Ayer Area Rotary Club Donates $1,000 to Lunenburg Community Food Pantry Capital Campaign
 

 

The Ayer Area Rotary Club has donated $1,000 to the capital campaign of the Lunenburg Community Food Pantry (LCFP), supporting the organization’s urgent need to relocate and continue providing food assistance without interruption.

 

The Lunenburg Community Food Pantry has operated at the TC Passios building since 2021. The Town of Lunenburg plans to vacate and decommission the aging building, citing deterioration, safety concerns including asbestos risks, and high operating costs. The pantry needs about 3,500 square feet of space for storage, refrigeration, freezers, shelving, and distribution.

 

It currently serves an average of more than 400 households and approximately 1,000 individuals monthly. Volunteers collect about 3,000 pounds of food each week from the Worcester County Food Bank, supplemented by regular Hannaford donations and community food drives. The all-volunteer organization, with about 45 volunteers contributing about 120 hours weekly, provides nutritious food in an atmosphere of kindness and respect, by appointment, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30–7:00 p.m. and Sundays from 9:00–11:00 a.m.

 

LCFP has launched a capital campaign to fund a temporary modular facility at 30 School Street. Fundraising goals include $137,000 for site preparation and installation, targeting operational readiness by December 1, 2026. LCFP will also pursue  permanent home by raising $1.2 million by 2030. More information is available at lunenburgfoodpantry.org.

The $1,000 gift from the Ayer Area Rotary Club advances this transition. Guided by Rotary International’s motto “Service Above Self,” the club supports local causes including food security, youth programs, scholarships, and aid to families in need. Net proceeds from its signature annual Ducky Wucky River Race, a rubber-duck race on the Nashua River in Harvard offering a grand prize of dinner for two anywhere in the world, directly fund such community efforts. The Lunenburg Community Food Pantry regularly sells tickets for the race, and retains a portion of the ticket sales.

 

“Supporting neighbors facing food insecurity is at the heart of what Rotary does,” said Bryan Sawyer, President of the Ayer Area Rotary Club. “The Lunenburg Community Food Pantry is a vital resource for hundreds of local families each month. This donation helps them secure a new home so they can keep providing food with dignity, and we are proud to stand with them as they navigate this transition.”

 

“We are deeply grateful to the Ayer Area Rotary Club for this generous support of our capital campaign,” said Nancy Beach, President of the Lunenburg Community Food Pantry. “Relocating while continuing to serve more than 1,000 people each month is a major challenge. This gift helps us move forward and ensures our neighbors in need will not face interruptions in food assistance.”

 

The Lunenburg Community Food Pantry is open to all Lunenburg residents. Those needing assistance can register or schedule an appointment at lunenburgfoodpantry.org or call 978-660-8074. Donations to the capital campaign or general operations may be made via the website, Venmo, PayPal, or check to LCFP, PO Box 316, Lunenburg, MA 01462.

 

The Ayer Area Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, a global network of neighbors, friends, and community leaders who unite to act and create lasting change. The club meets Thursdays at 6 p.m. at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley and focuses on local service projects, youth leadership, scholarships, and international efforts under the motto “Service Above Self.” Previously the Ayer Rotary Club, it welcomed members of the Groton-Pepperell Rotary Club under a new name and expanded service area that includes Ayer, Harvard, Shirley, Devens, Groton and Pepperell. Learn more at ayerrotary.com.

 

The Lunenburg Community Food Pantry, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission is to provide nutritious food items in an atmosphere of kindness and respect to individuals and families of Lunenburg, Massachusetts, who request assistance. It is supported by the Lunenburg Turkey Hill Family Lions Club and relies entirely on volunteers and community donations.