Assistant director Janet Lynch (left) and volunteer Julia Mosely of the Friendly Food Pantry of Randolph.
CANTON, Mass. (April 30, 2020) – Bank of Canton recently donated $2,000 and 300 paper bags to the Friendly Food Pantry of Randolph in response to the community’s growing need for food and basic necessities. The bank also donated another $4,000 and bags to food pantries in Canton and Quincy.
“We are grateful for Bank of Canton’s continued support. The folks at the North Main Street branch are always generous with their time and contributions,” said Debbie Batson, director of the Friendly Food Pantry of Randolph and member of the recently formed Randolph Resiliency Committee. “This $2,000 check and supply of bags will help us support the growing number of clients we’re seeing every week.”
Batson estimates that the number of clients served by the Friendly Food Pantry has increased 50% since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, adding that she expects it to go even higher. “There’s a line every Monday,” said volunteer Julia Mosely, “and about half each week are new families.”
The Friendly Food Pantry is located at One Donald S. McNeil Way in downtown Randolph, just off of Memorial Parkway between the high school and the fire station. It is currently distributing prepackaged items to Randolph residents in need every Monday from 12:30 to 2:30pm and again from 6:00 to 7:30pm. Visitors are only required to present identification and proof of Randolph residency to receive food.
Individuals who are sick or otherwise unable to visit the pantry are encouraged to call 339-987-5577 to arrange a food drop-off at their home.
“Thankfully, donations keep coming in and keep us going,” said Batson. “The Randolph Resiliency Committee organized a very successful food drive in early April, and we’ve got another one scheduled for May 2. We’ve received a lot of support from townspeople, local officials and business owners. This community does a wonderful job of looking after one another.”
Canned tuna, peanut butter and jelly, rice, cereals, coffee and tea, and canned vegetables are among the most needed items at the pantry. Non-perishable food donations are welcomed on Mondays from 8:00am to noon and from 5:00 to 6:00pm. Monetary donations can be mailed to Friendly Food Pantry, P.O. Box 802, Randolph, MA 02368.
“Bank of Canton is committed to supporting local organizations like the Friendly Food Pantry of Randolph, whose essential services are helping our community get through this pandemic,” said Stephen P. Costello, president and CEO of Bank of Canton. “The pantry and its dedicated volunteers continue to rise to the challenge, and we’re proud to support them.”
Although the Friendly Food Pantry is currently fully staffed with volunteers, those interested in helping with home deliveries, shopping, check-in phone calls or foreign language translation are encouraged to contact the Randolph Resiliency Committee at randolphresiliencycommittee@gmail.com.
About Bank of Canton
Established in 1835, Bank of Canton is a Massachusetts-chartered mutual savings bank that offers its consumer, business and government banking customers access to a full array of deposit, loan, investment and convenience service options. As a mutual savings bank, the bank has no stockholders and acts exclusively in the best interests of its customers and communities. The bank lends throughout Massachusetts, and has branches in Canton, Quincy and Randolph and a mortgage center in Auburn. All deposits are fully insured between the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). For more information, visit www.ibankcanton.com. Member FDIC. Member DIF. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #408169.
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