Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/1291546
Food Pantry, became delivery-only in order to ensure everyone's health and safety. As revenue and resources became scarce, the need continued to climb. The numbers tell the story: in the first six months of 2020, Wellspring saw an increase of over 205% in clients served as compared to the same six-month period in 2019. A quarter of these clients sought assistance for the first time. The organization provided 31,420 meals to the families of Hull school children through its partnership with Hull Public Schools from March through the end of August, taking on the distribution of the food service program when schools closed due to COVID. In an effort to help clients as well as local restaurants, Wellspring created a program called Better Together in partnership with the Hull Council on Aging. This unique program provides hot meals to people struggling with food insecurity, while also creating revenue for local restaurants struggling to keep afloat during the pandemic. Now more than ever, people turn to Wellspring for help with food insecurity, unemployment issues, concern over access to health insurance and care, housing fears and more. Elder services, counseling, community outreach, legal advocacy and adult education all continue to be increasingly busy answering calls for help from neighbors throughout the South Shore. The Janna Oddleifson Adult Learning Center, located in Wellspring's headquarters in Hull, is working to meet the needs of an increasing number of students who during the pandemic required remote learning and smaller sized in-person tutoring. The education staff worked hard this spring and summer, keeping students on track through online and individual learning, to earn their high school credentials. Their efforts paid off when students were able to celebrate their accomplishments during an official graduation ceremony in August, with special congratulations from Wellspring Foundation Board Member Paul Sullivan. The commencement graduate speaker, Ashley Quinlan said, "If anyone out there is thinking it is too late to get their GED, "This challenging moment in our country's history has created insecurity and instability for families and individuals struggling to maintain their health, housing, and employment. Wellspring was founded to help anyone struggling with these fundamental basic human needs. Building on what we have learned from clients and staff over three decades of service we are grateful to be able to offer our services to a greater number of community members." - Chair of Wellspring's Board of Directors, The Reverend Amy Whitcomb-Slemmer TheSouthShoreMagazine.com 21 Graduate Ashley Quinlan of Hull. Paul Sullivan, Foundation member addressing 2020 Adult Learning graduates.