Region – The Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce members, schools, and community residents responded in force to the chamber's annual Food Drive to support the food pantries of Westborough, Northborough, Southborough, Shrewsbury, and Grafton.
“The food drive was launched in October and ended Dec. 12 as a resounding success,” Chamber Vice President Karen Chapman said. “This year's goal was 10,000 items and the final count was a whopping total of 11,447 items.”
Food was dropped off at the chamber office, several area businesses, and many Shrewsbury schools. Corporate members Wegmans and WalMart also joined in this important food campaign. The Doubletree Hotel in Westborough has been the
chamber's lead business partner in this annual food drive for the past three years.
“Henry Tessman, past chair of Corridor Nine and director of sales for the Doubletree Hotel, is truly the unsung hero in fighting this campaign to stop local hunger,” Chapman said. The hotel is a main drop-off location for all donations. Tessman personally visits with many of the local businesses and schools to pick up the donations, delivering thousands of items to each food pantry packed in boxes donated by Marks Moving and Storage.
The Corridor Nine community truly responded when asked to support this effort. Dr. Dan Meininger of Meininger Family Chiropractic in Westborough collected 1,037 items from his clients. On Dec. 7, volunteer representatives of Corridor Nine gave their
time at three supermarket locations to collect food items. The young professionals group of Corridor Nine, HYPE9, sponsored collection days, the students of Sherwood Middle School's community outreach program ran a school-wide collection program, and 28 students participated in a food collection drive at Price Chopper.
Corridor Nine is extremely grateful to its members and the community at large for every donation received.
Photos/submitted
