News release from Milton Friends of Town Farm

Bob, Christina and Gert Sweeney deliver donations from the Friends of Town Farm to the Food Pantry

Selectman Bob Sweeney recently organized a food drive with the Milton Friends of Town Farm for the Milton Food Pantry.

“Gert (Bob’s wife) and I wanted to participate with our daughter Christina in a meaningful way recognizing the National Day of Service. Unfortunately hunger is a year round problem not just during the holidays when our charitable spirit abounds”, said Sweeney.

The Milton Friends of Town Farm (MFTF), of which Sweeney is a member, formed with the goal of preserving the Governor Stoughton Trust land to make it revenue- producing for the benefit of ‘the poor of Milton’ who are the beneficiaries of the trust. Milton’s Selectmen also serve as Trustees of the Governor Stoughton Trust. Colonial Governor William Stoughton left his land “for the use and benefit of the poor of this town forever”. The town farm formerly housed Milton’s neediest residents and is the last remaining intact poor farm in Massachusetts. Grants from the trust are coordinated by Diane Ferrari, LICSW, Director of the Milton Residents Fund. Ms. Ferrari can be reached at 617.696.1214 or by  email at office@fpmilton.org.

Selectman Bob Sweeney with Louis Young, AKA ‘The Captain’, a long time Milton Food Pantry Volunteer.

“Gert and I met while teaching at the Martin Luther King Jr School; we often shared lesson plans and in a favorite quote of Doctor King’s , ‘The time is always right to do what is right.’  The volunteers at the Milton Food Pantry are there every Saturday year round doing what is right. They are extraordinary”, Sweeney said, adding,

“We set out to support a worthy charity with a food drive and to demonstrate that it is character and not circumstances that matter but we didn’t know that we would have such an uplifting experience. The Milton Friends were generous with their collective donation for the food pantry and we felt privileged to deliver it all.  The food pantry volunteers were warm, welcoming and appreciative and we were inspired by their enthusiasm and energy. We had a wonderful time and were grateful to have our daughter with us and thankful to all. Milton is truly an exceptional community”.

The Milton Food Pantry is open on Saturdays from 9 AM to 12 Noon and is located in the Parkway United Methodist Church 158 Blue Hills Parkway. Their hotline is  617-696-0221.

(L to R) MFP volunteer Gail Marie Dwyer, Selectman Bob Sweeney, his daughter Christina and MFP Volunteers, Pauline Eugene and Noni Adams.