WHAT:
The 2nd Annual Light & Love Community Food Drive in honor of MLK Day will happen on Monday, January 19, 2026! Donations from across the area will help stock the Amherst Survival Center’s food pantry and support food distribution to our community. We call it the Light & Love Community Food Drive because it is inspired by Dr. King’s words: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
This food drive will stock the shelves in the Amherst Survival Center’s food pantry, support food distribution to our neighbors, and srtengthen our connection to each other, demonstrate our commitment to support one another, express our shared purpose, and manifest Dr. King’s words.
We’re hoping various organizations may host drives for their members, and deliver the food to the Center on MLK Day from 10am-1pm. Individuals are also more than welcome to participate and deliver their own donations.
We are thrilled that this year, Representative Aaron Saunders (D-Belchertown) will be leading a Belchertown “feeder” (!) drive the day before on Sunday, January 18 from 10am-2pm at the Belchertown Town Hall parking lot. Belchertown is one of the 13 towns served by the Amherst Survival Center food pantry.
See information below on how you can participate in the 2026 Love and Light Food Drive individually or with your organization.
Organizations – including houses of worship, small business, medical offices, schools, etc. – will consider joining in the fun by: 1) promoting it with their participants, 2) setting up a food collection bin in their location and letting people know to bring food donations to the bin over the next several weeks, 3) collecting food now thru Jan 19, and 4) having a volunteer deliver the donations to the Center on January 19th.
REMINDER: 3rd Hampshire residents (Amherst and Granby) are eligible to use the food pantry at the Amherst Survival Center.
WHEN:
Monday, January 19, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
WHERE:
You can set up a local food collection site in your workplace, house of worship, neighborhood, book club, or just participate as an individual or family.
Donations will also be able to be brought to the Amherst Survival Center at 138 Sunderland Road in North Amherst on Monday, January 19
HELP US PROMOTE THE DRIVE AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION
- Download this flyer about the food drive and post it in your neighborhood
- Share information on the drive on your social media
HOW CAN YOU JOIN?
You can join the drive as an individual, a member of a group, a workplace, a team.
As an individual, you can ….
- Donate food and deliver it to the Center on January 19th
- Donate funds to the Center so they can purchase food.
- Recruit your neighbors to donate to the drive, and deliver their food to the Center on January 19.
- Recruit you co-workers and set up a food collection bin at work. Bring your workplace donations to the Center on January 19 between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.
- Recruit your organization, your book club, knitting club, and/or your friends to participate and deliver their food donations to the Center on January 19 between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm.
- Share your participation on social media, let your friends know!
WHAT SHOULD YOU DONATE?
Please donate only non-perishable food that has not expired.
Glass containers are discouraged.
Currently, the most needed items in the food pantry are:
Needed Food:
- peanut butter
- pasta and pasta sauce
- cereal
- soups
- oatmeal
- canned tuna / canned chicken
Needed Personal Care Items:
- menstrual pads
- toilet paper
- children’s diapers (sizes 5 and 6 in big demand)
Questions? E-mail mindyforma@gmail.com
Stay tuned for updates on participating organizations!