SAUGUS — The holidays are over, but the season of giving is at its peak for the Saugus United Parish Food Pantry.
From now through Friday, Feb. 14, North Shore Bank is partnering with SUPFP to collect non-perishable food items for Saugus families at all three of the bank’s Saugus locations.
Volunteer Dennis Gould said North Shore Bank’s efforts are especially welcome this time of year because, despite a notable rise in need, the mid-winter months are typically when food pantries see a dip in donations.
“People are very gracious during Christmas and Thanksgiving, but after the holidays there’s definitely a lull when people don’t donate as much,” he said.
He added the post-holiday season is when families facing food insecurity are actually at their most vulnerable.
“Bills go up in the winter,” Gould said. “The more (people) pay for heat and electricity obviously subtracts from the amount of money they have for food.”
North Shore Bank’s Chris Pesce said it was a no-brainer for the Peabody-based bank to partner with SUPFP, located inside Cliftondale Congregational Church.
“We always encourage branches to get involved with their communities, especially through charitable organizations,” Pesce said. “When we got a call from a teller at a branch in Saugus asking if we could partner with (the food pantry), we were all for it.”
Gould expects the drive will provide the pantry with six to 10 boxes of food, which he said will likely “supplement a couple weeks of giving to clients.”
“This is a very important time of the year to make sure they have food, especially after the holidays,” he said. “This is a time when donations are key to keeping us (going).”
North Shore Bank’s Saugus Branches are located at 489 Lincoln Ave., One Hamilton St., and 412 Lynn Fells Parkway. A press release published from North Shore Bank requested donations of pasta, pasta sauce, applesauce cups, granola bars, pretzels, animal crackers, peanut butter, pancake mix, syrup, and canned fruit, beans, soup, and vegetables.
