The Reverend Warren Savage (center), Catholic chaplain for the Interfaith Center at Westfield State, presented awards to sophomore Philip J. Sheedy (left) and Dr. Elizabeth Preston for their support of the Common Goods food pantry at the university. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – At the annual Albert and Amelia Ferst Interfaith Breakfast at Westfield State University Wednesday morning, Lisa McMahon, the university’s director of advancement and university relations was excited to point to the crowd.
“This year, we have more students who came and wanted to attend, and more businesses and community partners who paid for those students to come,” McMahon said.
The Hon. Michael R. Knapik, executive director of the Westfield State Foundation, who welcomed attendees to the breakfast, said the Interfaith Center was the reason the foundation was formed in 1981 as a fundraising vehicle.
“It’s especially important for those of us in education to be able to acknowledge our differences” as well as our similarities, Knapik said.
John Torrone, chair of the foundation, said this year they raised $420,000 in total scholarships and paid internships, and thanked Knapik for his work in making that possible.
Eileen Swan Rockwal, and Maryjane and Thomas Rockwal (l-r) attended the 2016 Westfield State University Interfaith breakfast. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
Also greeting attendees was WSU President Dr. Ramon S. Torrecilha.
“I’m happy to say that the Interfaith Center has become my parish,” Torrecilha said.
Guest speaker at the breakfast was Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener from Temple Israel in Greenfield, who spoke about her many trips to Israel and the West Bank. Cohen said growing up in the “donor class,” she now advocates for partnerships with people.
“The one thing we can help or fix is isolation and empathy,” Cohen said.
“If he and I can connect, peace work is possible,” speaking about a meeting with a member of Hamas on one of her trips, she said.
The breakfast also celebrated the opening of Common Goods at Westfield State, a food pantry for students, staff, faculty and anyone facing food insecurity at the campus, which is a project of the Interfaith Center.
Catholic chaplain, Father Warren Savage, presented two related awards at the breakfast.
The Albert and Amelia Ferst Interfaith Student Service Award was given to Philip J. Sheehy, a sophomore from Hampton, N.H. who is majoring in criminal justice.
Sheehy has been a big part of Common Goods, picking up and delivering food from the five bins located all over campus to the pantry, which is located in Second Congregational Church. He also helps out at St. Mary’s food pantry in Westfield.
Savage spoke about Sheehy’s humility, recognition of the dignity of others, and his willingness to be present to serve.
Also honored at the breakfast was Dr. Elizabeth H. Preston, who Savage and Torrecilha both said played a pivotal role in creating the food pantry through her endorsement of President Barack Obama’s interfaith and community service campus challenge while she was serving as interim president.
Torrecilha called Preston “the driver behind it,” and Savage said the Chaplain’s Council wanted to “honor the one for planting the seed.”
“My role really was to recognize good ideas and support those,” Preston said upon accepting the award.
After the breakfast, Savage said the Common Goods pantry is for students on campus who are experiencing hunger and food insecurity at some level, and for anyone who needs food. The pantry, which was built and is kept stocked by the Interfaith Center, is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Its off-campus location at the Second Congregational Church provides confidentiality for students, Savage said.
He said the university will also continue to support the Westfield Food Pantry and the Samaritan Inn in Westfield.
WSU Public Affairs spokesperson Molly C. Watson said that in recent years they’ve heard more and more from student support services about students that were couch surfing, and getting their mail at the university because they had nowhere to stay.
Watson said the pantry is a campus initiative to support students, faculty and staff who need the support. 25 out of 29 of the state university campuses now have food pantries, according to Watson.
