HARVEST FALL FUNDRAISER. (Ell Gimenez Photo)

 

MELROSE — The Food Drive is hosting their third annual Harvest Fall Fundraiser on Saturday, November 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Memorial Hall in Melrose. Formed in 2020 during the pandemic, The Food Drive is a community-driven hunger relief and food rescue nonprofit based in Melrose. To date, their two-person staff and over 150 local volunteers have distributed over 750,000 pounds of free food in Melrose and surrounding cities.

Funds raised at Harvest sustain The Food Drive’s mission of neighbors helping neighbors; a mission brought to life by Headline Sponsors Everett Co-operative Bank Foundation and Melrose Cooperative Bank Foundation. Both organizations are laser-focused on giving back to their neighborhoods: Everett Bank staff members are active food rescue volunteers and the Melrose Coop Foundation is The Food Drive’s longest-standing financial supporter.

Harvest is a casual evening of fall foodie fun focused on the incredible community engagement that keeps The Food Drive’s wheels turning. The centerpiece of the evening is local food featuring small plate tasting stations from Melrose food establishments Big Fin Poké, Bobby C’s Ristorante, Buckalew’s General Store, Melrose Farmer’s Market vendor Guru the Caterer, The Kitchen Melrose, Ocean Sushi, T’ahpas 529 and Turner’s Seafood. Desserts will be provided by Fabian’s European Pastries, Mama Jean and Sweet Spot Bakery and festive autumn cocktails will be served by jovial volunteer bartenders. Another special feature of the evening is live jazz performed by renowned bassist and Melrose resident Bruce Gertz and his Berklee College of Music colleague, keyboardist Joe Mulholland.

The first annual Harvest Hero award will be presented to Buckalew’s owner and Melrose resident Robin Peevey for her extraordinary commitment to The Food Drive’s mission. Guests of honor at the event will be our two Melrose food pantries: A Servant’s Heart Food Pantry at Faith Evangelical Church in Melrose Highlands and Pantry of Hope at First Baptist Church in downtown Melrose. Representatives will be on hand to talk about their work and to share their holiday food donation “Wish Lists.”

Featured silent auction include tickets to “Dancing with the Stars Live” at the Wang Center; a Brad Marchand autographed puck; a five-star dinner at Ocean House in Watch Hill, Rhode Island; and getaways to Prince Edward Island and New Hampshire cottages. Gold and silver raffles will offer a dazzling array of donations from 50 generous local businesses including 37 based in Melrose.

For tickets, visit The Food Drive’s website at thefoodrive.org.