By Judith Dorato O’Gara

When the federal government recently shut down and SNAP benefits ran out, Karen Jewett, President of the Holliston Pantry Shelf, knew the Holliston community would worry about its neighbors and reach out, and she was spot on. To make the most of the expected influx of folks looking to help out, Jewett reached out to Allegra Denehy, Service Navigator for Holliston Youth and Family Services and Cynthia Listewnik, Outreach Coordinator for the Center, run by Holliston Council on Aging. Together, they formed the Holliston Food Security Resource Team. 

“It was mid- to end-of October. We pulled a small team to address this when we knew this would happen. The whole intent was just November only, to bridge the gap,” says Jewett, adding, “Our Food Security Resource Team helps us cover that broad range of family, with the youth and the Center we feel like we cover that gamut of people.”

The three brainstormed ways to help the community, putting together a campaign to be a ‘Souper Hero.’ 

“One of our thoughts was, what about for the month of November, we do two fixings for a meal in a bag. One bag – soup, salad and bread – and the other would be pasta, salad and bread, fixings for meals to make sure no one really went hungry,” says Jewett.

Generous Holliston residents who had the means could put together these “SNAP Sacks,” and other community volunteers could collect them on Mondays and Fridays, early in the afternoon. Later in the day, any community member in need (no Pantry card needed, no questions asked, and no other ID required at all) could drive up in front of the Holliston Pantry Shelf and pick up ‘meal-fixings-in-a-bag’ without even having to get out of the car, while volunteers handed them their two bags.

The response to the call was immediate.

“Within 24 hours, the first two days, all the SNAP Sacks were signed up for, plus more,” says Jewett, “It just showed how the community was s ready to help. We got tons of feedback people were so grateful for a special way to help.”

The Pantry Shelf director adds that her patrons and other who need to stretch their SNAP benefits are “resourceful,” but in this instance, benefits were “just ripped out so quickly people didn’t have an opportunity to land on their feet.”

Although the majority of SNAP Sacks were handed out in the drive-by style, some folks, of course, especially among the senior population in town, couldn’t drive up to take the bags, Jewett says, so the team created a sign-up for deliveries to Mission Springs, Cole Court, Turner Road, Cutler Heights and nearby Medway Food Pantry.

By November 17th, the volunteers had handed out or delivered 542 bags. 

“We were trying to address barriers that prohibit people from maybe driving upon a Monday night,” says Jewett, “We know either low-income housing or where there’s a higher population of elderly or disabled, people might be needing food security.”

Jewett says the rate at which the volunteer slots filled up “just showed how much people in the community wanted to help. It was really heartwarming to see all the people that stepped up.”

If you or someone you know in town needs to connect with resources, please reach out to:

Karen Jewett, President of the Holliston Pantry Shelf, Call/Text ( 774) 253-0694, Email: [email protected]

Allegra Denehy, Service Navigator for HYFS, Call: (508) 429-0620 EXT 2, Email: [email protected], or Cynthia Listewnik, Outreach Coordinator for The Center (Holliston COA).