Food-A-Thon Over the Years

It all started in 2004…

The Food-A-Thon was started in 2004 with a 12-hour radio-television broadcast by a group of dedicated volunteers. The goal was to raise funds and collect food in support of local food pantries and feeding programs. There was no specific goal, but the event was successful, and was repeated again and again.

In past years, food was collected and delivered

In past years, both financial and food donations were part of the Food-A-Thon event. Non-perishable food was collected at various locations in Orange and Athol, including Hannaford’s Supermarket, Walmart, and Market Basket. Trucks to deliver the food were provided by Pete’s Tire Barns. Other local businesses provided sponsorship for the event.

Volunteers stood in street intersections with pickle jars to gather donations. Schools and civic groups marched their collected food to the downtown Orange parking lot. Who can forget the Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts, and elementary school red wagon parades? All collected food was brought to downtown Orange when the Food-A-Thon ended at 6:00 PM and divided among the food pantries and programs.

2020 brought a new type of Food-A-Thon

With the need to keep everyone safe and practicing proper social distancing, the food collection was suspended, in favor of financial donations only. This year you can enjoy the Food-A-Thon event on AOTV Channel 1301 and Radio Station WVAO 105.9 FM from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Donations are accepted all year long on the website.

Tully CCC (Tully City Council Club, Inc.), served as the fiscal sponsor of the Food-A-Thon in 2020 and 2021. Founded in 1948, the club serves the betterment of the community through scholarships, Thanksgiving baskets, a kids' Halloween party and donations to the Athol and Orange Santa Funds.

Wendell Good Neighbors, Inc. became the fiscal agent in 2022. Wendell Good Neighbors is a 100% volunteer-operated food pantry and information and referral center.

TWO WAYS TO Donate Online

You can continue to contribute throughout the year through PayPal or Venmo. Thank you to our fiscal sponsor, Wendell Good Neighbors, Inc. for making online and mail-in donations possible!

OR MAIL A CHECK

You can continue to contribute throughout the year. Please make checks out to our fiscal agent “Wendell Good Neighbors, Inc.” and write “Food-A-Thon” on the memo line. Checks may be mailed to Wendell Good Neighbors, P.O. Box 222, Wendell, MA 01379.