Meeting a Need
STATE REP. Vanna Howard started the new year as she ended the old one — helping the community.
In November, she hosted the fourth annual Spice Drive that has brought hundreds of donations to the Coalition for a Better Acre Food Pantry. Community members donated spices such as adobo, salt and pepper, fish sauce, soy sauce, cooking oil, garlic powder, pepper flakes, ginger, cinnamon and more to fill the shelves at the 517 Moody St. nonprofit.
The spice drive was created by Howard to help make cultural cooking accessible to anyone regardless of financial hardships or economic status, and to provide the community with a variety of spices to keep cultural identity and traditions alive.
Howard opened 2026 with the third annual Project Period Care Drive to collect period care products for Middlesex Community College and the UMass Lowell Strive Pantry. The drive collected pads and tampons and donations to ensure that people who don’t have access to these items won’t have to miss school or work, or forego a meal or rent to afford them.
While both drives may be complete, the need remains. Donations can still be made either to the organizations or by contacting Howard’s office for pickup or drop-off by calling 617-722-2060 ext. 7, or emailing [email protected].
— Melanie Gilbert