Amherst Survival Center Fills Bowls for 50 Years
By Melissa Karen Sances
Community Corner | Sponsored by Greenfield Savings Bank
Published in Northampton Living | April 2026
Fifty years ago, Amherst resident Jane Holappa asked for help and her community answered. The college-educated mother’s life was upended when her husband, the family’s primary earner, left her to care for young children without financial resources.
Her circle of friends stepped up. One offered to watch her kids. Another shared the winter clothes her boys had grown out of. Soon, Holappa was inspired to start the Amherst Survival Center, a place where neighbors could find help without having to ask for it.
By removing a major barrier to seeking social services—shame—Holappa normalized need and created a space for everyone to share a common humanity. Her example was followed by Evangeline “Vangie” Wescott, who led the organization for 30 years. Today the nonprofit, which offers a food pantry, community meals, fresh food distribution and other support services, is run by Executive Director Carleen Basler.
“Having food is a human right,” she said. “At any given time we could be hit with something that throws us for a loop, which is why we need a little help from our neighbors.”
Empty Bowls
Forty-two million Americans were affected last November during a government shutdown that threatened SNAP funding. Locally, nearly 200,000 people rely on these benefits.
The Amherst Survival Center provides 1.6 million meals annually to 12,000 people. Its biggest fundraiser, Empty Bowls, invites the community to share a meal and raise awareness about food insecurity.
At the April 18 event, attendees enjoy soups served by community leaders and take home handmade bowls. Tickets range from $10 to $50, with proceeds supporting food programs.
Whole Souls
Beyond food, the center provides holistic support—showers, laundry, mail services, and healthcare access.
“It’s not a small thing to be operational for this long,” said Basler. “It takes a full community commitment.”
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