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The Hockomock Y has shared that Greg and Kathy Spier of Foxborough – long-time friends of our Y – have once again issued a $25,000 challenge, matching every donation made July 25 through August 7. 100% of every gift goes directly to helping children and families challenged with food insecurity.
100% of every gift goes directly to helping children and families in need. All gifts made July 25, 2022 through August 7, 2022 will be matched by the Spiers and the Spier Family Foundation.
Every Wednesday, since March of 2020, our YMCA has provided free family-size grocery bags valued at $50 each at their branches in Foxboro, Franklin and North Attleboro to anyone in need. To date, more than 58,776 grocery bags have been distributed. Additionally, the Y has been working with community partners and school nutrition departments to ensure that children and families have access to healthy meals when school is not in session. This summer, meals are being provided in Milford and North Attleboro. Since March 2020, the Y has provided 420,219 meals to those in need.
Individuals and families continue to face financial stresses as a result of the pandemic including basic needs like food. With the ongoing increase in the cost of groceries and gas, we are again seeing an increase in the number of people challenged with food insecurity. “We are grateful to be part of communities full of caring people committed to improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods by working together to address community challenges,” said Jim Downs, CEO of the Hockomock Area YMCA. “I am so proud of the work our Y continues to do in partnership with others to alleviate hunger in our communities through our Food Access initiative. We are only able to do this through the philanthropic support of a caring community.”
“Greg and Kathy Spier have been passionate, steadfast supporters of our Food Access Initiative and their generous challenge will help ensure that we are here for our neighbors,” added Jim.
The Spier family’s impact in our local communities runs deep. Their legacy at the Hockomock YMCA includes the naming of the indoor and outdoor aquatics centers at the Y’s Invensys Foxboro Branch, along with Greg and Kathy’s parents, Sonja and the late Alex Spier.
Greg shares, “My dad always talked about wanting to leave the world a better place than he found it. That’s why he and my mom, and Kathy and I, are such passionate supporters of the Hockomock Area YMCA. We continue to see firsthand the impact our Y is having in responding to so many critical emerging needs. Kathy and I are so grateful for how our Y is responding to the ongoing challenges of food insecurity.”
Through the Spier Family Kindness for Kids Challenge, Kathy Spier expressed her hope that this challenge “will inspire people to make a gift to help feed kids and families and spread kindness and a caring hand to those who need it in our communities.” Kathy added, “We were so thrilled with the overwhelming response to last year’s Kindness for Kids challenge. Knowing that the need continues in our community, and proud of how our YMCA is responding, we are offering this challenge again to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to come together and offer a helping hand to neighbors in need.”
“The Hockomock Area YMCA remains committed to ending hunger in our neighborhoods and we join them in these efforts. Please consider a gift and we will proudly match it, July 25th through August 7th,” says Greg Spier. “Thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts for making a gift and for your generous support.”
Every gift matters.
Ways to help:
- Donate today and double your gift! Give online hockymca.org/give
- Give by Venmo
- Text HOCKYMCA to 56651
- Visit any Hockomock Area YMCA Member Services Desk and make your gift with a member of our team
- Mail your gift to: Hockomock Area YMCA 300 Elmwood Street North Attleboro, MA 02760 (payable to: Hockomock Area YMCA)
