Letter to the Editor & Contact Information
To the Editor:
Did you know that every day in
western Massachusetts, one in ten
community members grapples with hunger or chronic food insecurity?
Nearly half of all people needing emergency food report having to
choose between paying for food and paying for utilities, or
between paying for food and paying their rent, mortgage, or
medical care. One-third of adults seeking food assistance have at
least a high school diploma, and 36% of
hungry households have at least one working adult.
In our region, more than 100,000 people seek food
assistance annually, including at least 27,000 children and more
than 11,000 senior citizens.
Hunger can strike anyone, from homeless
families, to working families faced with unexpected
expenses or illnesses, to people who have been suddenly laid off
from their jobs. It does not discriminate against age, race,
gender or ethnicity.
In some of our
cities and towns, rates of hunger and food insecurity are more
than six times higher than the statewide average. It is an
epidemic.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts plays an important role in
helping to feed people who are hungry and increasing sustainable
food security for everyone in our region. From providing
nutritious food supplies to our local survival centers, food
pantries and meal sites, to supporting local agriculture and
farmers’ markets, The Food Bank is working hard to reduce hunger
in western Massachusetts.
Together, we need to raise our local community’s awareness about
the solvable problem of hunger right here in our neighborhoods.
As residents of this region, we should do our part to help those
who might not have food on their tables tonight – by organizing
food or fund drives to support The Food Bank, volunteering, or
helping educate others about hunger.
To join the effort to end hunger in western Massachusetts, contact
The Food Bank at
www.foodbankwma.org or 413.247.9738.
END
Information:
The Athol Daily News
225 Exchange St.
P.O. Box 1000
Athol, MA 01331
phone: (978) 249-3535
fax: (978) 249-9630
newsroom@atholdailynews.com
both street address & p.o. box required for mailing
name, phone # & address required
maximum length: 2 pages in Word, double spaced (20 column inches)
Country Journal
P.O. Box 429
Huntington, MA 01050
phone: (413) 667-3211
fax: (413) 667-3011
cojo@map.com
if using e-mail, send back-up hard copy with original signature, or
include electronic signature with phone # for verification
500 words or less
Greenfield Recorder
14 Hope Street
Greenfield, MA 01302
phone: (413) 772-0261
fax: (413) 774-5020
letters@recorder.com
always include name, address and telephone #
300 words or less
Amherst Bulletin (will not publish if there is a letter writing campaign)
100 University Drive
Amherst, MA 01002
phone: (413) 549-2000
fax: (413) 549-8181
Contact: Nick Grabbe
ngrabbe@gazettenet.com
e-mail preferred
400 words or less
The Valley Advocate
116 Pleasant St., Suite 335
Easthampton, MA 01027
phone: (413) 529-2840
fax: (413) 529-2834
Contact: Tom Vannah
editor@valleyadvocate.com
500 words or less
Daily Hampshire Gazette
115 Conz Street
Northampton, MA 01060
phone: (413) 584-5000
fax: (413) 585-5299
opinion@gazettenet.com
e-mail preferred
contact: Alan Lecker
phone # required for verification
300 words or less
200 words or less for letters about presidential election
The Berkshire Eagle
76 South Church St.
Pittsfield, MA 01202
phone: (413) 447-7311
fax: (413) 499-3419
letters@berkshireeagle.com
does not accept mass-generated letters
interested primarily in letters about local area issues
The Republican
1860 Main Street
Springfield, MA 01101
contact: Steve Smith
alternate: P.O. Box 2350
Springfield, MA 01102
phone: (413) 788-1345
fax: (413) 788-1302
letters@repub.com
e-mail preferred
must include address & phone #
no letters by or for political candidates
300 words or less
The Women's Times
P.O. Box 390
Great Barrington, MA 01230
ATTN: Editor
phone: (413) 528-5303, (413) 747-0866, (413) 585-0733
fax: (413) 528-8286
esills@thewomenstimes.com
West County News
P.O. Box 218
Shelburne Falls, MA 01320
phone: (413) 625-4660
fax: (413) 625-4661
wcnews@comcast.net
e-mail preferred
350 words or less
Albany Times Union
News Plaza Box 15000
Albany, NY 12212
contact: Howard Healy
518.454.569
link to send a letter to the editor:
http://www.timesunion.com/forms/emaileditor.asp
Hartford Courant
286 Broad Street
Hartford, CT 06115
Contact: Bob Schrepf
860.241.6200 (main)
860.241.6747 (news)
link to send a letter to the editor:
Hartford Courant Opinion
Worcester Telegram and Gazette
POB 15012
Worcester, MA 01615
Contact: George French
508.793.9100
Belchertown Sentinel
POB 601
Belchertown, MA 01007
Contact: Debbi Strauss
413.323.5999
fax: 413.323.9424
