Program providing needed meals to Fall River families while keeping restaurants working

MARION, MA – Neighbors feeding neighbors. The Marion Institute Southcoast Food Policy Council (SFPC) has launched “Cooks for Community,” a community-specific collaboration that works with service organizations and local restaurants in the Southcoast to ensure that at-risk populations have access to food from safe sources.

In Wareham, the SFPC had joined forces with Mark Anthony’s Restaurant in Onset, Minkle Boys Catering, local group Community Youth Empowerment (CYE), and the YMCA Southcoast to distribute nutritious hot meals to seniors in need (at the Gleason Family YMCA) and to members of Wareham’s unsheltered community from April 13th – May 8th, providing a total of 2,400 hot meals.

“There’s a need, and we are doing everything we can to meet that need. We’re just very grateful that we have this opportunity,” said Liz Wiley, Executive Director of The Marion Institute.

The Marion Institute stated that the Cooks for Community program debuted in Fall River today with the help of Southcoast Health, YMCA Southcoast, Mass Development’s TDI program, and Java House Chew & Brew in downtown Fall River.

Not only is Java House making 109 hot meals 5 days a week for 4 weeks, they are also going to deliver them to the Fall River YMCA for families in need and to a group of patients (and their families) receiving care at the Southcoast Centers for Cancer Care at Charlton Memorial Hospital, according to Marion Institute.

In addition to helping those in need, the Cooks for Community program also benefits local restaurants and their staff who are struggling under the operating limitations put in place due to COVID-19.

The Marion Institute is currently fundraising and working with community partners to roll out similar programs in New Bedford. Donations to this program can be made to the Marion Institute’s Southcoast Food Policy Council-Cooks for Community.