Welcome to the blog for Belchertown CAN (Communiuty Aid Network)! We are an organization of volunteers inspired to give back to the local community. This post is in a introduction to our organization, but there is more to come! Please share with everyone you know, especially those who live in the local area and who might like to help out. Help of every kind is always welcome, and we will post here about our activities that will also be your chance to help!


Here is a little bit about us and how we got started:


We started in 2009, responding to the national call for citizens to engage in community service, Belchertown CAN! (Community Aid Network) has conducted a yearly food drive to benefit the three food pantries in Belchertown and the Amherst Survival Center. The event has produced “mountains of food” and thousands in cash donations. We also manage an ongoing collection through Stop & Shop that currently is yielding about 1,000 pounds of food a month.


Why help out in this way?


Allotments to food pantries from the Commonwealth through the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts have dropped dramatically. Furthermore, after the big surge of giving during the holidays, food donations are down at this time of year. But waiting lists at the food pantries are growing. As a result, the pantries must seek other resources to fill their bare cupboards. A lot of people in town are hungry and need our help. This is where Belchertown CAN! comes in.


Check us out on Facebook,

https://www.facebook.com/BELCHERTOWNCAN


And please SUBSCRIBE to our blog and SHARE with all of your friends,