By Franklin Community Co-op Board member Wendy Sibbison
Franklin Community Co-op Global End E7: “The Co-op will champion justice in Franklin County…by increasing access to healthy food for people of every socioeconomic status.”
Are you going a little crazy deciding where to put your oar into today’s troubled waters? Do you know that the US Department of Agriculture has cancelled $400,000 in food deliveries to Western Mass and is threatening to cut SNAP benefits? Do you worry about the growing food insecurity in Franklin County? Do you know that many Greenfield Community College students don’t have enough to eat? Would you like to help make GCC a hunger-free campus? Join me!
I’m starting a Giving Circle of member-owners to collectively donate $10,000 to GCC’s Corner Market Food Pantry, which offers free food to students. These tax-deductible donations will go directly to our own restricted account at the GCC Foundation. The Food Pantry will then use every penny to stock its shelves with organic food, locally produced when available. They procure goods from a variety of sources, including the Co-op!
Mike Hannigan, a first-generation college student, recently wrote in The Recorder: “At GCC, our campus food pantry is consistently packed. It’s one of the only reasons some students are able to stay in school. . . When a student knows they can grab a few groceries or a meal, they can focus on class instead of whether they’ll eat that day.” He inspired me to start this Giving Circle.
A member-owner Giving Circle is a win-win. The Food Pantry gets $10,000 to provide free organic food to GCC students. And we donors help local students have enough to eat so that they can pursue their dreams–a powerful opportunity to put our co-op values into action.
Cyndi Rebelo, the Food Pantry Coordinator, says that $10,000 from Co-op member-owners would be a dream come true. The FY26 budget goal for the pantry is $60,000, with only $10,000 pledged so far from outside funders. That fiscal year begins July 1, 2025, which is my deadline to raise this money from fellow member-owners.
I’m seeding this Giving Circle with $1,000. Only $9,000 to go! For details on how to join, please email me at wsibbison@gmail.com.
From left to right:
Wendy Sibbison, Franklin Community Co-op Board of Directors; Alexis Page, Executive Director, GCC Foundation; Cyndi Rebelo, Coordinator, GCC Food Pantry.
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