Front row, from left: Bank of Canton Directors Michael Galer and Marian Pendergast, Canton Food Pantry Coordinator Mary Murray, and Canton Food Pantry volunteer Deb DiIeso. Back row: Canton Food Pantry volunteer Stephen Higgins, Bank of Canton VP/Retail Branch Administrator Eric Cappellano (NMLS #1076424), Bank of Canton Chairman of the Board Steven Rotella, and Canton Food Pantry volunteer Ellen Hebb.
CANTON, Mass. (November 9, 2023) – Bank of Canton recently donated $15,000 to the Canton Helpline Food Pantry, to help provide groceries and personal care items to a growing number of Canton families registering for assistance.
“This gift from Bank of Canton is very much appreciated and tremendously needed,” said Mary Murray, who leads the pantry’s administration and development efforts. “I’ve been here just over a year, and last month was the busiest we’ve had in terms of new registrations. As we get into the colder months, when energy bills go up, I suspect we’ll see even more.”
In her first year heading up the pantry, Murray has worked closely with the Department of Elder and Human Services (DEHS) and other organizations in Canton to find new, innovative ways to meet the demand. She has helped make the shopping experience easier and more convenient for those who struggle to shop in person due to physical or emotional hardship, offering pre-packed orders and occasional deliveries to the DEHS.
“There are a lot of families and individuals in Canton who are struggling right now,” Murray continued. “It’s not always visible on the surface.”
Murray also noted the pantry’s new location, which opened this past July at 1860 Washington Street in the back of the former St. Gerard Majella church, is more secluded than its former Rodman building location, and may be a reason why they have more shoppers. “People who were too shy or self-conscious before are coming forward for assistance,” Murray said. “We’re here for them.”
“The Canton Food Pantry does an outstanding job of offering a helping hand in challenging times,” said Stephen P. Costello, president and CEO of Bank of Canton, “and Bank of Canton is proud to support the work of its highly committed staff and volunteers.”
Bank of Canton has donated more than $200,000 to the Canton Food Pantry since 2005. This summer, the bank was recognized with its fifth consecutive Corporate Citizenship Award from the Boston Business Journal.
The Canton Food Pantry accepts non-perishable food, personal care items, and household products on Mondays between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Bank of Canton’s branches at 557 Washington Street and 259 Turnpike Street in Canton also serve as drop-off locations Monday through Saturday during business hours.
The Canton Helpline, Inc., is a stand-alone non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded by private donations and grants. For more information, visit https://cantonmahelpline.org/.
About Bank of Canton
Established in 1835, Bank of Canton is a Massachusetts-chartered mutual savings bank that offers its consumer, business and government banking customers access to a full array of deposit, loan, investment and convenience service options. As a mutual savings bank, the bank has no stockholders and acts exclusively in the best interests of its customers and communities. The bank lends throughout Massachusetts, and has branches in Canton, Quincy and Randolph and a mortgage center in Auburn. All deposits are fully insured between the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). For more information, visit www.ibankcanton.com. Member FDIC. Member DIF. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #408169.
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