Milford-Area Food Pantry Gets Thousands Of Donations In Hospital Drive

MILFORD, MA — A holiday Milford Regional Medical Center donation drive netted thousands of donations for a food pantry serving Milford, Upton and Hopedale. The drive also collected necessities like toiletries and clothing for local residents at the hospital.

Here's more from a Milford Regional news release:

Although the holiday season is over, patients and local residents continue to benefit from the nearly 2,000 items donated by Milford Regional Medical Center’s staff as part of the hospital’s annual holiday drive to help those in need.

During the month of December, boxes were placed throughout the hospital and offsite offices for staff donations of nonperishable foods, toiletries, clothing and toys.

“Thanks to the kindness and generosity of our staff, a total of 1,863 items were collected, sorted and distributed to Milford’s Daily Bread Food Pantry, as well as the hospital’s Emergency Department, Maternity Department, and our social workers to share with patients in need,” said Milford Regional Medical Center’s longtime Director of Volunteer Services Elaine Willey, who has been overseeing the charitable drive for the last 20 years. “Donation boxes were overflowing with items that have gone on to support our patients and others in the region.”

The Daily Bread Food Pantry, which serves residents from Milford, Hopedale and Upton, received 17 boxes of food and nine boxes full of toiletries, socks, hats and toys.

Based on the donations, Milford Regional’s Emergency Department and social workers continue to distribute toiletries, socks, hats, stuffed animals, and other toys to patients in need; the Maternity team issues diapers, wipes, and onsies for in-need, new moms to bring home; and elder wellness volunteers offer word puzzles and cheater glasses to patients.

Over the years, other recipients of the holiday drive have included the United Way, military men and women serving overseas, and local shelters