OUR FIRST TUESDAY ROUTINE

We pick up our food provided for us to distribute by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts every Tuesday. Most Tuesdays we wait until it is transported from the Food Bank in Hatfield to a depot at Berkshire Community Action on East Street in Pittsfield. Then we go down and get it in a rented truck.

(On the third Tuesday of the month, the Goodwill truck picks up the food for us, which we greatly appreciate.)

However, the first Tuesday of the month, we rent a bigger U-Haul truck and drive it the 50 miles to the Food Bank to pick up the food ourselves. Among other considerations, this allows us to take advantage of additional foods offered on site at the Food Bank.

Today, Tuesday, Jan. 3, was the first Tuesday of 2017 and so we rented a truck in North Adams and went to Hatfield. Most of the following photos were taken, and captioned by our great volunteer, Kevin Tyree, who drives our truck most weeks and helps out in many other ways.

(Kevin didn't want me to use his last name but everybody knows him and he deserves the recognition).

Kevin took a new driver, Terry, with him. When they came back to the Friendship Center, we had a substantial crew ready to help unload the truck and and stock the shelves -- something they do every week!

So, here are the photos:

At the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in rural Hatfield.

Inside the Food Bank

                A closeup of Mike unloading the truck.

                      The pallets of food are wrapped in plastic.

 I like this photo in particular, it shows the intensity of the work that goes into the unloading.

I like to just stand around and watch.

Another shot of our volunteers helping to stock the shelves, that's Jocelyn at the left by the refrigerator.


 In mid-February, the Friendship Center Food Pantry will observe its sixth birthday. We have been an all-volunteer organization the entire time. We have the greatest volunteers in the world.

God Bless,

Mark