The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) is supporting community food drives ahead of the holiday season, supporting families in need at a challenging time of year for so many.
At the Boston Half presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund on November 9, participants were encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the race village. More than 750 pounds of food – about 625 meals – plus financial donations were collected by the Greater Boston Food Bank (a member of the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program) and their partner, Catholic Charities.
Going one step further, the B.A.A. is donating funds to two partners’ food programs this week as demand for these services continue to grow.
The Dimock Center – who the B.A.A. and HoodFit partner with for the annual Road to Wellness 5K Run/2-Mile Walk – will receive $7,500 to support their food pantry for residents in the local Roxbury community.
The Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center will also receive $7,500 from the B.A.A. Gives Back program that will be split equally between Heal the Hood and the Roxbury Community College’s food pantry, also known as the “Rox Box”. Heal the Hood brings free groceries, clothes, after school programs, and artistic and cultural events to hundreds of families daily in the neighborhood. The RoxBox Food Pantry provides the wrap around services necessary to ensure their students have the resources and support they need to reach their academic and career goals.
The B.A.A. and ‘The Reggie’ are long time partners with the Roxbury edition of the Neighborhood Fitness Series presented by Boston Children’s Hospital being held there each spring, along with several other events. The B.A.A. entered a multi-year partnership at the end of 2024 advancing athletic programming and opportunities at the Roxbury athletic facility.
These programs are seeing unprecedented demand and, with the holiday season fast approaching, we recognize the growing need to provide staple foods to help nourish and feed families.
Judy Neufeld, Chief Community Officer at the B.A.A. said, “The B.A.A. recognizes the importance of nutrition when it comes to being active. We need to fuel our bodies to give us the energy to stay fit and healthy. Food and an active lifestyle are intertwined so it is important to support two of our partners this holiday season as they work to provide this basic need to those that need it in their local communities.”
You can donate to all these organizations through the following links:
Greater Boston Food Bank
Catholic Charities Boston
Heal the Hood
RoxBox Food Pantry
Dimock Food Pantry (please add Part of the B.A.A. Food Pantry in the form comments)
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Lorna Campbell
lcampbell@baa.org
+1 857 400 1716