Join Us as We Grow Together!
By Jodi Falk
Executive Director, RTWM
Since its founding in 2008, the Teen Board has been an investment in youth that continues to pay dividends. Many of today’s supporters and partners first connected with Rachel’s Table through the Teen Board. This article highlights how small interactions among teens can multiply into valued partnerships that sustain this vital organization. Dear friends of RTWM,
Happy spring – where all things bloom and grow! At Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts, we are also growing – in our partnerships, our purpose and impact. We are growing a community – with you! The work we do to reduce waste and alleviate hunger is a team effort, and you are part of the team. This newsletter shares a few ways we are growing – a new staff person, a new and amazing sponsor to our very new Tend-a-Garden program, and the ways we have stepped into 2025 – this new year.*
I’d like to invite you to a few ways to grow with us:
First, WE HAVE A NEW 16’ REFRIGERATED BOX TRUCK!! At our ribbon cutting on April 16, we shared that this truck would help us eventually double our deliveries, and that ANY volunteer who has a good driving record can become a driving force for good! We hope you might consider joining our team or sharing that we are looking for drivers with your community – reach out to info@feedwma.org. Major gratitude for the funding of this truck goes to the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and The Beveridge Family Foundation. We also thank the van crew for their role in making this happen, and Jon Lasko for supporting our new operations as we stay compliant and safe on the road, and we thank Jerry Munic and Janice Greenberg for their support as well!
Second, JOIN US AT BOUNTIFUL BOWLS: GROWING COMMUNITY TOGETHER – become a sponsor, and/or register for the event! June 10, 5:30pm, at the Marriott in Springfield, we will celebrate our honorees – Ellen Gold with the Change Agent Award as RTWM became its own entity under her lay leadership, Jim and Jill Stewart with the Community Connector Award as they have served RTWM and the community in more ways than we can count, and Westfield Bank and their employees with the Newcomer, Leading with Community Award because the whole bank jumped feet first into support of our work through time, talent and treasure! The Honorable Mayor Domenic Sarno will be speaking along with other leaders, including Carolyn Martinez, ED of Christina’s House, a valued partner to RTWM.
Third, read the Tend-A-Garden article in this newsletter and consider joining Founding Lead Seed Sustaining Sponsor Greenfield Cooperative Bank in their momentous decision to help us initiate a program that sustains meaningful change in food security in our region. When those who are most affected by food insecurity can grow their own food, we’ve tackled the issues of access and inequities that are barriers to food security, while providing dignity and choice. Join Greenfield Cooperative Bank in their move to help gardens bloom and dignity grow!
To a day when we are all at the table,
Jodi Falk
Executive Director, RTWM
Hot off the press is a new garden collaboration between the JCC and RTWM – serving dual purposes of early learning and food security. We’ll be sharing more on that in the future!