Election Day Food Drive on Tuesday, March 27

ELECTION DAY FOOD DRIVE IN AMHERST

TUESDAY, MARCH 27

7am to 7pm at your polling place

Food Drive Barrels will be located at polling places for your donations of canned goods and personal care items

Most Wanted Items in the Food Pantry: https://amherstsurvival.org/mostwanted/

Thank You!

80's MUSICAL BINGO NITE! A Benefit for the Amherst Survival Center on January 18

80's MUSICAL BINGO NITE! A Benefit for the Amherst Survival Center

Thursday, January 18, 5:30-8:30pm at the High Horse (upstairs), 24 N. Pleasant Street in downtown Amherst!

Come and enjoy the music of the 80's -- Prince, the Go-Gos, Michael Jackson,  Pat Benatar, Whitney Houston, and more... and play bingo! Instead of numbers, we'll be listening to the best songs of the decade. Tickets are $20 per person for four rounds of Bingo! Tickets sold in advance online: www.amherstsurvival.org/bingo or at AJ Hastings, the Center, or the High Horse. Limited number of tickets will be sold at the door.

80's attire and hair style are optional. Prizes will be given for each round of Bingo, best 80's attire, best 80's hair and 80's trivia knowledge. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit the Amherst Survival Center's programs. 

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/927180104103550/

Giving Tuesday is November 28 - So Many Ways to Give

#GivingTuesday is a global giving movement that has been built by individuals, families, organizations, businesses and communities in all 50 states and in countries around the world. Millions of people come together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live.

Random acts of kindness are a great way to teach young children about giving and supporting each other. Helping a neighbor with yard work or donating clothes and books are easy ways to get kids involved. The Fort River Student Council is currently organizing a toy and necessities drive for victims of Hurricane Maria. The Amherst Survival Center and local religious groups have ongoing opportunities to donate or volunteer locally. The Amherst Education Foundation provides grants to ARPS teachers allowing students to tangibly see their families' donations at work.

The Fort River PGO also depends on generous giving from our community so that we can continue to support the work of our incredible teachers and staff. The Annual Fund needs to cover about 30% of the annual budget. Please consider joining the Fort River community on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 by including the PGO in your end-of-year giving. If you are able to help, please click here to donate using PayPal or send a check into the Main Office made out to "Fort River PGO." Thanks!

ARHS Women’s Rights Club Feminine Hygiene Products Drive

Important message from the ARHS Women’s Rights Club:

The ARHS Women’s Rights Club is running a TAMPON AND PAD drive all month! All donations will benefit the Amherst Survival Center so that hygiene products can be available to all that need it!

Look for the signs and boxes located at the school to donate what you can.

Donations should be in sealed boxes or packages. Drive will be up until the end of the month. Donations are also accepted year round at the Amherst Survival Center. We hope that this drive will bring more awareness to a natural part of human experience as well as an important public health need.

Feed the Spirit: A Celebration for the Amherst Survival Center on November 4

Saturday, November 4, 2017, 5:00-9:00 PM at the Montague Retreat Center

Tickets are now on sale for Feed the Spirit, the Amherst Survival Center’s fall celebration benefiting our basic needs programs!

Why attend Feed the Spirit?

With a spectacular aerial and acrobatic performance by the Vermont-based troupe, Nimble Arts, delicious food, and a Fund-A-Need auction, Feed the Spirit is sure to be a fun night! 

Join us and help raise critical funding for our programs that will help 200 of your neighbors tomorrow and over 6,000 in the course of a year.

Looking forward to seeing you on November 4th. Get your tickets here.

https://amherstsurvival.org/feedthespirit-register/

Job Fair at Amherst Survival Center on October 25

The Amherst Survival Center holds a Job Search Assistance Program on Thursdays from 11:30 am -1:00 pm.  No appointment is needed. Spanish speaking staff are available.

As part of the Jobs Program the Survival Center will be hosting a Jobs Fair on Wednesday, October 25 between 1 pm and 2:30 pm at the Center. The fair will feature 13 local employers who are actively hiring.

The Amherst Survival Center is located at 138 Sunderland Road, North Amherst on the #33 Bus Route.  For further information, contact Tracey Levy at 549-3968 ext. 102
or jobassistanceservice@amherstsurvival.org.

The Job Search Assistance Program offers the following:

• Weekly One-On-One Assistance: Are you a job seeker? We can help you with
  your job search, your resume, review interview skills, complete job applications, find apprenticeships and other support you may need to get a job.
• Job Fairs and Recruitment Events: Come and meet local employers who are hiring! We host events that give you a chance to meet different employers or offer you a time to meet with a placement agency for positions in various industries.
• Youth Job Panel: Are you a teenager looking to work in the summer? We host a panel discussion every spring to help teens with their summer job search, and give tips on how to find a job in the area.
• Public Computers and Technology: Come and use the Center’s computers, copy machine, and fax to help your job search.
• Group Workshops: We run group workshops to help with resume writing, networking, interviewing, social media, navigating the online application process, and following-up after an interview.
• Interview and Work Clothing: Everyone is always welcome to shop in the Center’s Community Store, which includes clothes, linens and household items. Interview, work clothing and shoes are often available. Everything in the Store is free.

ASC-Job-Search-Assistance-Brochure

Job Panel for Teens on May 25 at Amherst Survival Center

JOB PANEL FOR TEENS (ages 15-21 years)

TO BE HELD AT THE AMHERST SURVIVAL CENTER

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017, 5:30PM-6:30PM

For Release:               Immediate

Contact:                      Tracey Levy, Program Director 549-3968 ext 102

Amherst, MA – In collaboration with the Amherst Regional Public Schools Vocational Services and the Collaborative for Educational Services, the Amherst Survival Center will sponsor a Job Panel for Teens on Thursday, May 25 from 5:30-6:30pm. The Job Panel will include employers from the area and a teen who has successfully landed employment. This is part of the Amherst Survival Center’s job search support program, and the third event of its kind for teenagers in the community. 

The panel will include a guest speaker who is a manager at a local store who hires teens and other experts who can share with teens what employers look for when hiring youth and common mistakes to avoid while applying for jobs. The panel will also include a student who has successfully landed and kept a local job. The panel will answer questions and offer helpful hints about how to find a job.

No jobs will be offered at this event, but it is an opportunity to find out information and get support. 

The Amherst Survival Center offers a light dinner on Thursday evenings from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. Participants are welcome to join the center for dinner, and then attend this event.

“The Amherst Survival Center provides a series of programs that support community members to seek and find employment, including a weekly one-on-one service on Thursdays from 11:30am-1pm. All are welcome to use the service, the public computers at the Center, and shop in the Community Store for clothing needed for employment. “This is the third time we’ve organized this event specifically for youth, and we’re excited to be offering this kind of information support for them. There continues to be a need to support teens in this area,” said Tracey Levy, Program Director at the Center. 

The Amherst Survival connects residents of Hampshire and Franklin Counties to food, clothing, healthcare, wellness, and community, primarily through volunteers. There is also a session of its free walk-in health clinic on Thursdays from 4:30-5:30pm.

The Amherst Survival Center is located at 138 Sunderland Road, in North Amherst, on the #33 PVTA bus route.

Stamp Out Hunger in Amherst on May 13

This Saturday, May 13 is the national STAMP OUT HUNGER POST OFFICE FOOD DRIVE, sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers. 

This is a great time to help the Amherst Survival Center’s Food Pantry stock up on needed foods as they prepare to provide groceries to more families during the summer. Please participate and share with your friends and neighbors to let them know of this upcoming opportunity to support our neighbors.

Everyone can participate in 3 easy steps:

1. Join the drive by donating canned food and/or personal care items
2. Place your donation(s) at your mailbox on Saturday, May 13 by 9 am (or before your letter carrier’s normal mail pick up time).
3. Your letter carrier will pick up the donation(s) and they will get to your local food pantry, including the Amherst Survival Center’s pantry!

For more information on this Food Drive and the Amherst Survival Center’s needs click on the following links:

www.amherstsurvival.org/pofd

Press Release

THREATS TO THE SAFETY NET: A Community Conversation with Amherst LWV

LEARN ABOUT THREATS TO THE SAFETY NET: A Community Conversation

in collaboration with the Amherst League of Women Voters

Wednesday, April 5

6:30pm-8pm

at the Amherst Survival Center, 138 Sunderland Road, North Amherst

on the #33 bus

Presenters:

Michael Knapik, Director of Governor Baker’s Western MA Regional Office

Keith Barnicle, Regional Manager for Congressman Jim McGovern

Michelle Geoffroy, Advocacy, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts

Please contact Mindy if you have any questions. Thank you!

Mindy Domb

Executive Director

Amherst Survival Center

P.O. Box 9629, 138 Sunderland Road

North Amherst, MA 01059

tel: 413.549.3968 x107;  fax: 413.549.5860

Website: www.amherstsurvival.org

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram: @AmherstSurvival

Join UMass' Dash & Dine 5K Walk/Run on Saturday, April 8 - proceeds benefit the Amherst Survival Center, registration & info here: www.runumass.com

Election Day Food Drive on March 28

You can donate food to your neighbors when you vote at the Amherst townwide election on Tuesday, March 28th. At polling places throughout the town of Amherst from 7am to 8pm, look for the Amherst Survival Center food drive barrels for this ELECTION DAY FOOD DRIVE.  Participate in local democracy *and* help our neighbors in need, everyone wins! Thank you!

https://www.facebook.com/events/283732728724309/

Amherst Survival Center
138 Sunderland Road, Amherst MA

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @AmherstSurvival

Please join us on March 20, 2017 at EMPTY BOWLS at The Pub in Amherst! 
Buy tickets here.

“Fighting Hunger in our Kitchens and in our Congress” a community conversation at Amherst Survival Center on 10/26

special public event at the Amherst Survival Center on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 6:30PM TO 8:30PM:

“Fighting Hunger in our Kitchens and in our Congress” a community conversation with Leanne Brown, Congressman Jim McGovern, and Monte Belmonte, at the Amherst Survival Center on 138 Sunderland Road in North Amherst!

Join us, free and open to the public!

#ArtContinues Wine & Painting Night on October 5th to Benefit Survival Center

October 5, #ArtContinues Wine & Painting Night, 6:30pm-9pm

An enjoyable evening and a special fundraising event supporting the Amherst Survival Center, with former Fort River art teacher Teri Magner, offering everyone of every ability the chance to paint a masterpiece (Paul Cezanne’s Pears on a Chair!)  

This event is at Bread & Butter in North Amherst.  

Tickets for this evening are $40 with a portion of each ticket to be donated to the Amherst Survival Center. Eat. Drink. Paint. Limited seats, sign up here.

Amherst Survival Center's Community Appreciation Breakfast on September 17

Please join us as we celebrate our 40th anniversary with our grateful appreciation to our community. Center programs are closed that day, but we're opening the Center for a free breakfast from 9am to 11am. Donations of non-perishable food items or personal care items will be gratefully accepted.

Amherst Survival Center Kids School Vacation BOOST Program

February Vacation Kids Boost is happening at the Amherst Survival Center Food Pantry. Families with school-age children will get extra food this month in their monthly groceries.

Folks can sign up for the first time (they need to bring proof of residence for every person in their household, school records are acceptable for kids, drivers license is acceptable for adults), or just make a return visit. The Boost is in effect for the entire month, whenever they come for their groceries (this week, or another).

Families must live in Amherst, Belchertown, Deerfield, Granby, Hadley, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury, South Deerfield, South Hadley, Sunderland, Ware or Whately to qualify for this program.

View flyer: ASC Kids SCHOOL VACATION Boost flyer

February Vacation Break & Kids Boost & Food Program available fromAmherst Survival Center

Do you live in one of the 13 towns our pantry serves (see list below) and have a school-age child (ages 5-17 years) who depends on a meals benefit during the school year? For many children and their families, school vacations mean that the free and reduced price breakfasts and lunches they rely on are not available.

Our Food Pantry’s Kids Boost program provides families with school-age children with extra child-friendly nutritious food (the “boost”) during every month that has a scheduled school vacation  (February, April, June, July, August, December).

QUESTION:      HOW TO REGISTER FOR OUR FOOD PANTRY AND GET THE BOOST? 

ANSWER:          If you live in one of the 13 towns our Food Pantry serves (see list below), come to the pantry during our open hours and bring proof of residence and proof that the school-age children live in your household.  Find out here.

SUMMER BOOST: Families with school-age children will receive extra food per child from the Pantry (the equivalent of nine additional meals), in their June, July and August distributions.

In addition, families can also come to the Amherst Survival Center for food from these Center programs:

• lunch Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from noon-1pm,
• light supper on Thursdays from 5-6pm, and
• get fresh produce from 11am-3pm on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, and from 11am to 7pm on Thursday.

Our Food Pantry serves residents from these towns:

• Amherst
• Belchertown
• Deerfield
• Granby
• Leverett
• Pelham
• Shutesbury
• South Deerfield
• South Hadley
• Sunderland
• Whately
• Ware

Generous financial donations from Amherst Pediatrics, The Rotary Club of Amherst, Berkshire Bank Foundation, and contributions from individuals, supported the Kids SUMMER Boost in 2014. Another donation from C&S Wholesalers supported the Boost during school vacations in February and April 2015.

Food for Fines at the Jones Library & Branches

Amherst, MA – The Jones Library and branches will be offering a “food for fines” amnesty period from January 2 – 31, 2016.    Library patrons who bring a non-perishable, non-expired food donation or make a monetary contribution to the Amherst Survival Center when they return overdue library materials during this time will have the fines on those materials forgiven. 

“This is a great opportunity for patrons with long-overdue library materials to get those items back to the library without having to pay the fines that are accumulating,” says Amy Anaya, Head of Borrower Services at the Jones Library.  It’s important to note that the amnesty applies only to items that are being returned during this time, and not to existing overdue fines on items that have already been returned or for billed or lost items.

Holding a Food for Fines drive is a long-standing annual tradition at the Jones Library.  The food and funds collected will support the work of the Amherst Survival Center, the local service agency that assists many in our community in meeting their basic needs.

For further information about Food for Fines, please contact Amy Anaya at anayaa@joneslibrary.org or 413/259-3132

Amherst Survival Center Summer BOOST and Pantry Programs

During school vacations many students are without breakfast and lunch. In direct response to this need, the Amherst Survival Center offers the BOOST program to all families who may need additional food throughout school vacation. ARPS is very grateful to the ASC for creating many programs to support all families throughout the year.

Please see the attached documents for details! 

BOOST PROGRAM:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-2bHm-1AjRfcy1rNElNQURIczg/edit?usp=docslist_api

AMHERST SURVIVAL CENTER HOURS:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-2bHm-1AjRfQ29WU3czOHZNZ1k/edit?usp=docslist_api

BUS ROUTES/SCHEDULES TO AMHERST SURVIVAL CENTER:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-2bHm-1AjRfT2EzaHBrWHVfSkk/edit?usp=docslist_api