Cat People
Cat People : Ruth Critcher, Tracy Grammer, Laura Sylvester.
Ruth, Laura, and I have been walking the woods together for months. Nature has been our refuge, especially during the pandemic. We go to the woods for comfort, to reset our souls, to get a little perspective, and often while we wander, we talk about our cats -- their health, their antics, their loveliness, and how we wish they could live forever. Between us, we have had at least 35 feline friends. We are, most definitely, cat people.
When the opportunity came up to combine our love of hiking with a fundraiser to help our neighbors achieve food security, well -- it was an easy decision to get involved. And based on our shared love of kitties, the team named itself.
Our November hikes support the Amherst Survival Center's campaign to alleviate hunger in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. And while the cats love the great outdoors as much as we do, they won't be hiking with us — though we wish they could.
We appreciate your support -- on behalf of our neighbors, and the pets who keep them sane and engaged and whole. They need to eat, too.
Thank you. <3
TG obo Cat People
Hike for Hunger Virtual Challenge
Join the Amherst Survival Center for our first virtual Hike for Hunger Challenge! During this time of social distancing, the Hike for Hunger presents an opportunity for you to be outside and active while making sure our community has access to nutritious food. Set your personal goal, and throughout the month of November, head out on the trails wherever and whenever you’d like – with your kids, your friends, or your furry friends – and share your adventures with us.
Your entry fee and all the funds you raise will go directly to our COVID-19 Hunger Response Fund, making sure everyone in our community has access to the food they need for their families. Since March, we have more than doubled the number of meals we serve, now up to 250 lunches each day. We have increased Food Pantry allocations and launched a new grocery delivery program that has grown to almost 1,000 people per month.As we know, the pandemic and its economic fallout are far from over. With your support, we will continue to grow our programs to meet the need in our community.
Amherst Survival Center
Founded in 1976, the Amherst Survival Center addresses social determinants of health in Western Massachusetts through a community center that helps area residents meet their basic needs. We are the only organization of its kind locally to provide free meals, free groceries, free clothing and housewares, a free walk-in medical clinic, access to community resources, community activities, and specialized services for individuals experiencing homelessness, all under one roof.
Pre-Covid, we served 6,000+ people annually in about 48,000 visits. Since 2020, the Amherst Survival Center has more than tripled our daily meal service and doubled the amount of food provided by our food pantry, distributed via onsite shopping, curbside pickup, and delivery. In the last year, we provided more than 1,000,000 meals—prepared and groceries—to close to 7,000 people.
For more information, visit www.amherstsurvival.org