ATHOL- Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) joined members of Athol-Orange Community Television on Tuesday, May 18th, for the virtual North Quabbin Food-A-Thon to raise funds for food pantries and meal programs in the North Quabbin Area. Now in its 18th year, the event dedicates money to the Orange Food Pantry and the Orange community meal (both parts of the Franklin County Community Meals Program), Our Lady Immaculate Pantry in Athol, the Salvation Army Pantry and meal program in Athol, St. Vincent DePaul Pantry of St. Mary's Church in Orange and the Good Neighbors Pantry in Wendell.

Gobi, co-chair of the Massachusetts Food Systems Caucus and an ardent champion of food security issues in the legislature, had this to say on the group's effort Tuesday, "I am so grateful for the efforts undertaken to put on this event and raise dedicated funding for organizations in need. The pandemic exposed a lot of issues in our food supply chain, and we need to continue to support groups that are able to target and reach families directly."

Last year's Food-A-Thon was the first to be held virtually, raising $42,500 for the local food programs, a number that organizers hope to match or surpass this year. Interested parties may donate by mailing a check with "Food-A-Thon" written on the memo line to the North Quabbin Food-A-Thon's nonprofit financial agent, Tully City Council Club Inc., at P.O. Box 484, Orange, MA 01364, or by going online to NQFoodathon.com. The group is accepting PayPal and Venmo as well to facilitate an easier transaction.