AMHERST — A community food drive to benefit the Amherst Survival Center and honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy is being held Monday.
Organized by State Rep. Mindy Domb, D-Amherst, the “Light and Love Amherst Community Food Drive,” is being held for the second time, inspired by King’s words: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
People are encouraged to participate in the drive-in fashion food drive at the 138 Sunderland Road location, on the federal holiday, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
This year, Rep. Aaron Saunders, D-Ludlow, and Sen. Jake Oliviera, D-Ludlow, are joining the effort by co-hosting a donation site at Belchertown Town Hall’s parking lot Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Whatever is collected there will then be brought to the Amherst Survival Center the next day.
“I can’t think of a better way to honor Dr. King and start the new year, for us to come together as a community to care for one another and manifest his words into action,” Domb said.
Holding it for the second time, Domb said the drive collected 3,749 pounds of food through
the MLK Food Drive in 2025, and the hope is to at least match that due to both growing food insecurity and the Campus Food Panty that opened in September on the University of Massachusetts campus.
Among the foods needed are peanut butter, pasta and pasta sauce, cereal, canned soup and oatmeal. The food pantry also makes personal care items available, including diapers and
menstrual products.
“On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are reminded that service to others is at the heart of building strong and caring communities,” said Carleen Basler, the center’s interim executive director.
Saunders said the special efforts to combat hunger are done in the spirit of King’s call to service, while Oliveira observed that “the best way to honor MLK’s legacy is to follow in his footsteps and help those in need.”
Individuals, workplaces and neighborhoods are encouraged to set up a food donation bin in their locations and bring food donations to the center.
The food pantry program serves residents in 13 area towns, including Amherst, Sunderland, Shutesbury, Pelham, Leverett andjHadley.
For more informatiuon, go to https://repmindydomb.com/mlk2026-food-drive/.
National Day of Racial Healing
Amherst’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion department is holding a community conversation recognizing the 10th annual National Day of Racial Healing at the Bangs Community Center Tuesday at 5 p.m.
This marks the next installment in the ongoing Becoming Beloved Community series.
The evening will focus on racial healing and collective action for a more equitable world and is an opportunity to bring all people together to contemplate shared values and inspire collective action.
CDBG proposals
Amherst is accepting proposals for Community Development Block Grant funding until Jan. 23 at noon.
CDBG grants are designed to enhance the quality of life for residents in the community by supporting projects that will benefit low- to moderate-income people and neighborhoods.
The state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has designated Amherst as a Mini-Entitlement Community that is eligible to apply for CDBG funds.
The full request for proposals for both social service and non-social service projects can be found at www.amherstma.gov/CDBG. Those interested in making a funding request are encouraged to contact Planner Walker Powell at powellw@amherstma.gov or 413-259-3120.
Amherst BID employee departs
Robert Allingham is leaving his role as marketing and communications manager for the Amherst Business Improvement District, taking a position with Bigelow Tea in Fairfield, Connecticut.
Allingham’s last day, after a year in the position, is Friday. In a statement, he called it a privilege to help support local commerce and bring people together through events and storytelling.
“I am deeply grateful for the collaboration, trust and kindness I have experienced, and for the opportunity to contribute to the energy and momentum in the heart of Amherst,” Allingham said.
Allingham served as an ambassador for the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, a trustee for the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, and was a scholar in the town’s first Civic Academy.
National Design Studio Award
An inaugural National Design Studio Award is being presented to the Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning Department at UMass.
The award, from the Boston-based Envision Resilience, recognizes the program’s leadership in climate-adaptive planning and design education. UMass is one of eight universities nationwide selected for the award, which supports university design studios that partner with communities to develop innovative responses to climate change.
The award comes with a $9,500 grant that will support a studio project in Boston this spring led by LARP Associate Professor Carolina Aragon and Professor Robert Ryan.
“This grant will allow our students to help Boston’s West End neighborhood plan for the challenges of climate change, including increased urban heat and flooding through innovatively designed greenspace,” Ryan said in a statement, noting the grant offsets costs for student travel and other studio expenses.
Meeting
THURSDAY: Community Preservation Act Committee, 6 p.m.