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food insecurity

Keeping Pets & their People Together – Old Colony Elder Services Receives Pet Food Distribution Grant

Old Colony Elder Services’ (OCES), a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has recently received a Pet Food Distribution Grant from Banfield Charitable Trust.

Low-income seniors are among America’s millions struggling with hunger and food insecurity. Many seniors and individuals with disabilities receive nutritious daily meals through OCES’ Meals On Wheels program. In an effort to keep seniors and their beloved pets well nourished, OCES now also provides nutrition support for their pets.

For nearly a decade, Banfield Charitable Trust has been working to keep pets and their people together. The Banfield Grant enables OCES to purchase pet food and distribute to low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities, so that they can continue to care for their pets in their home. Essentially, OCES’ Meals On Wheels recipients are assured nutritious daily meals AND now their pets can receive nutritional support.

“What we have found is that elders will often feed their pets before they feed themselves. We’re working to identify and meet the needs of low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities who have pets,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

To learn more about the program, contact OCES’ Nutrition Department at (508) 584-1561.

About Banfield Charitable Trust

Banfield Charitable Trust provides grants to nonprofit organizations and nonprofit hospices to support their efforts to keep pets and people together. Pet food distribution program grants provide financial support to nonprofit organizations and Meals On Wheels Associations of America (MOWAA) members to fund expenses associated with starting or maintaining a pet food distribution program. For more information, visit www.banfieldcharitabletrust.org.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES serves 20 towns in Plymouth County as well as Avon, Easton and Stoughton. OCES is a private, non-profit organization located in Brockton and designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The organization’s mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and individuals with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living.

The agency has 169 employees and operates more than 15 programs serving elders, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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South Shore Diamond Exchange launches campaign to fight hunger

Food insecurity is quickly becoming a serious problem that more and more families are struggling with on the South Shore. One of the area’s premier jewelers, South Shore Diamond Exchange, Inc of Pembroke, has launched a fundraising campaign to help fight hunger on the local level by raising money for the Greater Plymouth Food Warehouse, a program of South Shore Community Action Council.

Now through December 23, 2011, South Shore Diamond Exchange will donate $1 to the Greater Plymouth Food Warehouse for every new fan of their Facebook page (up to 1,000 fans). To support this worthy cause and become a fan of South Shore Diamond Exchange, visit www.Facebook.com/SouthShoreDiamond and “like” them.

“The economy has hit everyone hard. There are so many folks suffering from hunger and food insecurity. We’re not talking about people in another country, but those who are right outside our door,” explained Charlie Fierimonte, owner of South Shore Diamond Exchange.

He continued, “We want to give back to the community and we believe our friends, neighbors and customers feel the same way. This is a time of year when so many South Shore families are struggling to put food on the table. The Greater Plymouth Food Warehouse is there to help and we’re supporting them. Now, our Facebook fans can support this very worthy cause as well with just one click. Jenn Anderson of ViaMark Advertising, our advertising agency, suggested this partnership and we agreed that it was timely and well deserved.”

For more information on the Greater Plymouth Food Warehouse and the services it provides, visit the South Shore Community Action Council’s website http://www.sscac.org/food_warehouse/index.html.

About the South Shore Diamond Exchange
For more than 15 years, South Shore Diamond Exchange has been providing high quality diamond engagement rings, diamond gifts, gold, silver, and platinum jewelry, bridal sets, watches, anniversary bands, and exquisite pearl and gemstone jewelry to customers on the
South Shore, Cape Cod and beyond. With a staff of experienced and knowledgable sales consultants, South Shore Diamond Exchange are the experts that customers turn to when looking for beautiful jewelry at a price that won’t exceed their budget.

South Shore Diamond Exchange is a 2011 Reader’s Choice Award winner. Their exquisite collections include Gabriel & Co., Bridal Bells, Benchmark and the “I Do” collection. They also have a convenient on-site repair facility and offer a number of attractive financing plans, including “no interest” plans. As one of the South Shore’s premier jewelry retailers, South Shore Diamond Exchange is located at 254 Church Street, Route 139 in Pembroke which is just a 35 minute drive from Boston. Visit their website and check out their informative blog at www.southshorediamond.com. For more information, contact 781-829-0060.

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