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Wakefield Food Pantry reports 25% jump in demand; requests donations and volunteers ahead of Nov. 22 distribution
Summary
The Wakefield Food Pantry told the Brookfield Select Board it has seen about a 25% increase in demand and is preparing a Thanksgiving giveaway on Nov. 22 expected to serve roughly 100 families. Pantry leaders asked residents to donate nonperishable items or money and described drop‑off and mailing options.
The operations manager for the Wakefield Food Pantry told the Brookfield Select Board on Nov. 4 that demand has risen about 25 percent in recent weeks and that the pantry is preparing for a larger turnout at its annual Thanksgiving distribution.
The pantry will hold a Thanksgiving dinner giveaway on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., providing a full Thanksgiving meal (turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and pies). The manager said the program is open to any community household in need and that the pantry typically serves about 100 families at the event but expects more this year.
Board members and residents asked how to donate. The pantry accepts dry goods at a donation box in front of its building at 1500 Wakefield Road (shared driveway with the Wakefield Highway Department), mailed checks to PO Box 426 in Wakefield, and online gifts through an Amazon wish list linked on the pantry website. The manager encouraged monetary donations, noting the pantry can buy food at lower prices than individuals. A caller who wanted to donate 10 turkeys was asked to provide a check so staff could handle procurement.
The pantry also described a rise in homelessness among families in the service area, saying several households are newly homeless and that more than 20 households make intermittent use of the pantry. Volunteers asked whether the town could host a designated account at local grocery chains; the pantry manager said she would investigate arrangements such as store‑specific accounts or other retailer programs.
The board did not take formal action on the report but discussed potential budget adjustments to the pantry line for next fiscal year.
