LYNN — Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Shore Labor Council volunteers have delivered more than 30,000 pounds of food to Lynn residents.
With such an obvious demand, Katie Cohen, North Shore Labor Council executive director, says the program should continue through the fall, with the organization looking to hire a part-time coordinator to keep things running smoothly.
“We’re incredibly proud of the program we built in response to this crisis, and I’m excited to see how it grows under new stewardship,” Cohen said.
The North Shore Labor Council, one of nearly 500 labor councils in the state, focuses on improving equity and quality of life for blue-collar workers. Its food delivery program serves more than 500 families and senior citizens in the greater Lynn area with help from the Essex County Community Foundation and New Lynn Coalition.
The food delivery program started as a partnership with North Shore Juneteenth Association, and with support from My Brother’s Table, the largest soup kitchen on the North Shore.
According to Cohen, the meals program began in March and brought together “local unions and volunteers from community groups to sort, pack, and deliver food to families and seniors who could not access meal sites around the city due to illness or lack of transportation.”
However, food insecurity remains a problem, Cohen said, especially in the face of an anticipated second wave of COVID-19 cases. Deliveries have been temporarily halted, but should start up again in August once the new coordinator is hired.
“With the resurgence of Coronavirus cases, food insecurity is a key area of focus for local foundations and non-profit agencies. The new coordinator will also be working with the Salvation Army’s food distribution program and the city of Lynn’s Food Task Force. Deliveries are expected to begin again in August,” Cohen said.
According to Cohen, the food delivery program started out small, with only four families originally receiving meals, but growing to serving more than 70 recipients after only a few weeks. Cohen said many of the people who use the program have been elderly or have had small children and do not wish to risk going out into public — or receive a free meal at one of Lynn’s schools — due to fears of contracting COVID-19.
Lynn residents who cannot leave their houses and are in need of food can call 781-469-0662 for North Shore Labor Council services.