By Seth Stutman | Photography by Amy Crosby Photography
Published In Longmeadow Neighbors | September 2026

Do you remember what you asked for on your 6th birthday? I’m sure it wasn’t canned food — but that’s exactly what Bassie Baron did, and more than a decade later, she’s still raising awareness, and spreading kindness, one meal at a time.

“On my 5th birthday I received too many presents and I didn't have a need for them,” said teenager Bassie Baron. “I asked my mother what I could do instead in the future. She said that a family friend of ours collected donations in place of gifts at a recent birthday party and asked if I wanted to do the same thing with food and I said ‘yes’.”

Bassie was motivated to collect food for those who struggle with food insecurity. While searching for a partner to drop off her donations, she connected with Rachel’s Table and formed an enduring and flourishing bond.

Meghan Williams, Rachel’s Table’s Volunteer Coordinator, recently told Bassie’s story and how her efforts have evolved over the years.

“Bassie’s commitment to Rachel’s Table goes beyond her annual food drive,” Williams reports. “Bassie is an officer on our Teen Board. In fact, Bassie was the youngest individual to join the Teen Board. She petitioned to join the Teen Board early and was accepted when she was just 10 years old! Since joining the Teen Board, Bassie’s understanding of food insecurity and how it intersects with other issues of health and housing has grown. As a result, Bassie has expanded her annual birthday drive to include kids’ snacks, pet food, diapers, and wipes.”

“As an officer, Bassie would like to see the Teen Board grow and provide education to other youth of the ‘why’ behind the work and teach about how youth can get involved to help community members struggling with food insecurity,” said Williams.

In the past decade, the amount of food raising has increased. In middle school, Bassie added a school-wide Thanksgiving food drive with the encouragement and help of her teacher, Rochel Leah Kosofsky. The administration at her school, LYA (Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy), then encouraged her to train younger students to keep up the food drive after she graduated.

For Bassie’s Bat Mitzvah, she coordinated the packing of school supply kits and created centerpieces of food for donation. Each year Bassie packs several boxes of food based on the year of her birthday (plus one for good luck!). During COVID, Bassie worked some extra jobs to fund the food drive because there was no big birthday party when friends and family would bring donations.

“Volunteerism was a core value in my family and so growing up I watched my mother volunteer with seniors at the nursing home and my father collect donations for people in need,” her mother, Chany said. “It makes me so proud to see Bassie continuing that into her teenage years.”

Volunteerism also brought out the best in Chany’s daughter. “It helped her be more grateful for what she has and more understanding and more empathetic to families that did not have as much as she does,” said Chany.

The totals rise annually. In 2025, between donations from the community and items that she bought with her paycheck, Bassie collected 16 boxes of non-perishables weighing a total of 368.5 lbs. “The ongoing issue of food insecurity is my driving force to keep going,” she says.

Rachel’s Table Executive Director, Jodi Falk, has interacted with thousands of volunteers in her near-decade of work in food insecurity, but sees a rare gem in Bassie.

“Over the years, Rachel’s Table has had the privilege of working alongside thousands of volunteers, but Bassie stands out not only because she began serving at such a young age, but because she has continued to deepen her commitment year after year. What makes her contribution so remarkable isn’t simply where her story began — it’s the way her dedication has grown into a powerful example of community leadership. Along the way, she’s encouraged other young people to get involved, helping make food drives at LYA a lasting tradition and inspiring more youth to become involved in food rescue and food justice.”

Falk notes that Bassie’s volunteerism has grown from that first food drive to a larger portfolio of philanthropy both at Rachel’s Table and beyond. Moreover, Falk has been able to watch Bassie mature at Rachel’s Table.

“Bassie joined Rachel’s Table’s Teen Board at the age of 10, spent her first few years learning as much as she could, and today helps write educational materials and speaks with other young people about how they can make a difference in their own communities. Through her volunteer service and leadership, Bassie has helped advance Rachel’s Table’s mission of rescuing surplus food, reducing food waste, and increasing access to nourishing food throughout Western Massachusetts. Her example is a reminder that meaningful change rarely happens all at once — it grows through consistent acts of compassion, the willingness to keep showing up, and a commitment that encourages others to do the same.”

Bassie has also given of herself to other nonprofits and community agencies — and spreads out her food donations. She has donated and continues to work with Christina’s House, which provides mothers and their children with life skills needed to become self-sufficient as they transition from homelessness, and the Pioneer Valley Dream Center, a nonprofit helping the community utilizing weekly food pantries and monthly clothing closets.

After graduating from LYA, Bassie began high school at New England Jewish Academy in West Hartford where she most enjoys AP Government. While she was once just steps from her primary school, a new school has meant a broader horizon, but also an appreciation for the Longmeadow community.

“I have lived in the Georgetown Complex which is on the border of Springfield and Longmeadow since I was 1,” Bassie says. “The neighborhood is very nice. The community is really close and if someone needs help everyone gets together to help them.”

When she isn’t pursuing her studies, or collecting food, or assisting others, she loves to dance and enjoy time with friends. Bassie also isn’t to be taken lightly after eight years of Taekwondo.

She also enjoys being a member of the Hachai Teen Club, a group consisting of Jewish teens from around New England, where they meet and discuss issues relevant to teens today and then go to Glenmeadow to meet seniors where they enjoy intergenerational experiences doing crafts, games, and learning from their experiences.

More than a decade ago, Bassie Baron began a birthday with a food drive, and now, she still fights the same fight, knowing that food insecurity is a growing concern in our world.

How Can You Help Feed Your Neighbors?

There are lots of ways you can help raise food and funds for neighbors in need!

Give Food

No matter if you are a farmer, restaurant owner, or just someone looking to clean out your pantry, your gifts of food supplies go directly to those in need. Rachel’s Table of Western MA (and other local organizations) work together with partners to locate and distribute food to those in need — and you can help by sharing or organizing a food drive. Important: individuals can only give unopened, unexpired nonperishable food items.

Needed Items

Unexpired non-perishables
Unopened condiments or salvage items
Frozen meat or frozen food
Cooled or room temperature raw produce
Prepared foods that have stayed wrapped (sandwich, salads)
Room-temp products — unopened (bread, rolls, buns, rice, pasta)

Disallowed Items

Homemade or non-packaged foods
Food that is damaged, open, or expired
Food with missing labels or unclear ingredients
Items that have been opened and served

Packaging Requirements

Foods should be in original packaging or sealed containers
If repacking is necessary, use clean, food-safe materials and clearly label contents, expiry dates, and allergen information

Give Time and Funds

It’s not just financial gifts — you can give your time to local food banks. Volunteering is a powerful way to combat food insecurity and directly support your community. By dedicating just a few hours of your time, you can make a tangible difference and help ensure that everyone has access to nourishing meals.

Drivers — Volunteers can utilize personal vehicles to pick up food from local donors and deliver to partner agencies.
Dispatchers — Volunteers manage and oversee drivers, food pickups, and deliveries.
Gleaning — Volunteers enjoy field harvesting at local farms and/or delivering produce to local communities.
Gardeners — Grow food in our gardens or yours to help provide essential nutrients.
Teen Boards — Teens in grades 7–12 can experience peer leadership, community service, education, and advocacy.
Host a Food Drive — Organize a food drive in your community or organization.

All About Rachel’s Table: Your Local Food Bank

You might not know it — but your neighbors are hungry and they need your help. More than half of households in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties face food insecurity. These figures have risen sharply in recent years — the need for nourishment is growing.

Since 1992, Rachel’s Table of Western MA, originally a program of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts and now an independent nonprofit, has been fighting food insecurity in Longmeadow and beyond — and you can join the fight!

With 500 volunteers overall, six days per week, more than 200 volunteers collect food from local supermarkets, restaurants, caterers, and bakeries, and deliver to more than 70 local organizations including food pantries, community meal programs, after-school centers, shelters, and more.

It’s more than just collecting and distributing food — at Rachel’s Table, they also help locate and redistribute food directly from the ground. Over 250 volunteers glean (harvest) at local farms, or aid others to grow their own as part of their Growing Gardens program. Gleaning is a fun, interactive way to get your hands on the earth, collaborate with local farms, and enhance food security networks.

In other words, Rachel’s Table of Western Massachusetts — there is a separate Rachel’s Table in Worcester, too — is an answer to the question, “What can I do to help?” Everyone can be a part of the solution to local hunger.

2025 Food Facts

988,730 pounds of food distributed
823,941 meals provided by the aforementioned food
116,941 pounds of food gleaned (up 134% from 2024)
178 agencies and networks that receive RTWM’s food
11 gardens planned, planted, and harvested by those who are most affected by food insecurity