Meet our November 2024 Community Spotlight organization! Since 1979, the Northampton Survival Center has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for low-income individuals and families throughout Hampshire County by providing nutritious food and other resources in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. They provide local folks with weekly groceries from their pantries in Northampton and Goshen.

How would you describe the impact of your work?

The Northampton Survival Center will provide 675,000 pounds of nutritious groceries to low-income folks this year. Clients choose the fresh produce, bread, dairy, meat, and pantry staples that will meet the needs of their families.

From Julia, a client, in her own words:

"All the basic staples that used to be cheap—flour, salt, olive oil—are really expensive now, like twice as expensive as they used to be. Fresh produce also costs a lot. By coming to the Center, I’m able to save money I would have spent on basics like milk or cheese and use it at the farmers market instead. I go every single week and stretch a little bit of money into so much more using my HIP/SNAP benefits. It’s really good food!"

What’s a goal you’re hoping to achieve in the coming years?

Our main goal is always to provide food and other necessities to low-income individuals in Hampshire County who need our services. Here are a few highlights about a couple of our programs:

In addition to weekly visits for fresh produce, milk and dairy, frozen meat, and shelf-stable goods, clients also have access to our monthly Pantry Fresh meal kit, which includes an easy recipe (in English and Spanish) and the ingredients with which to make it. Some favorite recipes this year included Chicken Noodle Soup, Cheese and Bean Pupusas, and Moroccan Stew.

In the summer, families with school-aged children at home receive extra groceries through our Kids’ Summer Food Program, which aims to replace the meals kids would be eating at school during the academic year. This program also includes fun materials that help kids learn about their food and celebrate healthy eating.

What is one simple thing an individual can start doing that could make a difference in the lives of those you serve?

We distribute more than just food! Personal care items and cleaning products can have a great impact on the clients we serve. Though many of these items are essential, they can also be expensive and cannot be purchased with SNAP (food stamp) benefits. We gratefully accept new, un-used toiletries for distribution to clients. (As most of our clients are housed individuals and families, full-sized products are preferred over travel-sizes.) Anyone wishing to organize a drive to collect these products can email us at info@northamptonsurvival.org, and individual donations are accepted at the Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12-3 PM.

Joining our Bread and Butter Club is the best way to support our neighbors year-round! Our monthly donors provide a reliable source of funding so that our clients don't ever have to worry about having enough to eat.

Thanks to our partnership with local organizations like the Food Bank of Western Mass, wholesalers, and other food providers, we can leverage cash donations to provide a lot more food than a person could purchase retail. So if you're trying to make the biggest impact, donate money to the Center and let us turn that into even more food!