McCormack Graduate School Donates to Local Food Pantry

With just five days before Christmas, the place was very busy. Extra staff was on hand to serve the crowds. It was expected to be one of their busiest days of the year.

This is not a story about shopping for gifts at the mall. This is the scene at the Weymouth Council for the Hungry, a food pantry serving families and individuals in Weymouth who need food assistance.

On Tuesday morning, Barbara Graceffa, director of marketing and communications at McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies, drove to her hometown food pantry to make a donation of food and money collected by McCormack alumni and staff at their recent holiday celebration. At the party, a large wicker laundry basket was placed on a table at the entrance to the reception room. Party goers were invited to bring two items of non-perishable food to Friday evening's cocktail party at the University Club downtown. However, most brought a small shopping bag full of items, with many donating five or six items each. That basket was filled more than ten times during the three-hour event.

Graceffa expressed her delight with the outstanding response from the college community.

"At McCormack, our mission goes hand-in-hand with the urban mission of the university; we strive for a more equitable society and have an strong emphasis to serve the underserved. I was grateful to my colleagues and our alumni for their generosity during this food drive."

The Weymouth Food Pantry is located in a former school building at the Immaculate Conception Church in East Weymouth. It is open twice a week and serves the families and individuals of Weymouth, and, on an emergency basis, those from surrounding cities and towns. Pat Adams, director of the Weymouth Food Pantry, told Graceffa that more than 100 volunteers serve 550-600 families each month. 

“Your contributions will go a long way in providing nutritious food," Adams said. "It is because of people like you that we are able to keep our doors open.”  

Graceffa's mother, Barbara Curtin, a volunteer at the pantry for many years, noted, "Even in this tough economy, the community has been so generous to the pantry. It is because of this charitable spirit that we are able to serve so many people who need our help."

As Graceffa drove away from the old brick building where she attended grammar school more than 40 years ago, she had a lot to think about. She remembered her old school uniform, a navy and grey plaid, pleated skirt and white blouse she wore to school each day. But, more importantly, she counted her blessings and was proud to be part of the McCormack Graduate School community which continuously serves local, national, and international communities in need.