BUCKALEW’S OWNER ROBIN Peevey to be honored with the Harvest Hero award. (Buckalew’s General Store Photo Credit)
MELROSE — The Food Drive will host their third annual Harvest Fall Foodie fundraiser on Saturday, November 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Memorial Hall in Melrose. Proceeds from the event will sustain The Food Drive’s hunger relief and food rescue work in Melrose and surrounding cities.
The evening will feature the inaugural Harvest Hero Award to be presented to Robin Peevey, Melrose resident and owner of Buckalew’s General Store. The Food Drive’s board established the annual award to honor a person or organization for extraordinary commitment to The Food Drive’s mission. “As the the first Melrose Main St. business owner to partner with The Food Drive, Robin was the obvious choice,” said Executive Director Jana Gimenez. Since then, Robin has participated in every aspect of The Food Drive’s work including hosting an ongoing donation bin at Buckalew’s holding seasonal food drives, cooking for the Melrose Community Freezer and, most symbolic of The Food Drive’s hyperlocal work, donating surplus food every week to Pantry of Hope just one block away from Buckalew’s at First Baptist Church.
“I was drawn to the mission of the Food Drive because of my experience with food as a chef and caterer for 15 years and because of the 15 years I spent working with nontraditional adult learners in higher education. For me, it has always been about feeding people either through education or a well-prepared meal. The economic inequity in our culture sets the starting blocks for all of us at great distances apart. Both of my parents came from rural working-class families where food was never taken for granted and giving to others less fortunate was just something we did, not an occasion to pat ourselves on the back. This way of understanding the world is just who I am. The Food Drive gives me a venue to give some love through feeding others.
The idea that surplus food can be captured locally and then given locally to those in need is so basic and powerful. The Food Drive helps to fill this void in our community by taking food that would otherwise be thrown out and instead, giving it to people who are experiencing food insecurity all within a few miles’ radius. But what is even more powerful is the education and awareness that the Food Drive provides to the problem of food insecurity and food waste right here in Melrose. Poverty is not always openly seen in a wealthy community like ours, but it does exist. There are so many people who are experiencing hardships, mental and physical illness that keep them from employment as well as those who are on fixed incomes and have seen that evaporate with the high cost of housing and rapid inflation. Many are left to choose between paying for rent and medication or buying food to eat. For me, the ability to make meals for the Melrose Community Freezer or to give prepared foods to Pantry of Hope is a small drop in the bucket, but I know that if we all participated, the bucket would overflow.
The aspect of the Food Drive that I most admire and adhere to is the complete respect and dignity given to all humanity regardless of social or economic standing. In the end, we are all people who share the same needs of love, shelter, community and to be nourished. No questions or requirements are ever needed to access food through The Food Drive’s programs. The Food Drive is a small and mighty organization because it has the backing of a caring community. Its mission reminds me of the quote by Margaret Mead ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’”
Harvest 2024 will feature tasting stations from Melrose food establishments Big Fin Poke, Bobby C’s Ristorante, Buckalew’s, The Kitchen, Melrose Farmer’s Market vendor Guru the Caterer, Ocean Sushi, T’ahpas 529 and Turner’s Seafood; dessert from Fabian’s European Pastries, Mama Jean and Sweet Spot Bakery; festive autumn cocktails served by local volunteer bartenders; live jazz featuring renowned Berklee bassist and Melrose resident Bruce Gertz and a spirited and unique silent auction and raffle. Tickets are available on The Food Drive’s website at thefooddrive.org.
