THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 24, 2020 Page 3 Foundation Trust donates $10K to Malden YMCA’s mission to fight food insecurity can’t use at this time, and felt when we are able to operate again, we would be able to successfully manage with the funding we have.” Guido went on to say that this is a worthy cause – to be able to help people who are struggling and in great need of food for their families. “Many people are out of YMCA Director of Healthy Living Diego Nascimento (left) with YMCA Director of Membership Operations Crissy Jache checks in guests at the side entrance. (Photos Courtesy of the Malden YMCA) By Tara Vocino A midst the COVID-19 crisis, the Foundation Trust recently made a $10,000 donation to the Malden YMCA. The Trust’s mission is to direct grant dollars toward enrichment and empowerment-based initiatives that help individuals, families and communities to thrive. However, all of that becomes secondary in the midst of a crisis, where basic human needs, like food security, are in jeopardy, according to Foundation Trust Executive Director Dr. Joseph Spinazzola. YMCA staff members thanked the Trust for stepping up. The organization also received a threeyear award, in addition to the $10,000 emergency grant. “The Malden YMCA is very grateful for this emergency grant from the Foundation Trust, made possible in part by the generosity of the Revere Police Activities League (PAL),” Malden YMCA Chief Executive Offi cer Debbie Amaral said. “These funds will go directly to covering the costs of emergency food distribution in our local communities.” Amaral said the need is still growing and donations, like this, will make it possible for the YMCA to continue meeting the demand for food resources during COVID-19. According to Malden YMCA Fund Development Director Lindsay Smythe, the Malden YMCA Market (food pantry) is located at 125 Mountain Ave., open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for groceries; and Monday-Friday, noon to 1 p.m., children and teenagers can get a grab-and-go hot lunch and a bagged breakfast for the following day. Meals are also available for children at the Linden Family Housing Development at 64 Wescott St., from 12 to 1 p.m., Monday-Friday. According to Smythe, neither identifi cation nor documentation is required to pick up groceries or children’s meals. “The pantry is pre-packing grocery bags and has a system for safe, no touch distribution,” Smythe said. “Children and teens can come every day for meals, and households may visit the pantry once per week.” The YMCA also stocks and supports the pantry at the Eliot Family Resource Center at 548 Broadway in Everett. For information, call 781-581-4750. “We are still in need of additional support and donations to our COVID-19 Response Fund,” Smythe said. “Gifts can be made online at http://bit.ly/2xGjF2t or by sending a check to: Malden YMCA, Attn: Lindsay Smythe, 99 Dartmouth St., Malden, MA 02148.” Dr. Spinazzola said he is personally humbled by the work that the Malden YMCA is doing through the Food Security program. The courageousness, with which they have stepped up to this challenge dramatically increases the scope of their services to meet emergency community needs, regardless of the inherent risks and challenges. “CEO Debbie Amaral, Chief Impact Offi cer Beth Tilley, Fund Development Lindsay Smythe – and especially all their frontline staff and volunteers processing, serving and delivering this food – are modern-day heroes in my book,” Dr. Spinazzola said. “I regard them with the same admiration, as I do health service providers and fi rst responders during this pandemic.” He went on to say that funding was made possible by the Revere Police Activities League (PAL). Approximately 100 Revere residents, 420 Malden residents and 770 Everett residents have been served, according to Smythe. “The PAL program is basically shut down right now due to the pandemic,” said Revere Police Chief James Guido. “We have other sources of funding that we work and live week-to-week, and this was very important to support this eff ort,” Guido said. “I want to commend the Foundation for supporting this truly worthy endeavor.” Revere PAL Director Kris Oldoni explained how they were inspired by the Trust’s creativity and desire to assist organizations and pursue the goal of making a diff erence in the lives of those less fortunate. “After speaking with Dr. Spinazzola, I was honored to be able to assist him and the Foundation Trust in providing support to such an important cause during these extremely diffi cult times,” Oldoni said. For information, visit the Facebook page at YMCAMalden. 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