Author: Robert Sondak
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Boston Bounty Bucks Gives SNAP Discount At Farmers Markets
Robert Sondak Spare Change News Beginning in May, which is the start of the farmers market season, the Boston Bounty Bucks program will mark its fourth birthday. So far, 20 Boston-area farmers markets will participate in this double value food program, which allows households with food stamps (SNAP) to make food purchases at any of…
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A Church Without a Building Meets the Homeless Right Where They Are
Robert Sondak Spare Change News Ecclesia Ministries, is an ecumenical urban church without a building that helps to transform the lives of Boston’s homeless and low-income people through a series of weekly church and social service programs. Its mission is to take the gifts of church out to people who cannot, for whatever reason, come…
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A second season for bike-sharing program
Robert Sondak Spare Change News The New Balance Hubway bike-sharing system reopened for its second season Thursday March 15 with 60 percent of the 61 bike stations live and operational. The system will be fully operationally by April 1 with a total of 610 bicycles for available use. Nicole Freedman, Director of Boston Bikes, elaborated…
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Corporate Catering for a Cause
Robert Sondak Spare Change News Pine Street Inn, the largest resource for homeless men and women in New England, has created a social enterprise catering business called iCater. iCater represents one of the two social enterprises run by the Pine Street Inn. iCater offers high-quality catered food to the Boston corporate marketplace. Boston Handyworks represents…
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Success in St. Bartholomew’s Meal Program
Robert Sondak Spare Change News The Feed the Hungry Wednesday night meals program at St Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church on Harvard Street in Cambridge has grown rapidly in a matter of four months since its inception last October. Feed the Hungry has expanded into a community service organization with over 40-campus members. Interest among students at…
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Making Cambridge Safer for Walkers
Robert Sondak Spare Change News US News & World Report included the city of Cambridge in a 2009 story, “15 Cities for People Who Hate Driving and Long Commutes.” Cambridge scored high with an average commute time of 24 minutes and a 58 percent rate of non-car commuters. According to the article, “Cambridge combines all…
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Healthy Eating Habits and Locally Grown Foods
Robert Sondak Spare Change News In an effort to promote healthy eating habits and Massachusetts-grown produce, Governor Deval Patrick launched a free online monthly newsletter called “ChopChop”. This newsletter was created in partnership with “ChopChop” magazine, a national quarterly publication that focuses on bringing parents and children together to prepare meals. “We are committed to…
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Loaves and Fishes Serving Food and Music in Cambridge
Robert Sondak Spare Change News Every Saturday at 5:30 p.m., Loaves and Fishes Meals Program open its Magazine Street doors serving the homeless. Retirees and members of the community receive a hot restaurant-style buffet prepared by an experienced chef. According to Fred Reece, one of the program’s founding members, the First Korean Church has been…
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Local Supermarkets Help Fight Hunger
Robert Sondak Spare Change News The September 2011 U. S. Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Report showed that 1 in 10 Massachusetts households lacked the food resources necessary to provide adequate nutrition for all people at some point in the past year. The U.S. Census 2010 Report showed that 245,000 households (or 600,000 people)…
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Food Stamps for Fast Food in Rhode Island
Robert Sondak Spare Change News Some 30,000 low-income households on food stamps in Rhode Island may now buy prepared restaurant meals at Subway fast food restaurants. The Rhode Island Food Access Project will provide healthy food options for the homeless, disabled and elderly who cannot cook for themselves or store food where they live. Rhode…