Fighting Hunger in Wakefield

Local organizations are hosting food drives to make sure no one goes hungry in Wakefield.

Both Wakefield High School Marching Band and Vanity Hair Salon are participating in food drives to provide food to families in need through Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry.

Members of the community can drop off non-perishable food items to Vanity Hair Salon, 979 Main St., on Saturday, Sept. 27.

“It’s truly an honor to do our part to help out the Wakefield community, which has supported Vanity Hair Salon ever since we started three years ago,” Catie Keene, owner of Vanity Hair Salon said.

Check out Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry’s website to find out what foods to donate.

This will be Vanity Hair Salon’s first year holding a food drive, but the Wakefield High School Marching Band has made its food drive an annual tradition.

The band’s food drive last Saturday was one of Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry’s biggest drives, said Maureen Miller, Director of Operations at Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry.

The food drive collected 3,544 items, which was 553 more items than last year’s event.

“The kids continue to show their support and caring for the Wakefield community every year with this event,” said Thomas Bankert, Director of Visual & Performing Arts at Wakefield Public Schools.

Support from local organizations like Wakefield High School Marching Band help Wakefield Food Pantry fulfill its mission of fighting hunger, Miller said.

About 700,000 children and adults in Massachusetts do not know when they will eat their next meal, according to Project Bread.

“We’re so appreciative of the effort and commitment that the Wakefield High School Marching Band demonstrates each year in support of the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry,” Miller said.

Photo: Wakefield High School Marching Band at Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry on Saturday, Sept. 13.