logo
Northampton Elks Lodge donate funds to Veterans Food Panty

Northampton Elks Lodge donate funds to Veterans Food Panty

Yahoo31-03-2025

LEEDS, Mass. (WWLP) – Members of the Northampton Elks Lodge held a check presentation to the Veterans Food Pantry on Saturday.
The Northampton Lodge of Elks No. 997 donated $4,000 to be used to purchase and distribute food to veterans in need. The food pantry opened nearly three years ago and serves approximately 744 veterans and their families. This year alone, over 16,000 pounds of food have been distributed.
Mass. exploring possible third state-run veterans' home
'Northampton Lodge of Elks No. 997 is providing this donation through the Elk's Beacon Grant Program which funds community needs identified by our local Lodges,' says Lou Gingras, Northampton Elks Lodge No. 997 Loyal Knight. 'Nationally, one in five veterans suffers from food insecurity, which is nearly double the average for the general population. Supporting veterans is the Elks number one priority. We are asking veteran groups and the general public to join us in supporting the Veterans Food Pantry by donating nonperishable food, and monetary gifts to the Pantry,' Gingras adds.
The Veterans Food Pantry is located at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Health Care on 421 N. Main Street in Leeds. They are open Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For those who wish to donate, they can drop off weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Funeral services being held for Southwick beekeeper William Crawford
Funeral services being held for Southwick beekeeper William Crawford

Yahoo

time10 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Funeral services being held for Southwick beekeeper William Crawford

SOUTHWICK, Mass. (WWLP) – Calling hours are being held for a Southwick man who died in a crash while tending bees in Oregon, Ohio. William (Bill) Crawford III was the owner of New England Apiaries on Klaus Anderson Road in Southwick and was known for Billy C's Raw Honey. Last week, Crawford was operating a fork-style tractor in Oregon, Ohio, when he was struck by a vehicle. He was taken to the hospital for serious injuries, where he later died. Owner of Billy C's Raw Honey in Southwick died in Ohio crash According to his obituary from Graham Hilltown Community Funeral Home, 35-year-old Crawford was a graduate of Westfield High School, Holyoke Community College, Westfield State University, and the University of Florida/Jacksonville. In 2007, he started selling honey from a produce farm he worked for in Westfield before forming Pioneer Valley Apiary in what became New England Apiaries. Billy C's Raw Honey can be found on shelves at Big Y, which offered their condolences on Facebook Tuesday, saying, 'We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our valued vendor partner, former employee and friend, Bill Crawford, owner of New England Apiaries, Home of Billy C's Raw Honey. Bill was a trusted collaborator whose professionalism, creativity and unwavering commitment made a lasting impact on our team and the work we accomplished together. Over the years, our partnership with Bill was marked by mutual respect, shared goals and a spirit of collaboration that we deeply cherished. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Bill's family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed.' Crawford leaves behind his wife, Elaine, and five children. Calling hours are scheduled for Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at New Gospel Church on Union Street in Westfield. The funeral service will be held on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. In addition, a memorial service will be held on June 20 at the Piney Grove Freewill Baptist Church in Georgia. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Chicopee celebrates Portuguese heritage with flag-raising ceremony
Chicopee celebrates Portuguese heritage with flag-raising ceremony

Yahoo

time20 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Chicopee celebrates Portuguese heritage with flag-raising ceremony

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – It was a prideful day for the local Portuguese community in the City of Chicopee. Many residents and local officials came together to celebrate Portuguese Heritage Month with a flag-raising ceremony. Mass. officials support local farms during National Dairy Month The weather brought the event indoors, but it did not stop the festivities. The event showcased the cultural heritage of the Portuguese community with music, dance, and guest speakers sharing their insights into the culture and its historical significance. 'It means a lot to us that we don't get to get together daily,' President of the Portuguese Club Brian Mendes said. 'Events like this bring a lot of friends and family together.' The celebrations continued at the Portuguese Club in Chicopee, where people sat down and enjoyed a nice lunch. Mendes said the Portuguese Club will be hosting events all month long. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Vollinger Farm in Northampton permanently conserved with first-of-its-kind federal funding
Vollinger Farm in Northampton permanently conserved with first-of-its-kind federal funding

Yahoo

time20 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Vollinger Farm in Northampton permanently conserved with first-of-its-kind federal funding

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – One of Northampton's largest remaining unprotected farms has been permanently conserved, thanks to a groundbreaking approach to federal conservation funding. Mass. officials support local farms during National Dairy Month Kestrel Land Trust announced the preservation of 122 acres of the 217-acre Vollinger Farm, ensuring the land remains dedicated to agriculture and wildlife habitat. Located on North Farms Road, the property faces a higher risk of development than farmland in the floodplains of the Connecticut River. Recognizing its ecological and agricultural importance, landowner Robert 'Bob' Vollinger partnered with Kestrel Land Trust for more than five years to make conservation a reality. 'This complex process to become qualified for and hold an Agricultural Land Easement required a steep learning curve for everyone involved,' said Mark Wamsley, Kestrel's Conservation Director. The project marks the first time Kestrel has held a federally funded easement, made possible through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Kestrel participated in the program with The Nature Conservancy and other partners to access funding under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program's Agricultural Land Easement (ACEP-ALE) component. 'ACEP-ALE aims to protect the long-term viability of the nation's food supply by preventing the conversion of productive farmland to non-agricultural uses,' said Rita Thibodeau, NRCS Massachusetts Assistant State Conservationist for Programs. 'The program supports preserving high-quality agricultural soils, maintaining the integrity of working farms, and ensuring that land remains in private ownership while under conservation protection.' While Massachusetts commonly uses the state's Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program to conserve farmland, the Vollinger Farm project used a different path. The RCPP version of ALE promotes innovation, enabling conservation of both farmland and critical wildlife habitat—a dual purpose well-suited to the mix of open fields and woodlands on the property. In total, the RCPP contributed $749,500 in federal funding. Mass Audubon's Catalyst Fund added $100,000 to the project. Another 80 acres of the farm are currently protected under the state's Farm Viability Program, which funded barn renovations for Vollinger. Vollinger Farm, which has been in the family for three generations, sits next to the Broad Brook–Fitzgerald Lake Greenway, the largest conservation area in Northampton. The farm once focused on dairy but has evolved under Bob Vollinger's stewardship to produce hay, raise beef cows, and grow seasonal crops like squash, mums, and Christmas trees. 'Conserving the farm was always my goal,' Vollinger said. 'Now it will also help me plan for the future and contribute to my retirement. I'm looking forward to spending more time on the farm and being out on the land in the coming years.' WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store