Thrive
PNH’s Mission Continues: Combating Food Insecurity
byJenniferCesaitis
ProjectNewHope,Inc.(PNH)hasbegunexpandingfoodaccessforVeterans,Military personnel,andtheirFamilies.AlongwithSully’sFoodandBabyPantryinWorcesterand Westfield,PNHhashelpedtheLeedsVAreceivefoodfromtheFoodBankofWestern MassachusettstohelpgiveVeteransbetteraccesstofood.PNHalsohostsitsMobile Farmer’sMarketattheWorcesterBelmontClinictwiceamonthandattheLeedsVApantry.
FoodinsecurityremainsacriticalissueforU.S.Veterans,affectingtheiroverallhealthand well-being.Asof2024,theaverageAmericanhouseholdspendsapproximately$270 weeklyongroceries,whichtranslatestojustover$1,000monthly.Forlargerfamilies,the expensesarehigher.Thiscostisconsideredsignificantandevenamajorfinancialburden, especiallyforlower-incomefamilieswhoarelivingpaychecktopaycheck.Evenwithproper budgetingandlower-costoptions,risingfoodpricesduetoinflationoftenstretchthe budgetsofourVeteransverythin.
Recentreportsshowthat1in9working-ageVeteransstrugglewithfoodinsecurity,and Veteransare7.4%morelikelytoexperiencehungercomparedtonon-veterans(Feeding America)(RANDPolicyAnalysis)Disparitiesareevenmorepronouncedamongcertain groups,includingVeteransofIraqandAfghanistan(27%)andwomenVeterans(28%) (DAV).Alarmingly,nearly60%ofeligibleVeteransdonotreceivebenefitsfromprograms liketheSupplementalNutritionAssistanceProgramorSNAP(DAV).InCentralandWestern Massachusetts,PNHplaysacrucialroleinaddressingthesegapsbyprovidingessential foodaccessandsupporttoVeterans,Military,andtheirFamilies.
PartnershipwiththeLeedsVA:ExpandingFoodAccess
SinceJune2022,theLeedsVAfoodpantryhasservedasavitalresourceforlocalVeterans, providingfoodtoapproximately60-80Veteranseachweek.Recognizingtheincreasing demand,PNHpartneredwithLeeds,VA,andsecuredfoodfromtheFoodBankofWestern MassachusettsinAugust2023,significantlyimprovingthepantry’sabilitytoofferdiverse foodoptions.ChristopherFrappierfromtheLeedsVAstates,"Thesponsorshipallowsusto servemoreVeteranswithmorefoodandfoodoptions"Thispartnershipensuresthatthe pantrycancontinuetomeettherisingneedsofVeterans,particularlyaseconomic conditionsforcemoreVeteranstoseekhelp.
Thrive withProjectNewHope
PNH’s Mission Continues: Combating Food Insecurity (continued)
Foodinsecurityoftenleadstopoorerhealthoutcomes,especiallyforVeteransmanaging chronicconditionslikediabetesordepression(RAND)(DAV).Byofferingfresh,nutritiousfood, theLeedsVApantryaddresseshungerandcontributestobetterhealthandqualityoflifefor Veterans.FrappierremindedusofaquoteattributedtoHippocrates,consideredthe“Father ofMedicine.”“Letfoodbethymedicineandmedicinebethyfood”profoundlyencapsulates themissionoftheVAandPNHintheseendeavors.Frappierexplainshowprovidingaccessto propernutrition“empowersVeteranstotakecontroloftheirlivesandwholehealthby followingrecommendationsfromdoctorsandincludinghealthierfoodoptions.”
MobileFarmer’sMarket:BringingFreshProducetoVeterans
Inadditiontoitsfoodpantryservices,ProjectNewHopeintroducedaMobileFarmer’sMarket, whichbringsfreshproducedirectlytoVeterans.Heldonthe1stand3rdFridayofeverymonth attheWorcesterBelmontClinic,locatedat403BelmontStreet,Worcester,MA,themarket provideshealthyfoodoptionsthatareotherwiseinaccessibletomanyVeterans.
TheMobileFarmer’sMarketservesnotonlyasasourceofnutritiousfoodbutalsoasa gatheringpointwhereVeteranscanconnectwiththeirpeersandwithcommunityresources. Thissocialaspectisvital,especiallyasmanyVeteransfaceisolationandloneliness factors thatcontributetohighersuiciderates.Byprovidingsustenanceandasenseofcommunity, ProjectNewHopehelpsVeteranscombatthesechallengesandlivehealthier,more connectedlives.Frappierstatesthat“Veteranscominginforappointmentsaswellasthose pickingupfood,canconnectwitharobustcommunityandresourcesoutsideoftheVA.”This helpscombattheisolationandlonelinessthatfollowedCovid-19restrictions.Veteranslearn aboutPNH’sretreats,ConnectingtheDotsservices,andthevariousholistichealthprograms forVeteransintheircommunities.ThissecondarybenefitsupportsthemissionofboththeVA andPNH.
ContinuousSupportNeeded:HowYouCanHelp
BydonatingtoProjectNewHope,individuals,andorganizationscanhelpexpandcritical serviceslikeSully’sVeteransFoodandBabyPantriesandtheMobileFarmer’sMarket.This supportallowsPNHtoofferfoodassistanceandholisticresourceslikeretreats,mentalhealth services,andfamilysupportprogramsthatimproveVeterans'overallqualityoflife.
TodonateorlearnmoreabouthowyoucansupportProjectNewHope,Inc.,visit http://www.projectnewhopema.org.
Brian Wallace Brian Wallace
Thissummer,BrianWallace,adedicated15-year-oldvolunteer,hasbeena tremendoushelpatProjectNewHope.Sinceschoolletout,Brianhasbeenwithus everyday,assistingwithtaskslikebreakingdownboxesandhelpingVeterans carryheavybagstotheircars.Ashereturnstoschool,wewanttoexpressour heartfeltappreciationforhishardworkandpositiveattitude.Brian’scontributions havemadeabigdifference,andhewillbegreatlymissedbyeveryonehereat PNH!
TheCamosseFamilyFoundation's$20,000donationisa significantcontributionthatwillprofoundlyimpactour abilitytoservethemilitarycommunity.Thisgenerous fundingwillbeallocatedtoenhancingourvarious offerings,includingprovidingfreeretreatsdesignedto supportthementalandemotionalwell-beingof VeteransandtheirFamilies,comprehensivecase managementservicestoassistwithnavigatingbenefits andresources,andmaintainingourbabyandfood pantriestoensurethatbasicneedsaremet.
Withthisdonation,ProjectNewHopeInc.cancontinue expandingourreachandimprovingthequalityofour programs,helpingmoreActive-DutyMilitarypersonnel, MilitaryFamilies,andVeteransacrossMassachusettsand NewEngland.WearedeeplygratefultoTheCamosse FamilyFoundationfortheircontinuedpartnershipand support,whichplayacrucialroleinfulfillingourmission toassistthosewhohaveservedourcountry.
HydrateOurHeroes
ProjectNewHopeisonaMissiontosupport CentralMassachusettsFirefighters,Policeand otherfirstRespondersbykeepingthem hydrated.
WewerehonoredyesterdaytoHydrateOur HeroesoftheOxfordFireDepartmentwith Sportsdrinks,Energydrinks,Bottledwater, Sparklingwaterandothervarietiesofdrinks andsnacks.
IfyourDepartmentwouldliketoparticipatein ourHydrateOurHeroesdropusaline. Wantaneasyandfunwaytogetinvolved withus?Attendoneofourupcomingevents andsupportourefforts. www.projectnewhopema.org
Withdeepgratitude,wethankCooper'sHilltopFarmandLilacHedgeFarmfortheir unwaveringsupportofourmission. It'sheartbreakingthatthosewhohaveservedourcountry,includingVeterans, Active-DutyServiceMembers,andtheirFamilies,oftenstrugglewithfoodinsecurity.
AtProjectNewHopeInc.,webelievethatnoonewhohasdedicatedtheirlifeto servingtheUnitedStatesshouldfacetheworryoffeedingtheirfamily.Weare committedtoprovidingassistanceacrossMassachusettstohelpalleviatethis burden.Thankyouforjoiningusinsupportingthosewhohavegivensomuch.
HydrateOurHeroes
WewerehonoredtodaytoHydrateOur HeroesofthePaxtonPoliceDepartment withSportsdrinks,Energydrinks,Bottled water,Sparklingwaterandothervarieties ofdrinks.
Thankyou,KeithLaplante,TomCallahan, andalltheemployeesatKadantInc.of Auburn,MA,foryourgenerousdonationin supportofSully’sVeteran’sFoodPantry. Everydonationwillgodirectlytoward helpingourVeterans.
Thrive withProjectNewH
ProjectNewHopeisoutinthecommunitysupporting theLeicesterSeniorCenterwiththeWorcester CountySheriff'sOfficegrillingupsomedelicious food!Alwaysanhonortogivebacktothe communitythatsupportsus!
WeatProjectNewHopeInc.,andSully’sVeteransFoodPantry,aredeeplygrateful totheAmericanLegionPost204Ridersforyourincrediblegenerosityandsupport. Thismorning,yourvisitandthepresentationofa$7,500.00donationtrulytouched ourhearts.Yourcontributionwillgoalongwayinhelpinguscontinueourmission toserveVeteransandtheirFamilies.Theimpactofyourkindnesswillbefeltby many,andforthat,wecannotthankyouenough. YourdedicationtosupportingfellowVeteransisaninspirationtousall.Together, wearemakingadifferenceinthelivesofthosewhohaveservedourcountry. Thankyouforstandingwithusandforyourunwaveringcommitmenttoourcause.
Today,wewanttogiveabigshoutout toMirandaforherincrediblesupport duringtheValhallaRun,hostedbythe CombatVeteransMotorcycle Association®MAChapter2-1.Your dedicationandcommitmentmakea realdifferenceinthelivesofour VeteransandtheirFamilies.Thankyou forstandingwithusandsupporting thosewhohaveserved. Together,wecancontinuetomakea positiveimpact!
BeautifuldayattheMAVietnamVeteranMemorialatGreenhillParkin Worcester,withsomeamazingVeterans! OurCentralMassWomenVeteranGroupmeetsthe4thSundayofeverymonth. Keepaneyeoutforourfallmeetupflyer!
ProjectNewHopeInc.ispleasedtoshare that75backpacksand50hygienebags havebeendeliveredtoMichelleNelson, MFRMCFTBDeploymentReadiness Coordinator,4thMarineDivision,23rd& 25thMarines,FortDevens,MA01434. Weexpressourheartfeltappreciationto thededicatedMarinesandtheirfamilies fortheirremarkableservicetoour nation.Itisourprivilegetosupportyou.
HydrateOurHeroes
Today,wehadtheprivilegeofdeliveringavarietyofsportsdrinks,energy drinks,bottledwater,sparklingwater,andmoretothehardworkingmembers oftheWorcesterPoliceDepartment.Thesebraveindividualsputtheirliveson thelineeverydaytokeepussafe,andwearehonoredtogivebackinany waywecan.
ThankyoutotheWorcesterPoliceDepartmentandallfirstrespondersfor yourunwaveringcommitmentandservice.Westandwithyou.
Salute our Veterans 10th Annual
MotorcycleRide
ProjectNewHope,Inc.extendsitsdeepestgratitudetoeachofyouforyourunwaveringsupport duringour10thAnnualSaluteOurVeteransMotorcycleRide.Yourgenerouscontributionsmade thiseventaresoundingsuccess,andweacknowledgeyourroleinthisachievementwith immenseappreciation.
WeareparticularlygratefultoKarynandMarkWagnerofWagnerMotorsports,Sonsof BlackwaterMMC,PatriciaBellinifortheNationalAnthem,PeteTowlerforthemusic,Texas RoadhouseWorcesterforthemeal,andCEMLECforensuringeveryone’ssafety.Your contributions,whetherthroughsponsorships,raffleitems,orvariousdonations,werenotjust financialsupport,butacrucialpartofmakingthiseventasuccess.Wewouldalsoliketoextend ourthankstoalloursponsors,whosesupportnotonlymadethiseventpossiblebutalso continuestostrengthenourcommitmenttoservingourActive-DutyMilitary,Veterans,their Families,andourcommunity.
Itwasinspiringtowitnessthesignificantgrowthofourevent,withover200motorcycles participatingthisyear.Thisgrowingnumberofparticipantsisatestamenttothededicationand passionyouallhaveforsupportingourveterans.Together,wehavenotonlycreatedapowerful statementofsolidaritybutalsoasuccessfulmovementthatwecanallbeproudof.Welook forwardtobuildingonthismomentumintheyearstocome,withyourcontinuedsupport.
AspecialthankstoallourvolunteersandriderswhomadeSaturdayasuccess.Yourhardwork andenthusiasmdidnotgounnoticed,andweareincrediblygratefulforyourefforts.
NationalGrid,AttorneysJimandSteveBrady&Associates,PC,TheNetworkInsuranceAgency, Inc,CentralOneFederalCreditUnion,AssabetValleyRegionalTechnicalHighSchool,DejaNew, FidelityBankMA,AndreaCastinetti-Realtor,IUOELocal4,FreedomRiders,VernonHillAmerican LegionRidersPost435,ShootersBarPoolHall,TheWieseCompany,CombatVeteransMotorcycle AssociationMA2-1,AmericanLegionRiders,Post138-Spencer,MA,WalmartWorcester,Sonsof BlackwaterMilitaryMotorcyleClubNewEngland,BlackDiamondConstruction,MillburyFederal CreditUnion,DavidLeBoeuf,StateRepresentative,AmericanLegionAuxiliaryChesterP.Tuttle Post279,Julio'sLiquors,Cooper'sHilltopFarm,CouncilorKateToomey,AuburnGraphics,Whitetail Unlimited
ThankYoutoOurSponsorsandDonors!
PlatinumSponsors: NationalGrid VHP435Riders
CVM-MA2-1 SpencerPost138ALR WagnerMotorsports CamosseFoundation
GoldSponsors: AttorneySteveBrady I.U.O.E.Local4
TheWieseCompany BlackDiamond
WhitetailsUnlimited,Inc. FidelityBank BoulevardDiner CamosseFoundation
SilverSponsors: CommitteetoElectDavidLeBoeuf
CentralOneFCU FreedomRiders
ShootersBar WorcesterWalmart
ChesterP.TuttleAux MillburyCU
AmericanLegionRidersPost279
TheNetworkInsuranceAgency,Inc
AssabetValleyMarineCorpsJROTC
AuburnGraphics DEJANew
CouncilorKateToomey Coopers Lilac
Julio’sLiquors CastinettiRealtyGroup
$100Sponsors: IndianMotorcycleRidersGroup CommitteetoElectCandyMeroCarlson RaffleDonations:
Amazon RedemptionRock
TheMill IHop
PriceChopper TheWooBarandGrill Nuovo Volturno’s VitoriaMeatMarket
StopandShop CoutureNails GreatCutsinShrewsbury
PiercingEmporium
NothinBundtCakes
ClayTime RobRoy Boynton Nuovo
D’Iorios FunkyMurphy’s Pinecroft PolarPark
MarathonSports
TraderJoe’s GreatCuts
YourcommitmenttoProjectNewHopeInc.istrulyappreciated,andtogether,weare makingarealdifference.Thankyouonceagainforyourcontinuedsupport.
Thrive
thAnnua
Wewanttoextendoursinceregratitudetoeveryo Charlton,MA,forour7thAnnualBirdiesforVetsGo haveonceagainmadethiseventatremendouss
2024Winners
FirstPlace:TomBrown,DonnieDoveek,KyleNasifandNickTenagliawithafinalscoreof(-16)
SecondPlace:WorcesterElkTeam#3withafinalscoreof(-15)
ThirdPlace:JamieCiceroTeamwithafinalscoreof(-13)
LastPlace:JamesDenny,RyanKennedy,BarretGuirguisandNickDicesarewithafinalscoreof(+6) ClosetstothePins:PeterSlota-9'5" LongestDrive:Men's~BillHavalottiWomens~MarieVogel ClosesttotheLine:MatthewCrawford-"OntheLine"
AHeartfeltThankstoOur2024Sponsors
Weare ' f
Tourna nsare instrum who next
ASpecialThanks
Toallthevolunteersandgolferswhohelpedmaketodaypossible thankyouforyour dedicationandhardwork!
0): Trucks
MassachusettsVeteransofForeignWars(VFW)
GoldHoleSponsors($500): CornerstoneBank CrosbyMarket
Ernie'sAutoWash RMPrecision
SilverHoleSponsors($250): NationalGrid RemodelWerks 2KApparel
A-1RealtyofCentralMA CentralOneFCU AFGELocal0222,FederalBureauofPrisons
CarlosORamosRivera(Ret) CountryBank NetworkInsurance Kevin'sAutomotive,WestBoylston NicholsCollege,GraduateStudies PiUpsilonPi PolarBeverages
St.Mary'sCreditUnion WiseSnacks WorcesterBravehearts
Hole-in-OneSponsorships: KarynWagnerofWagnerMotors PriceChopper Snack&BeverageDonations: Coca-Cola Monster ZenWater Nestle(EssentiaWater) PolarBeverages
SuperCoffee NothingBundtCakes TableTalkPies,Worcester BigelowFamilyTea WiseSnacks(DeepRiverChips)
VeteranSponsorships: BarnstormMotorcycles,Jeeps,andTrucks CrosbyMarket CentralOneFCUandHuman $100Sponsorships: Jim'sBarberShop Steve'sPizza LouRoc'sDiner MariaSmith,Realtor T.J.LovatoInsuranceCompany "NicholasSciasciaBenefitFund"Forever33.org ThankYouBagsandItemSponsors: BigelowFamilyTea TableTalkPies,Worcester DeepRiverSnacks TexasRoadhouse,Worcester RaffleDonations: BostonRedSox BudweiserFoundation ColonialCandies DavisFarmland Ernie'sCarWash EssentiaWater Julio'sLiquor KDPBeverages Market32,Worcester Mulligan'sMini-golf Maggie'sFoodforPets PatriotsFoundation PolarBeverages PriceChopper SwanBoats,Boston TexasRoadhouse,Worcester TowerHillBotanical TheBrick Wegmans WachusettMountain WestBoylstonSeafood Queen'sCups AnneTreadwell
LunchProvidedby: Chick-fil-A,Worcester
FamilyRetreat
OurrecentVeteranFamilyRetreatinConnecticutwasa wonderfulblendofeducation,fun,andcommunity.We areincrediblygratefultoRedCrossvolunteerVanessa VillafaneGregory,whoflewinfromPuertoRicotolead valuableworkshopsforourparents.Picturedwith RetreatHostPatty,Vanessa,andBillMoore,M.A., PresidentofProjectNewHopeInc.,hercontributions madealastingimpact.LoriRiversalsoreturnedwith herPNHTribetoshareherpopularworkshoponGutBrainHealth,guidingparticipantsthroughtheprofound connectionbetweenmindandbody.
Ourretreatwasfilledwithunforgettablemomentsof joyandconnection.FromthefunofCandyBingotoa familymovienightfeaturing*Sing2* completewith drinks,popcorn,andcandy therewasnoshortageof entertainment.Ahighlightformanywastheicecream sundaepartyhostedbyouramazingOperations Manager,Debbie,wherelaughterfilledtheroomas everyoneindulgedintheircustomcreations.
Onthefinalevening,wegatheredaroundthecampfire tosharestoriesandmakes’mores,enjoyingthe warmthoffriendshipunderthestars.Theretreatended withabeautifullightshow,bringingamagicalcloseto anincredibleweek.Aswesayourgoodbyes,wewant toexpressourdeepestgratitudetoourMilitary, Veterans,andtheirFamiliesformakingthisretreatso special.Yourcourage,camaraderie,andpresence havetouchedusall.Safetravels,anduntilwemeet again!
