How 'bout them apples?
Representatives from FirstFruits, Charlie's Produce and Super 1 Foods chat while waiting for apples to be unloaded in front of the store location for a photo opportunity before they are donated to ABC Food Bank. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Three organizations teamed up to feed 4,500 pounds of apples to Athol residents. From left, Ned Hughes with Charlie's Produce; Alan Bradetich, Super 1 Foods produce supervisor; Charlotte Hooper, ABC Food Bank director; Randy Wilson, Super 1 Foods store director; Aimee Bach, FirstFruits representative; and Tim Hendricks with Charlie's Produce. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Lynn Pampaian from Athol and her daughter, Helena Nimmo, 8, wave to a car approaching the apple distribution drive through at the ABC Food Bank. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Aimee Bach, left, representative for FirstFruits, helps distribute apples at the ABC Food Bank, assisted by Lynn Pampaian of Athol. HANNAH NEFF/Press
Eric Ogrin with Charlie's Produce unloads apples Tuesday in front of Athol Super 1 Foods. Through a partnership with Charlie’s Produce and FirstFruits, Super 1 Foods donated 4,500 pounds of apples to the ABC Food Bank. HANNAH NEFF/Press
ATHOL — Super 1 Foods did more than its fair share Tuesday to keep the doctor away.
In partnership with Charlie’s Produce and FirstFruits, the Athol grocer donated 4,500 pounds of apples to the ABC Food Bank through the Take a Bite out of Hunger campaign.
“This was a wonderful donation,” said Charlotte Hooper, director of the ABC Food Bank. “The apples will be wonderful because it's fresh and children love it.”
“Super 1 has been a long-standing partner for Charlie’s Produce for years and an ideal partner of choice for giving back to the community,” said Tim Hendricks, representing Charlie’s Produce. “The McIntires have been the same. They’ve given back. I’ve seen it my whole life. I’ve worked for them from 15 on.”
Charlie’s Produce has participated in the campaign for five years but this is the first time they donated through the Athol Super 1 location.
“This year we wanted to go out a little further and found out that the Athol food bank was in desperate need,” Hendricks said. “So it was a perfect fit.”
After taking a photo of the delivery in front of Super 1, the apples were moved to the food bank, where they were distributed to the community.
“It’s great and some people really need it,” said Dixie Kubart of Athol. “I’m thinking I might cut some of those apples up and put them in the freezer for apple pies later.”
Kubart grabbed one of the 40-pound boxes on her way to teach a senior exercise class — a class that will share the fruit, as will Kubart's neighbors.
“FirstFruits has always operated with community being its centerpoint,” said Aimee Bach, a representative from FirstFruits who helped distribute the apple boxes. “We’re happy to be involved in another year of giving back, especially with the pandemic and hunger being a main issue.”
