Fresh-baked bread ready for lunch. (Courtesy photograph.)
Haverhill’s Fantini Bakery is donating 80 loaves of fresh bread weekly to help ensure veterans and low-income residents receive lunches daily.
Dee O’Neil of 411 Cares said fifth-generation owners, Joe and Robert Fantini, stepped up to make sure the charity could keep supplying 65 lunches daily to Veterans Northeast Outreach Center and restart serving 74 lunches to residents of the YMCA.
“Fantini’s Bakery added a production line to serve the community,” O’Neil said.
Besides Fantini, George Manemanus, and Bill Griffin of Affordable Restaurant Equipment on Hilldale Avenue donated a commercial refrigerator to 411 Cares to support the program. O’Neil said children have also come forward to decorate the lunch bags.
On Friday, Aug. 14, 411 Cares is co-hosting a back pack drive with Merrimack Valley hope Mission at GAR Park in downtown Haverhill and handing out Mission blessing bags.