The 2019 Westfield schools food drive took place at the Tiger’s Pride restaurant within Westfield Technical Academy on Monday. Dozens of volunteers made for quick organization and packaging of the individual meals. (WNG photo)
WESTFIELD – The Westfield Public Schools held another successful Thanksgiving food drive at Westfield Technical Academy on Monday. Susan and Ralph Figy coordinated an assembly line of volunteers that packed complete meals for families of all sizes. WSKB Community Radio broadcast through the drive, which lasted from 6 a.m. to 12 noon.
“Every Thanksgiving, I am so thankful for all the people that step up to the plate,” said Susan Figy at the end of the day.
Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski told the School Committee Monday night that, all together, 224 families were helped through the drive at WTA and other sites. The committee also voted to accept a gift of $1,000 from the Centennial Lions Club raised at their Glow-in-the Dark Golf Tournament, one of several businesses that gave generous financial donations, including Thrifty Car Sales, Advanced Manufacturing, and Firtion-Adams Funeral Home, said Czaporowski.
Westfield’s Community radio, WSKB 89.5fm, seen in the background, broadcasts live from the Tiger’s Pride restaurant at Westfield Technical Academy on Monday as part of the Westfield schools annual food drive. (WNG photo)
Susan Figy said that members of the Centennial Lions were also among the forty volunteers, including WTA students and other residents who came and helped to pack the meals and deliver them to the schools, where families will arrange to pick them up. Volunteers will also deliver to some families in need.
Figy said that food and supplies left over will help to stock the food pantries in the schools and also the Westfield Food Pantry that serve students and their families year round. Both Figy and WTA Principal Joseph Langone on WSKB Radio on Monday morning thanked volunteers who give year-round, both giving a special mention to Lorena Dondley who brought a large donation of cereal to the food drive on Monday. Dondley is known for clipping coupons and keeping the pantries stocked in cereal throughout the year, earning her the nickname “cereal queen.”
“It was a great success, a great community collaboration,” Czaporowski said.
