How Rachel’s Table Impacts Longmeadow and Beyond

By Seth Stutman | Photos by Amy Crosby Photography and Rachel's Table
Published In Northampton Living | May 2026

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. These agencies (including the Food Pantry at Longmeadow’s Adult Center) serve food-insecure community members from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. Women and children, elders, veterans, people with disabilities, unhoused people, immigrants, and refugees comprise a majority of those served.

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:**
Pounds of food distributed
Agencies and networks that receive RTWM’s food.
Gardens planned,
Meals provided by aforementioned food
Pounds of food gleaned (up 134% from 2024)
planted and harvested by those who are most affected by food insecurity

How can you Help Feed your Neighbors?

The values of Rachel’s Table are steeped in Hebrew phrases such as tikkun olam (repair of the world), tzedakah (justice), and the humanistic focus on caring community, informing our work across all faiths, all backgrounds, and all ages.

We create opportunities for communities to help communities. We work towards a holistic approach to food security, together. We deliver with dignity in what and how we serve.

Give Food

No matter if you are a farmer, restaurant owner, or just someone looking to clean out your pantry, your donations 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 donating or organizing a food drive. Important - individuals can only donate 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/bun, rice, pasta)

Contribute

Rachel's Table can utilize their leverage to make contributions stretch further than it could at a local grocery store. In addition, Rachel's Table can showcase businesses with corporate sponsorships. For those who wish to fight for food security in the future, legacy gifts enable Rachel's Table to keep support going for those who need it.

Give Time

It’s not just financial donations - you can donate your TIME to Rachel’s Table.

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.

Items that Cannot Be Donated

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

Volunteer Opportunities
Drivers - Volunteers can utilize personal vehicles to pick up food from local donors and deliver to partner agencies.
Van or Truck Drivers - Using Rachel's Table's refrigerated van or 16’ box truck, teams of 2-3 people 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 Board - Teens in grades 7-12 can experience peer leadership, community service, education, advocacy.
Administrative Work - Rachel’s Table can always use a hand! Office, fundraising and administrative work as needed to support staff, both in-person or remote.
Host a Food Drive - Organize a food drive in your community or organization.
Board or Committee Work - Rachel’s Table groups meet monthly to provide foundational support with governance, fundraising/resource development, finance, and marketing.

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

HOW CHANA LAILA AND HER FAMILY FIGHT FOOD INSECURITY

Longmeadow resident, mother, and advocate Chana Laila joined the Rachel’s Table family in 2023. She wears many hats like Office Manager, Development Associate, and is involved in the ESSENtials program, which provides kosher and culturally appropriate, nutritious food distributions.

“I am truly grateful to work with an organization that is doing so much good for our greater community in Western MA, and to support the organization’s mission to address the immediate hunger crisis, as well as to help build longer-term sustainable solutions to food insecurity in our region,” said Chana Laila.

Longmeadow Neighbors: Why is it so importatnt for Longmeadow Residents to Volunteer with Rachel’s Table?

Chana: “For Longmeadow residents, there’s a meaningful opportunity to step into this work, whether it’s helping to distribute food to partner agencies as a driver, gleaning produce from local farms, tending a community garden, running a food drive, or supporting programs that meet specific community needs.”

Longmeadow Neighbors: How does giving back make your family feel?

Chana: “For my family, volunteering and working with RTWM strengthens our sense of purpose and reinforces the values we want to live by: kindness, generosity, and being actively engaged in building a vibrant, healthy and compassionate community. These experiences are not only impactful, but also deeply educational and help create meaningful connections.

What inspires me most about working with Rachel’s Table is that we are an organization that brings together people from all backgrounds to ensure that everyone in our community has access to nourishing food.”

CHANA: “My husband and my children (as well as some of my closest friends) also volunteer with Rachel’s Table, through helping pack food bags for the essentials program, by joining our Gleaning program to help harvest fresh produce at local farms, and through involvement with the Rachel’s Table Teen Board.”

“Volunteering with Rachel’s Table gives people a tangible way to be part of the solution to hunger right here in our own community. Hunger affects our neighbors and classmates. [Basically half of households] are affected by food insecurity - but at the same time, there is an incredible amount of good food that goes to waste. Rachel’s Table bridges that gap, delivering 987,775 pounds of healthy food in 2025.”

UNDERSTANDING FOOD INSECURITY IN THE PIONEER VALLEY

AN EXPERT’S OPINION:

By Jodi Falk, Executive Director, Rachel’s Table

“The biggest wish of Rachel’s Table of Western MA is not to be needed. Unfortunately, we are needed more than ever. In 2025, according to the Greater Boston Food Bank’s study, Western MA had the highest level of food insecurity. In Hampden County, 54% of households report food insecurity, and that number is 50% in Hampshire and Franklin Counties. The numbers rose between 6-13% in each county.”

“If it weren’t for our work, and that of our partners who distribute or serve food, we would be in a state of emergency. Our work is urgent. Our programs, ranging from serving the immediate need to facilitating long-term sustainable and self-determined solutions, create pathways to food security. Our methodology is simple and profound: volunteers.

Anyone can glean, drive, dispatch, garden or help us in the office and know that you’ve contributed to feeding someone a meal they wouldn’t have had otherwise. When you know the problem, you can be a part of the solution. Our door is open – join us to be a part of the solution.”