Tewksbury Community Pantry Receives $10,000 Impact Award to Battle Food Insecurity

Newhouse Wildlife Rescue and TMHS Theatre Company also benefit thanks to sponsors Dance Expressions and Eco Auto

At last Monday’s 100+ People Who Care Tewksbury quarterly giving event, members selected the Tewksbury Community Pantry to receive the group’s first $10,000 Impact Award of 2023. This marks more than $100,000 in Impact Awards donated by group members, plus significant funds donated to other presenting nonprofits.

Tewksbury Community Pantry President and Director Bill Welch, above, spoke about the food pantry and the impact that the organization has on Tewksbury residents facing food insecurity.  

The Tewksbury Community Pantry was established in January 1995 and provides confidential short- and long-term food assistance to Tewksbury residents in financial need and to people who are referred by Tewksbury clergy and the Town Clerk’s office. There are three distributions of food monthly to more than 200 Tewksbury seniors, adults and children. Over $250,000 worth of food is distributed annually. 

Welch said that the money from this award will help offset increased costs of food as well as an expected increase in client’s food needs as pandemic benefits being received through the SNAP program end on March 1. The Pantry’s biggest fundraiser of the year, netting approximately $10,000, has been a golf tournament hosted at the Tewksbury Country Club for the past 24 years. Because it’s unlikely the tournament will be held this year, the Impact Award funds will help fill that financial void as the organization looks to find a long-term solution and replacement for those funds.

The two runners-up, The Tewksbury Memorial High School Theater Company and Newhouse Wildlife Rescue, each received a number of individual donations in addition to the $250 provided by two generous sponsors, ECO Auto of Tewksbury and Dance Expressions.

100 People Tewksbury Chair Brent Conway gave opening remarks and announced that the group’s 2022 Q4 Impact Award winner, Girls Inc., was unable to attend the event due to the date change but would provide a video detailing the award impact that would be sent to all members. Conway also thanked Luna Rossa, which donated its function room for the event, and announced that the 100 People Tewksbury group plans to expand its use of the Grapevine platform.

Those who wish to donate automatically and receive an immediate tax receipt may register for Grapevine via this link. Residents who wish to join 100+ People Who Care Tewksbury may apply here.  Learn more at the group’s website and Facebook page.

A video of all three nonprofit presentations is available on Tewksbury TV. The group’s next meeting will be Tuesday, June 20, at Wamesit Lanes — on the patio, weather permitting.

Local businesses interested in sponsoring may contact Shana Abbott, sponsorship chair. Venues able to host the group should connect with vice-chair Krissy Polimeno, who also books event venues. Mary Aylward manages external communications and press relations. All can be reached at 100PeopleTewksbury@gmail.com.