Word to Table: a literary fundraiser for local farms & food pantries

You are invited to the literary event: Word to Table with Simeon Berry, winner of the Academy of American Poets Award along with- Elizabeth Denny, Olena Jennings, Sean Sutherland, Jaya Tripathi, and Anton Yakovlev. The event will raise funds for farmers in Hampshire and Franklin Counties of Western Massachusetts, and food pantries serving our region including the Northampton Survival Center and the Center for Self-Reliance in Greenfield.

Word to Table came about in 2023 after farms in Hampshire and Franklin Counties in western Massachusetts were devastated during 100 year floods. The floods ruined prime cropland and made it hard for local organizations that feed people to get fresh produce–if a farm has lost most of its crops, it cannot donate surplus or sell foods at a discount to local food pantries. Elizabeth Denny decided to address the problem by raising money that was given directly to a local farm, so that the farm could raise produce and give it, for free, to food pantries serving the region. In 2024 we raised more than $3,000 for the farm, which translated into more than 7,000 pounds of fresh, locally-grown produce donated to local food pantries. The farm maintains an account for the pantries and they can order whatever they need–potatoes, carrots, blueberries, corn, peppers, radishes, onions, whatever — over the growing season.

For 2025, we are holding a summer fundraiser, Word to Table, to raise money for this unique program that directly supports local agricultural and at the same time fills the shelves of local food pantries. This is coming at a critical time — farms in our area are struggling with cuts in already-promised, federal grants, funding for programs like WIC, SNAP, and grants to programs that feed the hungry are being slashed without any regard to the human cost. Word to Table is a way to address these issues directly, immediately, and with benefits to both the agricultural community and the community that cares about hunger.

For TICKETS to the live event, click here: https://wordtable.betterworld.org/

To CONTRIBUTE (regardless of live event), click here: https://gofund.me/43fc709a

Questions? More information? Contact Elizabeth Denny at (413) 230-1692 or elizabethdenny[at]comcast.net.