Everett volunteers from Grace Food Pantry gear up to feed hundreds of families in need

EVERETT, Mass. — Nearly four in 10 Americans are struggling and are experiencing some sort of food insecurity. Locally, on a weekly basis, and some even daily look forward to food pantries.

Many families have to make the difficult decision of do I feed my family or pay the bills to keep the lights on.

Boston 25 News reporter Malini Basu has been talking to families for months now who are struggling.

In the freezing temperatures, close to 1,000 people are expected to line up, hoping to get food. The one thing in common for these families is, they all have a story to tell and how the pandemic left them empty-handed.

At Everett Grace Food Pantry, volunteers spent hours loading up 15 tons of food, ahead of Saturday’s food distribution.

“The line has not diminished. they grow,” said Irene Cardillo.

Cardillo runs the food pantry, and she was in tears as she shared some of the heartbreaking stories from the families.

“A lot of times, people need someone to talk to, talk them off the ledge. it’s not forever, we are trying,” said Cardillo.

Boxes and boxes of food and Christmas toys will be handed out to 1,000 families.

This hard work and preparation couldn’t be made possible if it wasn’t for the volunteers involved. And, hearing their stories, will bring you to tears.

“Me and my girl Patty used to come here. She had respiratory failure. She was in the ICU for nine days, and her body started to shut down,” said David Garrey, a volunteer.

“Why do you volunteer, what makes you do it?” “Honestly, my partner Marie did. She died two months ago, she loved to volunteer for people,” said Phyllis Barone, a volunteer.

Phyllis Barone comes here every day, after losing her partner Marie Tynan of 31 years.

The 75-year-old passed away from dementia, and Alzheimer’s.

“I keep going for her also. it’s for you Marie,” said Barone.

Heartbreak to struggle, from Everett to Chelsea, families are all going through something.

“We never, never send anyone home empty,” said Cardillo.

But in Chelsea, earlier this week, I was there as families were turned away from their cars after a food pantry runs dry. In the end, these volunteers are there for the people in need.

Cardillo says, week after week, there are so many new faces. The struggle and financial need is so real. Santa and the food distribution should be here starting at 8:45 a.m.

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