Florence Bank Donates $50,000 to Northampton Survival Center to Expand Food Access

Florence Bank is pleased to announce that it has pledged $50,000 to the Northampton Survival Center to help expand food access in the community.

The bank’s contribution—alongside a food security infrastructure grant from the state—allowed the Center to purchase an electric van to deliver fresh produce, dairy, bread, and grocery items to clients. The Fresh Van is a mobile food pantry, delivering directly to residents of local low-income, disabled, and senior housing complexes. Residents can choose from weekly offerings of fresh food and interact with friendly volunteers and staff.

“The Fresh Van goes beyond delivering fresh, nutritious food to our neighbors,” said Northampton Survival Center Executive Director Heidi Nortonsmith. “It brings a festive atmosphere and a sense of community right to their doors and allows clients the dignity of choosing their own fresh groceries without having to worry about how to get to the Center.”

Florence Bank President and CEO Matt Garrity visited Tobin Manor in Florence to witness the new delivery van in action.

“The Northampton Survival Center provides critical support to our communities, and we are proud to support the Fresh Van program,” said Garrity. “The new delivery van allows the Center to expand its impact by providing fresh, nutritious food to folks who may not be able to easily visit the Survival Center.”

In addition to delivery and Fresh Van services, the Northampton Survival Center offers outdoor drive-through and curbside pickup options for clients. Their food pantries in Northampton and Goshen distribute over 900,000 pounds of food to more than 4,000 clients throughout Hampshire County.