House, and the agency received a number of nominations.

Hassel said the agency is seeking a grant writer as well as people who would like to take part in its holiday Project Bethlehem program, where donors purchase gifts for assigned families from a personalized wish list, then wrap and deliver the gifts to the shelter.

The two runners-up, Friends of the Tewksbury Public Library and Project Home Again, each received a number of individual donations in addition to the $250 provided by two generous sponsors, the Missions Committee of Tewksbury Congregational Church and Smitty’s Liquors.

After opening remarks by 100 People Tewksbury cochair Jayne Wellman and giving manager and nonprofit liaison Beth McFadyen, Q2 Impact Award winner Alternative House addressed the group on how the gift of $10,000 has impacted its mission. Given that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the staff at AH has been hard at work planning outreach, events and staff appreciation.

McFadyen and Wellman thanked Wamesit Lanes, which donated its patio for the event, and announced that the 100 People Tewksbury group plans to expand its membership in 2022 in order to provide even more support to local nonprofits.

Those who wish to join 100+ People Who Care Tewksbury may apply here. Learn more at the group’s website and Facebook page.