Brookline’s business community is taking an active role in this year’s Feed Brookline food drive to benefit the Brookline Emergency Food Pantry. Despite the dismal state of the economy, merchants from all lines of business across town are coming up with creative and meaningful ways to inform the community about hunger in our town and raise donations for the Food Pantry.
Elaine Joseph, Asst VP with Bank of Canton’s Brookline Office
Bank of Canton, whose 166 Harvard Street branch serves as a drop-off point throughout the year for non-perishable food donation to the Pantry, is matching cash and check donations dollar-for-dollar up to $250 to Feed Brookline. Assistant Vice-President Elaine P. Joseph, commented of the Bank “ We understand the growing need for food donations in our local communities, and the Bank is a proud supporter of The Brookline Emergency Food Pantry. “
Tracy Hoy Clark, of Chobee Hoy Associates in Brookline Village (and Ms. Hoy’s daughter), explained that the office made a commitment to address hunger year round. She commnented, “As an office we collect food from our homes and from friends and bring it to our office every Tuesday before our weekly meeting.” Chobee Hoy also personally collects donations of food and money from various business groups with whom she meets. These local groups include the Brookline Chamber of Commerce and BNI the business networking group. Donations recently collected by Ms. Hoy, in fact, were matched by the abovementioned Bank of Canton.
Demonstrating that community involvement is a family affair, Coolidge Corner’s Muddy River Gallery, where Tracy Hoy Clark is curator, is offering a 10% discount off one item at the gallery to anyone making a monetary or food donation to the drive.
Jonathan Stearns, of Stearns Wealth Managementadded a community-centered element to a recent Client Appreciation Party. In addition holding an event for his client’s benefit, he requested attendees bring either a bag of groceries or a check for at least $25. He and his wife then matched the donation collected for the Emergency Food Pantry.
Some businesses are also featuring special offers for clients that support the Feed Brookline Drive. The Studio-Dance Center for Adults, located on Beacon Street in Coolidge Corner, offered, for example, a free Ab-solute Jazz class and a $5 discount off the Center’s limited edition hoodies in exchange for food or cash donations to the Drive. Owner Sue Kunicka plans to run similar promotions for the drive’s duration. Ms. Kunicka, noted the importance of community involvement to her business and clients, “We like to do as much as possible to promote the Brookline businesses, publications like the Hub, and the greater community. We share information via our community boards, Facebook page and Twitter account, as well as participate in CCMA and Chamber of Commerce events, causes, and activities. Many of our dancers either live or work in Brookline, and they appreciate our regular updates and info about the town.”
The Feed Brookline Drive runs through January, 2012. The list of participating businesses is expanding regularly, so be sure to check the location of collection centers near you.
By Andrew Palmacci
