MELROSE — It was Christmas in July at the Melrose Chamber of Commerce’s 12th Annual Summer Stroll last Friday as the Melrose community generously provided just under 2000 pounds of donations for our two Melrose food pantries. The summer months can be slow with donations at pantries, so the event provided a much-needed infusion of items.
The first-annual Summer Stock event was a community collaboration of The Beauty Café, Buckalew’s General Store, The Food Drive, Melrose Alliance Against Violence, the Melrose Chamber of Commerce and Melrose Kind. Donations supported Pantry of Hope and A Servant’s Heart Food Pantry, and were delivered directly to each pantry at the end of the night.
Started on a basement bookshelf in 1996, A Servant’s Heart Food Pantry is located at Faith Evangelical Church at 200 Franklin St. and is open Friday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Founded in 2001 by a church member, Pantry of Hope is located at First Baptist Church at 561 Main St. and is open on Tuesday afternoons from 3 to 5 p.m.
Want to support Melrose pantries? There are many opportunities throughout the year at the following locations:
Ongoing donation bins maintained by The Food Drive: Buckalew’s; The Beauty Café (personal care items during the holiday season); Cambridge Savings Bank; Follow Your Art; Paper & Clay; Sweet Spot Bakery; and Victoria Hill Wine.
Little free pantries maintained by community volunteers: First Baptist Church at 561 Main St. across from City Hall and 4 Gould St. at the corner of Pleasant St.
