Marching Band Comes Through For Food Pantry

A release from the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry:

The Wakefield High School Marching Band, led by director of performing/visual arts Tom Bankert — and supported by their friends and family — ran yet another highly successful food drive for clients at the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry on Saturday, Sept. 15.

The food drive netted 7,083 high-quality food items for the food pantry’s clients. Examples of these healthy foods include peanut butter, hearty soups, pasta, pasta sauce, and cereal. The marching band also facilitated the delivery of approximately 750 food items that were donated as the result of a neighborhood block party organized by Michael Marino and his family, who live on Arundel Avenue.

“Rallying the members of the WHS Marching Band in our annual food drive with the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry is one of our favorite events of the year,” says Bankert, on behalf of the WHS Marching Band. “Wakefield is the place we call home, which means we’re all called to contribute to the well-being of our entire community. It’s our sincere pleasure to do our part for the food pantry’s clients.”

“We are profoundly grateful to Tom Bankert and the members of the marching band and their friends and families — that’s in addition to our gratitude for the food donations captured at the Marino family’s block party,” says Maureen Miller, director of operations, Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry. “Further, we are incredibly thankful for our hearty and good-spirited volunteers who helped transport, receive, sort, and store all of this great food for our clients. We’re already looking forward to partnering with the WHS Marching Band next year!”

In fiscal year 2018, which ended June 30, the food pantry served 570 families and distributed approximately 278,828 pounds of food to our guests.

For community members interested in organizing a food drive, the food pantry has a toolkit for best practices. Send an e-mail to Aine.Cryts@gmail.com to schedule a community food drive today.

Photo Courtesy Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry:

Volunteers savoring the moment after delivering 7,083 high-quality food items to the Wakefield Interfaith Food Pantry