Page 19 - BusinessWest July 7, 2021

the fight against food insecurity, which spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic and contin-
ues to be a persistent problem. Most banks in Western Mass. have ramped up their contribu- tions to area food banks and food pantries, often significantly.
“As a community partner, we care deeply
“I’m in awe of Country Bank’s generosity and so impressed by their commitment to the community, whether it be Worcester County or the four counties of Western Massachusetts.”
about the sustainability of our communities and the people who live in them,” Scully added, not- ing that this $1 million pledge reflects an recog- nition of the burdens many have experienced throughout this past year.
Newly appointed Country Bank board mem- bers Elizabeth Cohen-Rappaport, Richard May- nard, Ross Dik, and Stacey Luster presented
the checks to Morehouse and McMurray at the annual meeting.
“I’m in awe of Country Bank’s generosity and so impressed by their commitment to the com- munity, whether it be Worcester County or the four counties of Western Massachusetts,” a vis- ibly surprised Morehouse said. “This demon- strates that Country Bank is for real, and they practice what they preach.”
McMurray was equally touched. “This was totally unexpected, but, when I think about it, Worcester, and Worcester County, is the best place to live, to work, and to give back, and we are going to put this tremendous gift from Coun- try Bank to work so none of our neighbors has to go hungry.”
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts relies on donations from individuals, businesses, foundations, civic organizations, faith-based groups, schools, and government to fulfill its expanding mission. With the help of that sup- port, it provided the equivalent of 12.3 million meals in in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2020 — a significant increase from meals provid- ed in previous years, and a pace that continued as the pandemic extended well into 2021.
“Country Bank is always looking at the basic needs of folks in our communities, whether food services, shelter and homelessness, as well as healthcare — those are the primary pillars where the bank tries to make the most of its dona- tions,” said Shelley Regin, the bank’s senior vice president of Marketing.
The support for food banks comes at a critical time, not just in Massachusetts, but nationally. Feeding America estimates that the pandemic caused 13.1 million non-elderly adults to seek free meals or free groceries for the first time.
“The pandemic forced businesses and work- ers to make tough decisions,” said Ash Slupski, the organization’s website marketing man- ager. “To prevent the spread of coronavirus, many businesses were forced to close or lay off employees. This is especially true for people employed in restaurants, hotels, other service industries, and small businesses.”
Meanwhile, the needs of remote learning, especially for young children, forced many work- ing parents to temporarily leave their jobs to be home, if they couldn’t work remotely themselves. And many faced reduced hours and paychecks when they did return to work, Slupski noted. “All these changes impact people’s ability to provide for their families now and plan for the future.”
To meet the growing need locally, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts recently revealed plans for a new distribution center and head- quarters, which will be located on the corner of Carew and East Main streets in Chicopee. Con- struction on the new headquarters, which will be larger and more sustainably build than the current location in Hatfield, is expected to begin next spring.
Regin noted that, in 2020, Country Bank’s philanthropy exceeded $1 million by supporting 450 nonprofits throughout the region, mainly focused on helping food pantries, homeless shelters, COVID-19 relief services, veterans, and other programs that supported the everyday needs of the people in its communities.
“Country Bank really wants to make sure we’re supporting all our communities,” which extend geographically from Springfield to Worcester, she noted. “It starts with Paul, and we all follow his lead in looking for ways the bank can make a difference. We support many chari- ties, as many banks do, but it starts with Paul; he’s a great leader in that way, and we’re all on board.” u
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