TDTC Hosts Successful Food Drive to Benefit Tewksbury Community Pantry

Hunger doesn’t go on vacation, and last week marked the end of free-lunch distribution by Tewksbury Public Schools. On Saturday, the Tewksbury Democratic Town Committee, with support from Market Basket, held a food drive to fill the shelves at the Tewksbury Community Pantry and provide financial support for the purchase of perishables and other needed supplies.

The Tewksbury Democratic Town Committee filled seven cars with food donations.

The food drive was held at Oakdale Market Basket on Saturday, June 27, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The committee collected hundreds of pounds of food and $500 in cash, and the TDTC donated an additional $1,000.

“We are so very thankful for the amazing response to our food drive and the generosity of the Tewksbury community,” said Cathy Dwyer, chair of the TDTC.

The Tewksbury Community Pantry provides support to all residents in need. Bridget Garabedian, TDTC outreach officer, and Sandy Creamer, TDTC member, organized the drive and welcomed elected officials and candidates, including Senator Barry Finegold, Representative Tram Nguyen and candidates Jamie Zahlaway Belsito and Angus McQuilken.

“We have all witnessed the incredible service these pantries play in our community and how hard they work to meet larger needs in new ways during these challenging times,” said Nguyen. “I’m so glad to see the Tewksbury Democratic Town Committee and other community members stepping up to help our local pantry feed neighbors in need.”

Residents turned out for drive-by drop-offs, some donating food items, others making cash donations.

Rita O’Brien Dee, Hazel Garabedian and Cathy Dwyer.

“Volunteers reminded me that the pantry also distributes toiletries, diapers and other non-food supplies,” said resident Cathy Naughton. “We don’t always remember that, so It was great to have an opportunity to contribute needed items to the pantry.”

Committee member and former Tewksbury Town Clerk Liz Carey coordinated a mini-drive of Langley Lane residents, and Tewksbury student volunteers helped with drive-through collections and unloading seven carloads of donations. Treasurer Mary-Ann O’Brien Nichols presented a check to Pantry Director Bill Weich.

“It was important to the committee to make a significant cash donation,” said Garabedian. “As we enter the summer months, there’s often increased need in the community. If you can’t make it over to the pantry, remember that you can always contribute using PayPal on the website.” http://www.tewksburypantry.org/

TDTD Summer Food Drive Release Download

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About

The Tewksbury Democratic Town Committee is a local arm of the Democratic Party. TDTC members work locally in a variety of ways to promote our shared principles. We also actively support candidates at the regional, state, and national levels. The TDTC organizes events that are designed to support our local candidates as well as provide them with an opportunity to share their message. These activities include our annual Unity Breakfast, canvassing and sign holding, encouraging voter registration and participation in town events, sponsoring candidate nights and forums, and holding regular meetings and social events.

We welcome new members who are registered Democrats and residents of Tewksbury. Our committee consists of 35 elected members, 20-year members, and a large and growing roster of associate members. Some of our members are also part of the Democratic State Committee. For more information about the various membership levels please visit our FAQ. We have four to six regular meetings per year as well as one or more socials during the summer.

We are proud of our own efforts and those of our elected officials to build a better nation and society. Please join us at our next meeting; you can find dates in our calendar on this site.

Panel 2

Events

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Contact

Fill out the form below to get in touch with us with any questions regarding our organization or to get more information about how to get involved.

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FAQ

How can I join the committee?

To be an associate member, you simply need to be a registered Democrat residing in Tewksbury. Contact the clerk, or come to any meeting or social event to fill out a membership application. We welcome new associates!

To be a full member of the town committee you must be elected, either as part of our slate on the ballot every four years or by members to fill vacancies.

Elected members are expected to attend quarterly meetings and participate in helping get Democratic candidates elected to state and federal office. Only elected members may vote on matters coming before the committee.

What is a 20-year member?

Any person who has served for 20 or more consecutive years on the committee may be “grandfathered” into the committee and not count against the 35 member quota.

What is an associate member?

An associate member is someone who wishes to join the committee during the four year period between presidential primaries. Associate members are encouraged to attend meetings and participate in all activities and discussions. While associate members do not vote on motions that come before the committee, they are valued members. If there is an opening on the committee due to resignation or death, associate members will be given primary consideration to fill that vacancy.

Can only members attend a meeting?

No. The Tewksbury Democratic Town Committee meetings and socials are open to all interested parties. We strongly encourage all registered voters to attend, especially Democrats. Elected Democratic officials frequently attend the meetings. The committee usually meets at the Town Hall on Saturday mornings at 10 o’clock. There will be times, however, that we may need to change the date, time or venue. If this happens we will make every effort to notify the public in advance. You can find more information regarding our meetings and events on our calendar.

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