Open Pantry Community Services, Inc.

OPCS was invited to a fun and exciting QUARTER AUCTION at Foster Memorial Church.
Pictured are OPCS Fundraising Committee members holding up those paddles and raising money at Foster for their monthly meal service at our Loaves and Fishes Community Kitchen.

OPCS' Nicole Lussier and Jonathan Holden recently joined the Stuffing the Pantry Committee in celebration of a very successful 14th Annual Run/Walk, held annually on Thanksgiving Day. The 2025 final total was an AMAZING $68,350.
Thank you to the committee and everyone involved in this great event!

https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2025/12/no-one-should-go-hungry-springfields-open-pantry-offers-free-christmas-dinner-to-more-than-500.html?gift=0ce9fa61-ebfb-45e4-a122-db314108bce0

‘No one should go hungry;’ Springfield’s Open Pantry offers free Christmas dinner to more than 500 The Open Pantry Community Services Christmas dinner has been held at the High School of Commerce in Springfield for decades.

UPDATE!! UPDATE!! UPDATE!!

Rock102 is planning to run a repeat
Of their Best Of John O’Brien from vintage Bax & O’Brien broadcasts.
There were some technical issues last weekend, and Steve Nagle told me he’s planning to add even more content.

So it’s
THIS Saturday 12/13!!
6:00am to 10:00am
Rock 102 will air FOUR HOURS of The Best Of Bax and O’Brien!

Again, this won’t be available on the podcast after, but Steve Nagle said if you go to SoundCloud and type in "best of Bax and O'Brien" you'll see a compilation of the playlist.
And, of course, there’s always
OB Negative on the iHeart app.

One more thought:
It’s not lost on me that Rock 102 is benefiting greatly from this intensified interest prompted by the passing of our late beloved friend, when realizing how poorly the company treated him in his departure. I’m not criticizing Mike and Steve. They’re contractual employees just like John was, which gives the company rights to everything he said on their air.
Like you, I’m grateful WAQY is providing this content. Just one more testament to John O’Brien’s talent, humor and skill.
Miss you, Buddy.

www.wwlp.com

Thank you for helping us create a mess at the Open Pantry! #mayflowermarathon #fooddrive

This morning, Rock 102 , MGM Springfield and OPCS came together to celebrate a record-breaking 32nd Annual Mayflower Marathon!

$262,000 in food and monetary donations were collected during the three day event.

Big shout-out to members of the MGM executive team, who volunteered a few hours to help sort some of the non-perishable food items collected last week.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make the Mayflower Marathon a huge success!!

So many folks in Massachusetts have made giving back part of their Thanksgiving traditions. There are tons of incredible organizations around the commonwealth helping to combat food insecurity not just on holidays but year round, like Open Pantry Community Services, Inc. in Springfield.

Spaces like Open Pantry not only feed people, but serve as places of community and connection. Thank you to everyone giving their time and resources today to make a difference in their communities!



Western

All of us at Open Pantry Community Services, Inc would like to CONGRATULATE DAMON PENNA on his acceptance to WEST POINT! Damon has been volunteering at all of the OPCS events since before he could walk. He is a true role model and someone who truly made a difference in others lives.
We wish Damon much success at West Point!
Cheers.

The 2nd Annual Trinity Music Club Youth Extension Concert was held yesterday afternoon.
$1400 and 200 pounds of non perishable food items were collected !!
Thank you to Kara and Jerry Noble for coordinating this year's event.