Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Inc.
Meeting the needs of
individuals & families
having food
hardships
Improving the
health & well-being
of our communities
Educating & advocating
about the issues of
hunger in our communities
News and Upcoming Events (click on links for more details)
Partnerships
Many thanks to the organizations that help us with our mission.
Food Bank of Western Mass
Pioneer Valley United Way
Bag the Community
Big Y Supermarkets
Cumberland Farms Stores
Information for the Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Inc community on our response to COVID-19 Last updated 3/16/2020
Our pledge: We are connecting with public health officials, local and state legislators, and the Food Bank of Western Mass in order to be as responsive as possible to the constantly changing conditions. We will remain alert and keep our community as informed as possible.
Our goal: It is our aim to remain open and to be able to meet our communities’ food needs as well as we can, while also being considerate of the public health crisis of this pandemic. In order to have the least amount of impact on the community, we ask that you please stay home if you or anyone in your household are sick, and that all who enter the pantry practice these essential health safety measures:
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Be sure to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue (best) or elbow, rather than with your hands. Again, if you’re sick, and not just sneezing because of an allergy, please do not enter the building.
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Help us maintain safety by spacing yourself away from others (in line or in the building) rather than crowding, as much as you can. Please remember that illnesses can be carried without symptoms, so social distance can cut down on transmission.
Information for customers:
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Currently, the pantry remains open during our regular business hours.
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If your family has children who will not be getting free or reduced-price meals during school closures, you will be offered separate (extra) bags for your children.
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If you are sick or not able to come to the pantry, you are welcome to send a healthy friend or relative to get food for you.
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If you need to avoid visiting the pantry because you or someone with you is sick or immune-compromised, please call us. We will try to meet your food needs safely and flexibly.
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If you are hungry or concerned about meeting your family’s food needs, let us know. We are here to help you.
Information for volunteers: We have increased our attention on disinfecting surfaces such door handles, light switches, tables, and other high-use spaces. We have suspended certain practices where contact can reasonably be limited:
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We are temporarily stopping the practice of having customers sign in for USDA foods.
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We are issuing disposable numbers on paper rather than re-using laminated customer numbers.
Also informed by best practices, there are some things we are not doing:
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We are not making masks available. Not only are they believed to not be very helpful in this situation, they are also in short supply worldwide so we believe they should be preserved for medical personnel.
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Please understand that, while we are being more attentive, we will not be able to wipe down every surface after every customer, so we repeat the advice to wash hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and water, and we encourage you to do so as often as you need to while you’re volunteering. It is also important to not touch your face, in order to stop transmission of any illnesses.