On Thursday, Oct. 18, from 1:30 PM until dusk, the Town of Brookline invites residents to celebrate National Food Day at Brookline Farmers’ Market by purchasing fresh produce for delivery to Brookline’s two food pantries. Shoppers can buy extra fruits and vegetables and drop off donations in the easily found bins under the big green tent at the manager’s table. Food collected at the market will be distributed to food pantry clients at the Egmont and St. Paul Street food pantry locations. Suggested donations include easily stored fruits like apples and pears, and root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots, squash and tomatoes. The Brookline Farmers’ Market, in operation through mid-November, is located on Centre Street in Coolidge Corner.
Swannie Jett, DrPH, MSc, Health Commissioner for Brookline Public Health and Human Services noted: “We are fortunate to have a very popular farmers’ market in Brookline. In past years, the community has been extraordinarily generous in purchasing extra fresh fruits and vegetables to share with their neighbors who shop at the Brookline Food Pantries. We look forward to another banner year this October.”
“Brookline Food Pantry clients seldom get to prepare meals with fresh products, but through community efforts and partnerships, we can change that. We hope that at the farmers’ market, shoppers will buy extra produce to work towards a greener diet to help the over 800 families being served at our pantries” stated Rene Feuerman, Chairperson of Brookline Food Pantry’s Board of Directors.
Through a partnership with the Brookline’s Farmers’ Market and the Brookline Food Pantry, Brookline shoppers will participate by providing fresh produce for food pantry clients. In existence for 25 years, the Brookline Food Pantry estimates it had more than 9,200 client visits in 2018, indicating a greater need for donations.
To learn more about the Brookline Food Pantry visit their website at www.BrooklineFoodPantry.org or contact Lynne Karsten, lkarsten@brooklinema.gov or 617-730-2336. Also, please join us on Twitter discussion: @BrooklineHealth, Facebook: Brookline Department of Public Health, or Instagram: Brooklinehealth.
