Events:
  Our Second Annual Community Give-In was held on January 23rd in Belchertown and Ware.  It was amazing to again see the community come together to support our local food pantries.  This year’s need was even greater than last year’s, and even more people stepped up to help.  The outpouring of support was meaningful to all, and will be invaluable to those in need of food.  
      Thank you so much to all who gave of their time, energy, and resources to support this effort.  Pictures and details will follow soon!  
 
Our Photo Albums
     Showcase
     Belchertown
 
      Community    
      Give-In 2009
 
 
 
 
 
Past Events:
POINSETTIA BALL
A great thank you goes out to the Belchertown Chapter of the Granby Regional Horse Council for hosting the first annual Poinsettia Ball.  Held on a snowy evening in December, this event was a great way to ring in the holidays and bring members of local communities together for a night of celebration.  A generous portion of the proceeds from the event was put towards CAN!’s food drive, specifically benefiting pets and animals of those in need.  We look forward to participating in next year’s event.  
 
BELCHERTOWN WOMEN’S BRUNCH
Many thanks to the participants in a recent women’s networking brunch held at the Grapevine Grill.  The event raised money for CAN’s efforts, and we hope to participate in future networking events as well.  
 
BELCHERTOWN CROP WALK
BelchertownCAN! members participated in and donated over $300 to the local CROP Walk efforts on a cold, rainy October day.  It was great to see so many people from the community brave the elements to help fight hunger locally and worldwide.
 
BELCHERTOWN FAIR
BelchertownCAN! members were out at the fair, participating in the parade, promoting the PVTA shuttle, and encouraging people to give us their input via the survey page on this site.  We hope you got out to enjoy the fair and “dance with the steers”!  If you haven’t yet, please check out the survey page and take a few minutes to give us your input.  Photos coming soon!
 
AMHERST SURVIVAL CENTER FURNITURE DRIVE
On Saturday August 29th, BelchertownCAN! members and friends collected truckloads (and horse trailers and vans) full of furniture donations from residents to donate to the Amherst Survival Center’s annual furniture sale.  The money gained from this sale provided for over 10% of the center’s annual budget, which translates into needed food, clothing, and medicine for families in the surrounding area.  Thank you to all those who donated to the drive and those who braved the rain to collect and move all of those donations!
 
SHOWCASE BELCHERTOWN:
The first annual Showcase Belchertown was held on the Town Common on Saturday June 20, 2009.  The event was a sampling of all that Belchertown has to offer, including small businesses, social service groups, and green technology.  The showcase included vendors, demonstrations, horse-drawn carriage rides, a hybrid car show, food, activities for kids, musicians, performers, and a DJ!  We’d like to thank everyone who came out to the common to support our town and its businesses.  The showcase was a great success, and we hope you are looking forward to an even bigger and better event next year!  Special thanks to all of our participants, listed on the Thanks page.
 
COMMUNITY GIVE-IN!
    Our inaugural event took place on January 24th at Lawrence Memorial Hall.  Together with residents, public officials, and local businesses, BelchertownCAN! raised over 5000 pounds of non-perishable food donations to fill our local food pantries!  
 
EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES!
    During the week of Earth Day 2009, BelchertownCAN! members participated in several events around town to clean up Belchertown and keep it beautiful.  Many community members worked together to renovate the Austin-Gaughan Memorial Softball Field on George Hannum Street.  Later in the week, CAN! members joined the Belchertown Conservation Commission to clean up Piper Farm, a sixty-eight acre parcel of land that extends from Maple St. to Springfield Rd.  We hope you can get out to enjoy these and many other recreational areas the town has to offer.  CAN! members also helped around their own neighborhoods to pick up roadside litter.  
  
JIMMY FUND PUTT-A-THON
    On May 15th, seven BelchertownCAN! members participated in the annual putt-a-thon here in town.  The team, shown below, raised over $800 for the Jimmy Fund.