LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined WHEAT Community Connections staff in Clinton to celebrate the groundbreaking of the organization’s new building project, which will include 8 low-income transition housing units and become home to the organization’s Community Pantry & Café and Hidden Treasures thrift store. The project was made possible in part by a $1 million federal investment secured by Trahan as well as federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.
“When hardworking families in Clinton and surrounding communities struggle to put dinner on the table or keep a roof over their heads, they know they can turn to WHEAT for help,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Investing in our trusted local organizations like WHEAT and the United Way of Tri-County is a critical part of the fight to make sure every family has a chance to not just make ends meet – but also get ahead. That’s why I’ve been a proud supporter of this incredible organization since I was first elected to Congress, and it’s why I’ll continue to go to the mat to make sure they have the funding they need to continue their incredible work.”
"It's hard to adequately describe the importance of Congresswoman Trahan's leadership and support in making this building project a reality!" said Paul Mina, President & CEO of United Way of Tri-County. "Now, in large part because of her efforts, the greater Clinton area will have 8 new units of transitional housing and a forever home for our WHEAT Food Pantry, Community Café and Hidden Treasures Gift Shop. We are truly grateful."
"We are sincerely grateful to Congresswoman Trahan for her tireless effort and support, which has catapulted our dream of a permanent home for WHEAT Community Connections into a reality," said WHEAT Community Connections Program Director Liz Leonard. "We are excited to be able to serve our community in this great new building. We are also extremely grateful to Representative Kilcoyne, Senator Cronin and the Town of Clinton for all they have done to make this possible."
WHEAT Community Connections is a direct service program of the United Way of Tri-County, a nonprofit organization that provides critical support services for 35 communities, including Clinton, Marlborough, Stow, Hudson, Bolton, Berlin, and Lancaster. WHEAT’s Community Cupboard provides clients with a week’s worth of groceries each month. The facility serves approximately 4,400 households in Clinton, Berlin, Bolton, Lancaster, and Sterling and distributes over 500,000 pounds of food and 60,000 meals each year.
In addition to the Community Pantry, WHEAT’s Community Café provides homemade lunches and dinners for pick up, dine-in and delivery to local housing authorities. The organization’s Hidden Treasures thrift store also provides everyone with low-to-no cost furniture, household items, clothing, shoes, and more in a clean, organized retail setting. All store proceeds help subsidize their food programs. WHEAT also provides individual case management, including assistance with SNAP applications and re-certifications, employment listings, unemployment services, housing applications, discount phone service applications, and connection to other partners for assistance with MassHealth, fuel assistance, senior services, etc.
"This project will be a gamechanger in the effort to address housing and food insecurity, and provide stability for our community," said State Senator John J. Cronin. "Impactful projects like this one don't succeed without proper funding, which Congresswoman has delivered time and time again. Clinton and the entire region are better off thanks to organizations like WHEAT and leaders like the Congresswoman."
"Today marks a significant step forward for our community in Clinton and beyond," said State Representative Meg Kilcoyne. "The new affordable housing represents not just a physical space, but a beacon of hope and support for those in need. WHEAT Community Connections has been a lifeline for so many, and with this project, we're not only providing essential resources but also reinforcing our commitment to ensuring that every family has a safe place to call home. I'm proud to stand with Congresswoman Trahan and all our local partners in celebrating this crucial investment in our community's future."
This federal investment builds on Trahan’s strong track record of tackling food insecurity for communities across the Commonwealth. In 2022, Trahan secured federal funding needed to purchase and install generators at WHEAT Community Connections and the Marlborough Community Cupboard. In 2023, Trahan and Senator Edward J. Markey introduced the Bridging the SNAP Gap Act to strengthen vital nutritional support for young people struggling to make ends meet. Their legislation would change how young adults’ income is counted in their household totals to make sure they are fed and families get their full benefits all while not discouraging students from working. In 2023, Trahan also announced securing $1 million to reimburse the City of Lawrence’s COVID-19 food pantry program that served over 80,000 meals during the pandemic.
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