The Marblehead Food Pantry received more than $2,000 this week in donations thanks to the Flash Food Pantry Drive. This fundraising effort was spearheaded by Town Moderator Jack Attridge, who used his popular social-media presence called “All Marblehead” to spread the word and gather support.
“The food pantry had their own food drive going on,” Attridge said. “And then I just took it upon myself to announce a separate initiative to help that drive by posting on Facebook and Instagram… a little old Marblehead rally call and we raised $2,000 that’s going straight to the food pantry.”
Attridge has been a contributor to the food pantry for more than a decade. He first launched this campaign on Thursday, Aug. 24, after which it took only three days for the quota to be reached. Attridge explained the drive’s name lends to its spontaneity. Despite being abrupt, Attridge was not surprised by the town’s response to the drive.
“Marblehead is always willing to step up when there’s a need identified,” he said. “We happen to be a vehicle to support promoting needs when they arise and it usually ends up with a successful contribution to whatever the need is.”
All transactions were made through the Venmo phone application. Marblehead Food Pantry Director Janet Parker was given the option to receive the funds directly or have Attridge purchase the goods himself.
“I presented the options to Janet,” Attridge said. “She said it would be best if we just forwarded her a check.”
Parker expressed her appreciation for Attridge’s efforts over the years.
“He’s been very helpful for us,” Parker said. “He just got a whole bunch of contacts for us and he’s done food drives for us in the past.”
The Flash Food Pantry Drive may be over, but the Marblehead Food Pantry, located at 80 Atlantic Ave., is always open to assistance.