Mason Square Comes Together for Cookout to End Hunger

Target:Hunger Springfield kicked off its outreach efforts, appropriately enough, with a cookout on Friday, June 22 at Magazine Park on St. James Ave. in Springfield. About 800-900 local residents attended in weather ranging from perfect to wet and chilly. Children, adults, teens, and elders gathered to enjoy free food from the grill, entertainment and to connect with 32 local programs offering food stamps, nutrition education, oral health, a soon-to-open farmers’ market, and other resources.

The day featured step-dancing and inspirational choral vocals by Dream Studios, basketball and hula hoop demos by local youth, DJ Camacho, face-painting, the USDA Power Panther, and Sparky the Fire Dog. Two kid-friendly performances by FoodPlay – an interactive nutrition education theater – addressed challenges often faced by urban residents, such as the abundance of fast food and lack of access to fresh produce. FoodPlay jugglers asked a crowd of little kids, “How much sugar is in this can of soda?” and had the delighted children count loudly along as they threw a juggling pin (really a soda bottle) across the stage – nine times. Door prizes and giveaways took place throughout the day.

Speakers included keynote Bettye Anderson Frederic, Deputy Director of Springfield’s Department of Health and Human Services, community activist Michael Branch as closing speaker, and short addresses by Rep. Benjamin Swan and Sen. Stephen Buoniconti. Frederic spoke on the importance of good nutrition, breastfeeding, and supporting local food systems. Branch praised the community for coming together for this event and talked about his personal experience with hunger, in which he went from being a provider of services to a client of local pantries – whom he said treated him with generosity and respect. The Urban League’s Andrew Cade, a popular WTCC radio host, emceed the event.

The Cookout raised awareness of food and nutrition resources available to families in Mason Square, including Food Stamps, community gardens, Summer Meal Service programs for children, and a new farmers’ market. More than 500 of Target:Hunger Springfield’s new Mason Square Food Resource Guide were distributed.
The fair held information tables and onsite enrollment opportunities for Food Stamps, and information on many other programs, such as WIC, MassHealth, nutrition education, oral health, and youth job opportunities at Six Flags. The Cookout marked the official launch of Target:Hunger's campaign to increase Food Stamp enrollment in Mason Square.

Other current projects organized by Target:Hunger Springfield partners are the Concerned Citizens of Mason Square Farmers’ Market, opening July 14; and an Infant Formula Pilot Project, offering emergency infant formula.

PHC Presents The Family Community Cookout was organized by the Cookout Steering Committee: Pioneer Valley Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA), Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), Northern Educational Services (NES), Springfield Girls’ Club Family Center, Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, Springfield Partners for Community Action, and The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, which was also the lead coordinating agency for Target:Hunger.

In addition to Partners for a Healthier Community, the Cookout was also sponsored by 22 News, Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, C&S Wholesale Grocers, BMC HealthNet, Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, Branford Hall, the Caring Health Center, Springfield Partners for Community Action, and Forest Park Rental.