 |
|
Media Advisory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - AUGUST 12, 2020
Contact: Ellen M. Ganley, WCAC Director of Development
508 762-9807 or EGanley@WCAC.net
Mark Bardack or Caitlin Cortelyou
Ed Lewi Associates
M. Bardack (518) 867-7943 or C. Cortelyou (518) 867-2440
|
Hannaford donates $15,000 to WCAC to support central Massachusetts families and children impacted by COVID-19
Donation one component of overall $250,000 commitment to help families across New York and New England meet basic needs during the pandemic
|
Massachusetts - Hannaford Supermarkets today announced a $30,000 donation to support central Massachusetts families as they seek to meet the most basic needs for themselves and their children during a period of economic hardship resulting from the coronavirus global health pandemic.
The donation includes $15,000 each to the Worcester Community Action Council and Community Teamwork in Lowell, which will use the funding to increase access to food and childcare for families in central Massachusetts.
The donation is one part of an overall $250,000 commitment from Hannaford to help families in New York and New England adversely impacted by the pandemic.
According to a survey conducted by the Urban Institute in late March and early April, more than four in 10 parents reported that they or someone in their family lost work due to the coronavirus and that low-income parents were less likely to be able to work from home. The study also found that more than one-third of parents had problems paying for housing, utility, food or medical costs at the onset of the pandemic and reduced spending on food and savings, resulting in increased debt.
"The pandemic has resulted in a groundswell of new issues and struggles for families throughout our community, including health concerns, job loss, financial difficulties and decreased access to childcare and education for their children. Our lowest-income families have borne the brunt of this impact and need our help now more than ever," said Hannaford Supermarkets President Mike Vail. "At Hannaford, we consider the family unit the core of our community and are pleased to support parents and children throughout New England and New York with this donation. This effort truly exemplifies our mission of being Greater than Groceries."
The Worcester Community Action Council will use the funding from Hannaford to support the agency's Virtual Food Pantry, which is designed to serve as a socially-distant alternative to the traditional food pantry and distributes gift cards and digital certificates to families for purchasing quality food and other necessities. The program also provides families with gas cards and taxi vouchers to eliminate transportation barriers during a period of reduced public transportation due to the pandemic. The donation will serve approximately 250 families.
"Worcester Community Action Council is most grateful for this generous support from Hannaford Supermarkets," said Worcester Community Action Council Executive Director Marybeth Campbell. "With households throughout our service area facing negative impacts by forced business closures and job loss as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, already vulnerable households are facing increased insecurities for basic needs. This grant will support our Virtual Emergency Food Pantry which enables us to provide access to nutritious food for our vulnerable children and families."
Worcester Community Action Council's mission is to help people move to economic self-sufficiency through programs, partnerships and advocacy. The agency serves more than 75,000 individuals and families through its program and services annually, including families in Worcester and 45 neighboring communities. For more information or to donate, visit WCAC.net.
Since March 2020, Hannaford has donated $1.25 million to COVID-19 relief efforts, including hunger relief, homeless outreach organizations and local agriculture.
About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 184 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hannaford employs more than 26,000 associates. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.
|
|
About WCAC
Since 1965, the Worcester Community Action Council has served as the federally designated anti-poverty agency for central and southern Worcester County, with a mission of helping people move to economic self-sufficiency through programs, partnerships and advocacy.
Serving the City of Worcester and 45 neighboring communities of Auburn, Blackstone, Boylston, Brimfield, Brookfield, Charlton, Clinton, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Holden, Holland, Hopedale, Hubbardston, Grafton, Leicester, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Monson, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Northborough, Northbridge, Palmer, Oakham, Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Shrewsbury, Southbridge, Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Wales, Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield and Westborough.
|
|
|
|
|
|
