Westfield Soup Kitchen to benefit from drive
WESFTIELD – The VCA Montgomery Road Animal Hospital will host a safe, no-contact food drive for the Westfield Soup Kitchen Dec. 7-21 at its location at 207 MontgomeryRoad in Westfield.
Adam Ransom, hospital manager, said this is their first food drive.
“It’s the first time we’ve ever done a food drive. We’ve been here through everything, our hospital has never closed. The community has been really supportive of all the changes we’ve made, and we are dedicated to returning that kindness,” Ransom said, adding that they have been offering curbside service for pets throughout the COVID shutdown.
“The community has been really supportive of all the changes we’ve made, and we are dedicated to returning that kindness,” Ransom said. He said they want to lift up people in the community who are struggling.
The Westfield Soup Kitchen is run through the generosity of its volunteers, which includes several church and civic groups, students and others, who alternate cooking and serving meals on a regular basis on a designated day of the month, each month of the year.
Items being sought by the Soup Kitchen include canned fruit and vegetables, salad dressings, pasta sauce, paper towels, and disinfectants.
Contactless donations may be dropped off at VCA Montgomery Road during its regular hours of operation, which are Monday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ransom said there is a vestibule in front of the building with a donation box. He said when someone arrives with a donation they may call ahead to 413-568-1745 to let them know, or knock on the door, and they will be let into the vestibule. He said items left in the vestibule will be picked up by staff with gloved hands, disinfected and transferred to a box in the lobby for the Westfield Soup Kitchen.
