WORCESTER, Mass. - Food insecurity is a year-round issue. But with the holiday season approaching, a time when many sit down to enjoy a meal with friends and family, it comes to the forefront more. In Central Massachusetts, a local church is doing its part to ensure everyone can have food on their table this Thanksgiving.
West Boylston's Next Level Church spent part of Saturday collecting food items outside of the Shaw's on West Boylston Street in Worcester. The food drive has become an annual tradition for the church in recent years. They handed customers shopping lists of suggestions and people dropped off their contributions on the way out. Frozen turkeys and nonperishables were among the popular items Saturday. Donations from this weekend are going to be distributed to the West Boylston Food Pantry, the Wachusett Food Pantry, and Hotel Grace.
"Times are definitely tough for so many families," said Pastor Bryan Levangie. "In fact, I had a conversation with our local food pantry and they said 'Bryan, we're counting on what you get today to help fill up our pantry.' Because they had so many people in need, so many families in need of food. So, it's a blessing that we get to be a part of this and serve our community."
Levangie says last year, they raised more than 1,600 pounds of food and this year, their goal is to reach one ton of food. Levangie says they will also be collecting food at their church Sunday morning.