Our View: Once Again, It’s Time For ‘Helping Neighbors’

For thousands of Cape Codders, the last few months have brought a whole new meaning to the term “food insecurity.” Thanks to the interruption of SNAP benefits, the government shutdown, the ballooning cost of health insurance and continued sticker shock in the grocery checkout line, many people found themselves turning to food pantries for the first time this fall. And all the pantries in our region have stepped up to meet the challenge.

 This is the time of year The Cape Cod Chronicle throws its support behind the Family Pantry of Cape Cod, the Cape’s largest food pantry and one of the largest in the state, which provides food, clothing and referrals to many, many local families. They’re experiencing a surge of demand, on top of the regular surge seen around the holidays, on top of the general year-to-year climb in requests for help.

 We’re asking you, our readers, to join us in giving as generously as you can this holiday season. Visit our website and click on the blue “Helping Neighbors” logo, or mail a tax-deductible contribution to The Family Pantry, 133 Queen Anne Rd., Harwich, MA 02645. A glance at the calendar shows that this year’s holiday season is condensed, and we have only about six weeks to reach our fundraising goal of $130,000.

 Are we worried? Why would we be, when year after year, you’ve consistently answered the call for the Family Pantry. Since our campaigns started in 2004, together we’ve raised more than $2.1 million to fight hunger. And this year, generous donors have provided a dollar-for-dollar match right up to $130,000. 

 Thank you, as always, for Helping Neighbors.