HUDSON/MARLBOROUGH – The Highland City Striders recently donated $5,000 each to the Hudson Community Food Pantry and Marlborough Community Cupboard.
The striders raised the money through their Running with the Wolves race. According to Peter Bakkala, the race had been on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was brought back thanks to the work of Steve and Monica Burnett.
“It’s the community like this – like Highland City Striders – that really make it possible for us to keep our doors open,” said Hudson Community Food Pantry’s Donna Dupre. “It’s part of our name – community. They speak to it so well. It’s continuous. They’ve been great supporters.”
Hudson Community Food Pantry’s Ann Volk said the donation was awesome.
“It will mean so much to our clients. With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, we’re sure to put it to good use,” said Volk.
Marlborough Community Cupboard’s Barbara La Grenade said she was excited to receive the donation, especially as the cupboard gears up for their Feed-A-Family program, which includes a dinner for Thanksgiving.
“Where’s my donation going to go? It’s going to go for my Feed-A-Family,” she said.
As of Oct. 18, there were 712 families registered for Thanksgiving. The numbers of families using the Community Cupboard aren’t going down, said LaGrenade.
According to Dupre, each week, the Hudson Community Food Pantry is seeing more clients asking for help. In August and September, the pantry served over 200 families.
The Highland City Striders will be holding their Tough 10 and Fast 5 Turkey Trot Race on Nov. 26 at 9 a.m. in Ghiloni Park. The entry cost is 16 nonperishable items or children’s diapers sizes 4 and 6.
For more information or to register, visit https://highlandcitystriders.org/.
For more information on how to support the Hudson Community Food Pantry, visit https://hudsoncommunityfoodpantry.org/. For more information on how to support the Community Cupboard, visit https://www.uwotc.org/mcc.
