SPRINGFIELD — The Antonacci Family Foundation has donated $125,000 to launch the Millions of Meals food drive with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $125,000 donation was announced by representatives of the foundation and the Food Bank at Trinity United Methodist Church on Sumner Avenue on Tuesday morning.
“From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank the Antonacci Family Foundation for this incredibly generous donation, said Andrew Morehouse, executive director of the Food Bank. “With Mother’s Day right around the corner, we could not think of a better time to kick off this campaign to support the mothers, grandmothers, and others.”
The Antonacci family owns and operates companies in Western Massachusetts and Connecticut including USA Waste & Recycling, GreatHorse, Lindy Farms and Sonny’s Place.
The donation will provide 500,000 meals to “food-insecure” individuals and families served by the Food Bank in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties, officials said.
“Our family is deeply committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work," the foundation said in a statement. “When we saw the toll this pandemic was taking on our neighbors, friends, and co-workers, we knew we had to act.”
With the hardships of COVID-19, “it has never been more important” to support the Food Bank, the foundation said.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni attended the outdoor press conference to thank the Antonacci Family Foundation.
Sarno called it a “tremendous donation,” while Gulluni noted it was “desperately needed.”
Frank Antonacci, a foundation spokesman, said he hoped that “others will step up as well to join us in making a difference.”
The Millions of Meals initiative is the foundation’s virtual food drive to highlight food insecurity and to encourage donations from other foundations, companies and individuals to the Food Bank.
The Food Bank provides food through its emergency food network partners and own mobile food bank and brown bag programs. Trinity Church is one of 26 mobile Food Bank sites. The Food Bank also has independent pantries, meal sites and shelters.
The effects of COVID-19, including soaring unemployment from the closure of non-essential businesses, has triggered a greater demand for assistance from the Food Bank.
Those interested in donating to the Millions of Meals Initiative can do so through the Food Bank web site at foodbankwma.org/donate/donate-now-2
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