Letter: An Appeal From the Woburn Food Pantry

Council of Social Concern' Karen Colatrella says the need for food donations is up over the last few years.

The following is a letter from Karen Colatrella, Woburn Food Pantry Director: To the Editor: A recent newspaper headline read, “Hunger Issues Persist Across Massachusetts”.  It goes on to state that, according to a recent study by the Food Research and Action Center, nearly one out of six Massachusetts residents reported that they did not have enough money to buy food they or their family needed at some point in 2012.  Project Bread’s most recent Status Report on Hunger also indicates that hunger and food insecurity are increasing.  In addition, it reports that there is a widening gap between high- and low-wage earners.  The incomes of affluent families have increased considerably, while low-wage earners have seen very little growth in …

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Woburn High Participates in Annual Telethon for The Council of Social Concern

WMHSBullsEye student reporter Jen Yao has the scoop on the Don Manzelli Memorial Telethon, hosted by the Council of Social Concern, which commenced on Sunday March 3 at the Woburn Media Center

Panera Bread Helps Woburn's Children

Operation Dough-Nation assists the Woburn Council for Social Concern.

  The popular Woburn Mall restaurant is giving back to the community this holiday season. Panera Bread, located at 300 Mishawum Road within the Woburn Mall, presented the Council of Social Concern with a check for almost $8,000 earlier this week. The money was raised through the restaurant's "Operation Dough-Nation" program. According to Jennifer Tatelman, a spokeswoman for Panera, the money will go toward the Council's Children's Center to assist in providing early education, child services and social support to children and parents.  "Panera Bread is always so thankful to give back to the community and share the warmth of their bread with the Woburn neighborhood," said David Peterman, the franchise co-owner of Panera Bread in Woburn. "It…

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Letter to the Editor: Food Pantry In Need

Submit letters to the editor at woburn@patch.com.

  To the Editor: Despite reports of our improving economy, we do not see evidence of that at the Council of Social Concern Food Pantry.  In fact, the number of households served in the fiscal year just ended surpassed the previous year by 10%. Summer poses a special challenge for many of the families who rely on our Food Pantry to help them make ends meet.  Children who receive free or reduced breakfast and lunch in school are now home for three meals a day.  This places an additional financial burden on those who are already struggling to put food on the table. At the same time, food donations are typically at the lowest point of the year during the summer months.  With schools closed, church attendance down, businesses short-staffed and …

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Food Pantry Needs Help with Donations During the Summer

Regular supply down this season.

Kids still love mac and cheese and PB&J. So those items move quickly off the shelves of non-perishable foods in a building in north Woburn, especially in the summer, when children don’t eat lunch at school. With schools on hiatus and some families away on vacation or focused on summer, those shelves don’t get refilled as quickly as in other seasons. So the Food Pantry operated through the Council of Social Concern is asking for help to keep its shelves stocked this summer. “Hunger doesn’t take a vacation,” Karen Colatrella, Food Pantry director, said Monday. Some 80 to 85 percent of the pantry’s stock comes from community donations, Colatrella said. Schools and churches hold regular food drives for the pantry, according to Colatrella. Some…

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Athena

7:23 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2011

I wasnt aware of this either. I will be making a donation soon!!   more ›