With the holidays just around the corner, there are plenty of ways to get involved with the Ride for Food community. Our partner organizations are hard at work this time of year to get food to families in need this holiday season.
Giving money is by far the most impactful way to support the work of a non-profit. Hunger relief organizations buy thousands of pounds of food at a time, through economies of scale and organizational discounts they can make a dollar go much further than any individual purchasing cans at a grocery store. These organizations also have a deep understanding of the needs of the communities they serve and the most efficient ways to get them what they need. Take a look at the Ride for Food Partner organizations to learn more about the work they do and how you can contribute.
In addition to donations, giving your time is a great way to support the work of an organization and the people they serve. Volunteering during the holidays is also a great way to engage the entire family and begin a year-round commitment to supporting a local non-profit.
Here are a few ways to support Ride for Food partner organizations this holiday season:
Women’s Lunch Place welcomes approximately 225 women each day, most of whom have experienced trauma, abuse, and loss without judgment or requirements for assistance. Women’s Lunch Place restores dignity and empowers personal decision-making by placing the individual needs, preferences and aspirations of their guests at the center of their model of care. This season they are looking for donation drives of travel sized toiletries, warm hats & gloves, and readers. Contribute to women in need.
Boston Area Gleaners is a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing surplus farm crops for people in need. They distribute high-quality produce to food pantries and meal programs by working closely with local farmers, providing volunteer labor to harvest what would otherwise be plowed under. Their goal is to build a reliable supply chain of surplus produce from local farms to people in need. Volunteer and give gleaning a try for yourself.
Food for Free has been bridging the gap between waste and want since 1981. They rescue fresh food—food that might otherwise go to waste—and distribute it within the local emergency food system where it can reach those in need. Their programs address not only short-term hunger, but obesity, diet-related disease, and other long-term health effects of food insecurity and poor nutrition. Give healthy meals or reach out to [email protected].
Fresh Truck is a mobile food market on a mission to radically impact community health by celebrating food culture and getting fresh food to those that need it most. Their retrofitted school buses serve as mobile grocery stores and food health learning spaces. This holiday season they are aiming to increase the amount of fresh food on the plates of families in need. A fresh take on holiday food donations.
Here at Three Squares New England, we would also love people to give their time and energy to supporting our mission of enabling our Partner organizations. If you have time to help on an as-needed basis, volunteer opportunities will most likely involve marketing or administrative tasks. Please visit our volunteer page.