Multi-pronged effort to address food insecurity and support non-profit organizations that keep our communities nourished and vibrant
SALEM, MA — The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) and The Salem Pantry are teaming up to address food insecurity on the North Shore of Massachusetts. Feeding Community is a joint initiative designed to raise awareness of food insecurity, secure essential funding, and recruit volunteers to support The Salem Pantry’s life-sustaining operations. PEM will enroll volunteers, collect food donations on site at the museum, and help distribute food to the community at The Salem Pantry. Through the month of December, financial contributions made to either PEM’s Annual Fund or The Salem Pantry will help unlock a challenge pledge of $20,000, generously made possible by Larry and Atsuko Fish, of the Fish Family Foundation. Broad participation is a key component of this fundraising effort and once each organization receives 200 donations, the Feeding Community challenge gift will be distributed. Learn more at: pem.org/feedingcommunity
The Salem Pantry’s mission is to eradicate hunger in the Salem community by providing residents in need with nutritious foods in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. This year, demand for food has increased precipitously. The Salem Pantry is now serving 6 times more people than normal and anticipates distributing nearly 1 million pounds of food. “Amid a pandemic and record unemployment, food insecurity is an essential issue facing our communities and the need is dire,” said Robyn Burns, Executive Director of The Salem Pantry. “We are proud to partner with PEM to attack this issue head on and help inspire a new wave of community support and action.”
Feeding Community launches on Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving that takes place each year on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. PEM is reaching out to the museum’s passionate community of members, staff, and volunteers to encourage financial, material, and volunteer support. The initiative will continue through the month of December and the organizations will continue to partner well into the future.
“Feeding Community seeks to keep our community nourished and vibrant,” said Amanda Clark MacMullan, PEM’s Chief Philanthropy Officer.
“This is a win-win partnership that helps strengthen our community by feeding the body and feeding the soul. Through creative collaboration with The Salem Pantry, we hope to help our neighbors find the nourishment and resources they need for themselves and their families.”
Want to join the effort? Here’s how you can help:
- Make a donation to The Salem Pantry and/or to PEM’s Annual Fund
- Sign up to volunteer at The Salem Pantry
- Donate non-perishable food items at PEM
- Amplify this project on social media using #FeedingCommunity
IMAGE CREDIT: Courtesy of The Salem Pantry, Photo by Jennifer Percy. Additional images available upon request.
PROTECTING HEALTH AND SAFELY
The health and safety of PEM’s staff and visitors is our highest priority. PEM has increased its safety protocols, including the frequency and intensity of its sanitation and disinfection efforts across the museum. Face coverings are to be worn at all times. To learn more, visit pem.org/safety.
ABOUT THE PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM
Over the last 20 years, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) has distinguished itself as one of the fastest-growing art museums in North America. Founded in 1799, it is also the country’s oldest continuously operating museum. At its heart is a mission to enrich and transform people's lives by broadening their perspectives, attitudes and knowledge of themselves and the wider world. PEM celebrates outstanding artistic and cultural creativity through exhibitions, programming and special events that emphasize cross-cultural connections, integrate past and present and underscore the vital importance of creative expression. The museum's collection is among the finest of its kind boasting superlative works from around the globe and across time — including American art and architecture, Asian export art, photography, maritime art and history, Native American, Oceanic, and African art, as well as one of the nation’s most important museum-based collections of rare books and manuscripts. PEM's campus offers a varied and unique visitor experience with hands-on creativity zones, interactive opportunities and performance spaces. Twenty-two noted historic structures grace PEM’s campus, including Yin Yu Tang, a 200-year-old Chinese house that is the only example of Chinese domestic architecture on display in the United States. HOURS: Open Thursdays through Sundays, 10 am–5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. ADMISSION: Adults $20; seniors $18; students $12. Additional admission to Yin Yu Tang: $6 (plus museum admission). Members, youth 16 and under and residents of Salem enjoy free general admission and free admission to Yin Yu Tang. INFO: Call 866-745-1876 or visit pem.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Whitney Van Dyke | Director of Communications | 617-259-6722 | whitney_vandyke@pem.org