To the Editor:
A few weeks ago, the Bristol Phoenix featured an article by Michelle Mercure in which she aptly summarized the plight of the food pantries in the area and the people they serve. …
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To the Editor:
A few weeks ago, the Bristol Phoenix featured an article by Michelle Mercure in which she aptly summarized the plight of the food pantries in the area and the people they serve. We, the Friends of St. Elizabeth Food Pantry, can relate to the pressures of all the other food pantries, not only in the ability to keep our shelves stocked, but to the increasing flow of people in need. I will not repeat those sad facts here, but to take a moment to praise one group in our Bristol community who has creatively gone out of their way to help us and the people who depend on us.
Bristol Rotary, who has been donating to Friends of St. Elizabeth and the East Bay Food Pantry for years and further increased their donations during Covid, cranked it up a notch this past year, and creatively, came up with a sweepstakes that contributed approximately $30,000 to be split between the two food pantries serving the Town of Bristol.
It was called “Dinner for 2 Anywhere in the World.” For $25 per ticket, the participant had a chance to be funded $10,000 for the trip. And, with assistance from a local travel agency, Atlantivacations , plan a trip anywhere in the world for dinner and an enjoyable travel experience. 1,000 people bought tickets and Bristol Rotary added $10,000 of their own funds to the total.
We are grateful to all our donors, but this fundraiser directed at the food insecurity plight of our community, when we needed help the most, and, particularly, the creativity of the approach, deserves commendation.
Oh, and by the way, the winner was Linda Medeiros of Portsmouth, who is going to Venice, Naples, and Florence with her husband, Eddy and daughter, Kayla!
Thank you, Bristol Rotary.
Rosemary Oliveira
Vice President of The Friends of St Elizabeth Food Pantry