Anchor Food Pantry Honors Community Champions at Periwinkles

People gathered at Periwinkles Food Shoppe for an appreciation ceremony by the Anchor Food Pantry on Sunday || Monica Sager

On Sunday morning, Anchor Food Pantry hosted an appreciation ceremony at Periwinkles Food Shoppe to honor its community partners, donors, and volunteers, bringing its five-year journey nearly full circle.

Laura Spathanas, the president of the Anchor Food Pantry, addresses members of the community on Sunday || Monica Sager

The pantry began forming in February 2020, with a board in place and plans to open that summer. But less than a month later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and changed everything.

“The town of Swampscott said ‘Are you ready to open?’ and we did,” said President Laura Spathanas. “Periwinkles was one of our first supporters. She shut down – you know all of our businesses shut down – and she brought us all of her fresh produce that she wasn’t going to be able to use here in Periwinkles.”

Now, five years later, Anchor Food Pantry supports the community through a wide range of efforts, from providing food at the pantry and its garden to back-to-school backpack drives, Thanksgiving meals and warm winter bag distributions.

Sunday’s celebration was a brunch dedicated to recognizing the partners and volunteers who have helped shape Anchor Food Pantry into what it is today.

Periwinkles Food Shoppe served pancakes and French toast on Sunday || Monica Sager

“We couldn’t be open without folks coming in to stock the shelves, buy the groceries, greet our visitors, deliver food,” Spathanas said. “We could not do it without your support. You are the ins and outs of the food pantry. You are so appreciated by all of us.”

Anchor Food Pantry recognized the following organizations and groups for their support:

Benevento Insurance
Church of the Holy Name
Cummings Foundation
First Church Congregational
Girl Scouts of Ocean Bay
Knights of Columbus – Lynn
National Association of Letter Carriers
Periwinkles Food Shoppe
St. John’s Church
Sheehan Bros Landscaping
SPUR
Stop and Shop
Swampscott Public Schools
Swampscott Rotary
Swampscott Yacht Club
Terpene Journey
Town of Swampscott

The Swampscott Yacht Club was recognized on Sunday || Monica Sager

“We can’t do it without you but we do it for our residents, our neighbors, who are struggling,” Spathanas said. “You don’t know which neighbors those are. You would be surprised. In the time since the pandemic, we have consistently had difficult times financially, loss of jobs, price increases, taken away benefits, taken away rights. It’s tough out there.”

More than one in three households in Massachusetts experienced food insecurity in 2024, according to Project Bread. That equates to around 2 million adults affected by food insecurity at some point within the year. Black and Hispanic households have faced the highest rates of food insecurity in the state, at 46% and 62% respectively. Since 2019, rates among Asian and White households have doubled.

Statewide food insecurity has climbed steadily, from 19% in 2019 to 37% in 2024.

Project Bread notes that living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level strongly predicts food insecurity. In Swampscott, the poverty rate rose to 7% in 2023, a 4.7% increase in just one year, according to Data USA.

A survey by the Greater Boston Food Bank found that the biggest barriers to using food pantries include a desire for self-reliance, stigma, uncertainty about eligibility, and lack of knowledge about hours or services.

Anchor Food Pantry gave out treats and magnets as thank yous || Monica Sager

“We are somewhere that they can go, and they can tell their story too. They can share their happy events and what they’re stressing about. We can try and support them,” Spathanas said. “We don’t want to be here. We don’t want our residents to have to come and solve food. I wish we could solve this all.”