May 2021: The Wakefield Food Pantry was recently selected to receive a $100,000 grant through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. The pantry was chosen from a total of 590 applicants during a competitive review process and will receive the grant in installments over 4 years.
Founded in 1982, the mission of the Wakefield Food Pantry (WFP) is to provide food and household necessities to residents in need. The volunteer-driven organization strives to provide high-quality service to guests with respect, dignity, sensitivity, and integrity.
WFP helps to meet the food and household needs of almost 600 families (about 1,100 people) who visit the pantry each year. In addition, WFP volunteers transport 4,000-6,000 pounds of food purchased from the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) to Wakefield. Every dollar spent at the GBFB equals four dollars’ worth of food.
“We are thrilled to be one of the nonprofit organizations to be awarded a grant from the Cummings Foundation’s program,” comments Maureen Miller, Executive Director of the WFP. “This significant financial donation will strengthen our ability to feed those in need, keep our pantry shelves full, expand our Kids First, Veterans and Seniors programs as well as our support of the many community groups offering free meals.”
The Cummings $25 Million Grant Program supports Massachusetts nonprofits that are based in and primarily serve Middlesex, Essex and Suffolk counties. Through this place-based initiative, Cummings Foundation aims to give back in the area where it owns commercial buildings, all of which are managed, at no coast to the Foundation, by its affiliate, Cummings Properties.
“We aim to help meet the needs of people in all segments of our local community,” says Cummings Foundation executive director Joel Swets. “The incredible organizations we fund, such as the Wakefield Food Pantry, are the ones that do the actual daily work to empower our neighbors, educate our children, fight for equity, strive to end food insecurity, and so much more.”
To learn more about the Cummings Foundation and the complete list of grant winners this year, plus more than 800 previous recipients, please visit www.CummingsFoundation.org.
Information about the Wakefield Food Pantry including hours of operation and most needed items can be found at www.wakefieldfoodpantry.org.