Skills Sharing Initiative Connects Local Business and Food Pantry Leaders
The Leadership Program for Food Pantries Graduating Class, 2023
The South Shore Food Bank and Interfaith Social Services are accepting applications for a skills sharing program that connects local business talent with food pantry leaders. Through an application process, a small group of food pantries will be selected from throughout the South Shore to participate in the Leadership Academy.
The four-month program kicks off this year on June 21st when participants will depart by bus from the South Shore Food Bank warehouse in Rockland to tour food pantries in Weymouth, Marshfield, Hanson, Kingston, and Wareham. Monthly meetings will be held through September during which topics such as board leadership, fundraising, and strategy will be discussed.
The program, now in its third year, hopes to strengthen the network of food security organizations throughout the South Shore. The program was launched in the summer of 2022 by Pamela Denholm, executive director of South Shore Food Bank, following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, food pantries across the Greater Boston Food Bank network reported an average of a 113% increase in clients. Since then, the need has grown even more pronounced with area food pantries serving record setting numbers of families and individuals. Rick Doane, executive director of Interfaith Social Services, teamed up with Denholm in 2023 to co-coordinate this Leadership program.
According to Denholm, we need to invest in human capital as well as infrastructure if we are going to build a resilient, food secure future. “The Leadership Program shares skills and strengthens networks of regional food banks, business, and community leaders as we continue to navigate the challenges around food security and food equity in our communities,” said Denholm.
“Hunger is too big of an issue for any one organization to tackle on their own. We need to work together as a community,” added Rick Doane, executive director of Interfaith Social Services in Quincy.
In addition to receiving training from local business leaders, each participating food pantry will receive a $2,000 grant upon completion of the Leadership Academy. “It isn’t enough to share great ideas,” said Doane. “We hope that the grant will give these organizations the funding necessary to act on the lessons that they learn and help expand the capacity of their programs.”
For more information or to apply to participate in the Leadership Program, please visit southshorefoodbank.org/food-
About the South Shore Food Bank
Established in 2021, the South Shore Food Bank is part of a united community effort to bring food, dignity and hope to our South Shore neighbors. The organization acts as a hub for a network of food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters supported by Greater Boston Food Bank, helping to get food to where it’s most needed, especially fresh produce and frozen goods. Currently, the South Shore Food Bank serves pantries in towns throughout the South Shore, including Abington, Braintree, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Canton, Carver, Cohasset, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanson, Hanover, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Milton, Norwell, Pembroke, Plympton, Quincy, Randolph, Rockland, Scituate, Weymouth, and Whitman.
The South Shore Food Bank is located at 40E Reservoir Park Drive, Rockland, MA 02370. For more information, please visit www.southshorefoodbank.org, email info@weymouthfoodpantry.org, or call 781-331-7682.
About Interfaith Social Services
Founded in 1947, Interfaith Social Services’ mission is to provide South Shore residents with the resources necessary to support a healthy and fulfilling life. Their team of clinicians, staff and volunteers deliver programs focused on alleviating hunger, providing mental health counseling, preventing homelessness, and bringing joy to children.
- Interfaith’s food pantry is one of the largest emergency food programs in Greater Boston.
- Interfaith’s New Directions Counseling center provides mental health and addiction treatment for community members in need.
- Their HomeSafe program is a homelessness prevention initiative that also provides budget counseling and advocacy to hundreds of local households every year.
- Located in Quincy, the organization’s Bureau Drawer Thrift Shop is a boutique style store with all proceeds benefiting Interfaith’s programs. Clothing and food donations from the community are always welcome.
For more information, or to inquire about volunteering with Interfaith, please visit: www.InterfaithSocialServices.
