CITY LIFE
TABLE HOPPIN’
Clear Path gets help from local restaurants to offer Grab ‘n’ Go meals to veterans BARBARA M. HOULE
rent, you name it.” Clear Path has provided coats, helped with extra school supplies for students, toys for children during the holidays and Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets,” said Jeanne Purcell “Sometimes it’s easier for vets to open up to us if there’s a need.” “Veterans face many challenges,” said Bulger, “and our staff of veterans can follow up and contact other agencies to help out. We’re very grateful that Clear Path had the opportunity to launch Grab n’ Go. It has helped so many service members and veterans.” An added note of good news is that Bulger expects USDA’s Farm to Family program to restart soon. Visit Clear Path’s website for more information and to donate. Volunteer if you have the time. A local chef volunteer said it’s not only rewarding work, but you’ll meet great people along the way. No doubt about it.
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University in Providence, Baking/ Pastry, Culinary and Food Service lear Path for Veterans Management — started Doh! Girl in New England in Devens January, working out of the Worcesoffers a multitude of ter Regional Food Hub. At her first programs responding to pop-up at the food hub at 25 FranCOVID-19 by providing service cis St. at the end of January she sold members and veterans and their out of 24 dozen bagels available families with boxes of non-perin half-dozen variety packs that ishable food supplies and most included cinnamon raisin, plain recently Grab n’ Go meals. and everything bagels. “I couldn’t Food insecurity is a continubelieve it,” said Clark about selling ing issue during COVID-19, said out. “It was so amazing. Donna Bulger of Norfolk, execuClark plans to continue with tive director and vice president Saturday pop-ups, probably two or of Clear Path, a 50 (c)3 with the three a month, she said. The pop-up mission “to build a safe, supportive Dan Purcell, CEO of DC Holdings, Inc., Donna Bulger, director of dates will be posted on Facebook, and respectful place for Veterans.” Clear Path for Veterans New England, Jeanne Purcell, a Clear where you can connect with Clark. Bulger and her husband, Scott For Valentine’s Day, Clark sold a Path volunteer, and Wayne Beauregard, Columbia Tavern owner Bulger, are founders of Clear Path. are pictured at the tavern. $25 gift box (chocolate bagels and Donna Bulger said that in 2020 more) that had to be pre-ordered ASHLEY GREEN with help from the Massachusetts online. Military Support Foundation Clear Center, next to Clear Path for Vet- and said he “couldn’t say no” to his Future plans for Clark include good friend Dan. The program has erans New England, 84 Antietam Path was able to distribute 200 selling her bagels wholesale to local helped his business maintain staff St., Devens. The program is for food boxes to veterans weekrestaurants and businesses. “Maybe during the pandemic, he said. military/veterans and immediate ly. Beginning in October 2020, a food truck later on.” The tavern’s hearty comfort household members. Pre-registrathe nonprofit received a weekly Clark said she would seriously food meals, such as turkey dinner tion is required for both prepackshipment of 1,000 boxes of food think about selling doughnuts in and classic Shepherd’s Pie, are aged perishable food boxes and distributed by the USDA Farm to Bagels to go from Doh! Girl addition to bagels if she owned Grab n’ Go favorites, according to Grab n’ Go meals. Visit www. Family program. “People in the Doh! Girl is the new business a food truck. “There are so many Bulger. “I think we can all agree clearpath.org to sign up. Leomincommunity as well as veterans launched by Robin Clark, former possibilities,” she said. “It’s exciting that comfort food is simple and ster Veterans’ Services also will benefited,” said Bulger. executive pastry chef for Niche and terrifying at the same time.” satisfying, especially in winter pick up food boxes and meals for Last month, Bulger’s brother, Hospitality Group in Worcester and A former contestant on Food months,” she said. Dan Purcell, president and CEO of veterans unable to get to Devens, former chef de cuisine at deadhorse Network’s TV competitive cooking Note: Diners can visit Facebook hill restaurant in Worcester. said Bulger. DC Holdings LLC in Leominster show “Chopped,” Clark also wowed for Columbia Tavern’s hours and For his part, Purcell is “ecstatic” with co-founder Chris Stearns, Clark’s decision to go out on judges at the 2018 Worcester’s specials. The business usually opens her own is something she had stepped in to help Clear Path after about the success of Grab n’ Go. Best Chef competition, winning learning that USDA’s program had People in the community and busi- at 4 p.m. weekdays and offers lunch considered for a long time. When the Judges’ Choice Award, which nesses have been “super “generous and dinner on weekends. “Hours ended in December. she lost her position at Niche as a brought her to center stage for in support and donations, he said. will change with state COVID-19 Purcell’s suggestion that Clear result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the final round of competition. As “I’m just happy our company could regulations,” said Beauregard. Path offer Grab n’ Go meals to she said, she couldn’t shake the a judge at the event I can attest Happy Jacks, a Mexican restau- idea of starting her own business. help,” said Purcell. “We know many veterans was just the beginning. Clark’s a tough competitor and rant in Leominster; Evviva Trattoria “I was sitting around at home and He said his company would match of the people who really benefit amazing chef, whether she’s baking in Maynard and Apex Marlboro are thinking about what I was going to or cooking. from this program and a lot of $10,000 in donations made to the among other Grab n’ Go program them are the elderly.” nonprofit. And, it happened. do,” said Clark in a recent telephone Tidbit about Clark’s bagels: She participants. Interested restaurants interview. “I got to the point of Leominster residents, Purcell Donations and DC Holdings gets flour from a Hadley business match helped “big time,” according and his wife, Jeanne Purcell, volun- and businesses can contact Bulger telling myself, ‘OK, you can do this.’ that mills it to order. The flour to Bulger, who said Clear Path cur- teer regularly at Clear Path’s events at Clear Path for more information. I’ve got a good reputation as a chef makes a world of difference in her Purcell and his wife are among and programs. Purcell personally rently purchases $10 meals from in the city and great support. I’m bagels, “making them so good,” she Clear Path’s many volunteers. local participating restaurants and reached out to local restaurants, turning 31 and ready to go for it. said. Jeanne Purcell works beside veterincluding Columbia Tavern, 28 provides 250 of the meals weekly. If I were to continue to work 60 Keep an eye out for Doh! Girl’s ans from Clear Path at the weekly Veterans look forward to the meals Manning St., Leominster, to help hours or more in a week I decided it next pop-up! start Grab n’ Go. He continues his food box and meal distribution and the food portions are more would be for myself,” said Clark. “It site. “I love talking to the people,” search for more local restaurant than generous, she said. was the time to make a move and If you have a tidbit for the said Purcell. “It’s not only about the make it happen.” participation. The Grab n’ Go program takes column, call (508) 868-5282. Send Wayne Beauregard has owned food, but also learning what the place from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursdays Clark — who received three email to bhoulefood@gmail.com. vets may need. Heating, housing, Columbia Tavern for seven years outside Devens Empowerment degrees from Johnson & Wales
