6 minute read
Table Hoppin
TABLE HOPPIN’
Clear Path gets help from local restaurants to offer Grab ‘n’ Go meals to veterans
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BARBARA M. HOULE
Clear Path for Veterans New England in Devens offers a multitude of programs responding to COVID-19 by providing service members and veterans and their families with boxes of non-perishable food supplies and most recently Grab n’ Go meals.
Food insecurity is a continuing issue during COVID-19, said Donna Bulger of Norfolk, executive director and vice president of Clear Path, a 50 (c)3 with the mission “to build a safe, supportive and respectful place for Veterans.” Bulger and her husband, Scott Bulger, are founders of Clear Path.
Donna Bulger said that in 2020 with help from the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation Clear Path was able to distribute 200 food boxes to veterans weekly. Beginning in October 2020, the nonprofit received a weekly shipment of 1,000 boxes of food distributed by the USDA Farm to Family program. “People in the community as well as veterans benefited,” said Bulger.
Last month, Bulger’s brother, Dan Purcell, president and CEO of DC Holdings LLC in Leominster with co-founder Chris Stearns, stepped in to help Clear Path after learning that USDA’s program had ended in December.
Purcell’s suggestion that Clear Path offer Grab n’ Go meals to veterans was just the beginning. He said his company would match $10,000 in donations made to the nonprofit. And, it happened.
Donations and DC Holdings match helped “big time,” according to Bulger, who said Clear Path currently purchases $10 meals from local participating restaurants and provides 250 of the meals weekly. Veterans look forward to the meals and the food portions are more than generous, she said.
The Grab n’ Go program takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursdays outside Devens Empowerment Center, next to Clear Path for Veterans New England, 84 Antietam St., Devens. The program is for military/veterans and immediate household members. Pre-registration is required for both prepackaged perishable food boxes and Grab n’ Go meals. Visit www. clearpath.org to sign up. Leominster Veterans’ Services also will pick up food boxes and meals for veterans unable to get to Devens, said Bulger.
For his part, Purcell is “ecstatic” about the success of Grab n’ Go. People in the community and businesses have been “super “generous in support and donations, he said. “I’m just happy our company could help,” said Purcell. “We know many of the people who really benefit from this program and a lot of them are the elderly.”
Leominster residents, Purcell and his wife, Jeanne Purcell, volunteer regularly at Clear Path’s events and programs. Purcell personally reached out to local restaurants, including Columbia Tavern, 28 Manning St., Leominster, to help start Grab n’ Go. He continues his search for more local restaurant participation.
Wayne Beauregard has owned Columbia Tavern for seven years and said he “couldn’t say no” to his good friend Dan. The program has helped his business maintain staff during the pandemic, he said.
The tavern’s hearty comfort food meals, such as turkey dinner and classic Shepherd’s Pie, are Grab n’ Go favorites, according to Bulger. “I think we can all agree that comfort food is simple and satisfying, especially in winter months,” she said.
Note: Diners can visit Facebook for Columbia Tavern’s hours and specials. The business usually opens at 4 p.m. weekdays and offers lunch and dinner on weekends. “Hours will change with state COVID-19 regulations,” said Beauregard.
Happy Jacks, a Mexican restaurant in Leominster; Evviva Trattoria in Maynard and Apex Marlboro are among other Grab n’ Go program participants. Interested restaurants and businesses can contact Bulger at Clear Path for more information.
Purcell and his wife are among Clear Path’s many volunteers. Jeanne Purcell works beside veterans from Clear Path at the weekly food box and meal distribution site. “I love talking to the people,” said Purcell. “It’s not only about the food, but also learning what the vets may need. Heating, housing, rent, you name it.”
Clear Path has provided coats, helped with extra school supplies for students, toys for children during the holidays and Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets,” said Jeanne Purcell “Sometimes it’s easier for vets to open up to us if there’s a need.”
“Veterans face many challenges,” said Bulger, “and our staff of veterans can follow up and contact other agencies to help out. We’re very grateful that Clear Path had the opportunity to launch Grab n’ Go. It has helped so many service members and veterans.”
An added note of good news is that Bulger expects USDA’s Farm to Family program to restart soon.
Visit Clear Path’s website for more information and to donate. Volunteer if you have the time. A local chef volunteer said it’s not only rewarding work, but you’ll meet great people along the way.
No doubt about it.
Bagels to go from Doh! Girl
Doh! Girl is the new business launched by Robin Clark, former executive pastry chef for Niche Hospitality Group in Worcester and former chef de cuisine at deadhorse hill restaurant in Worcester.
Clark’s decision to go out on her own is something she had considered for a long time. When she lost her position at Niche as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, she couldn’t shake the idea of starting her own business. “I was sitting around at home and thinking about what I was going to do,” said Clark in a recent telephone interview. “I got to the point of telling myself, ‘OK, you can do this.’ I’ve got a good reputation as a chef in the city and great support. I’m turning 31 and ready to go for it. If I were to continue to work 60 hours or more in a week I decided it would be for myself,” said Clark. “It was the time to make a move and make it happen.”
Clark — who received three degrees from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Baking/ Pastry, Culinary and Food Service Management — started Doh! Girl in January, working out of the Worcester Regional Food Hub. At her first pop-up at the food hub at 25 Francis St. at the end of January she sold out of 24 dozen bagels available in half-dozen variety packs that included cinnamon raisin, plain and everything bagels. “I couldn’t believe it,” said Clark about selling out. “It was so amazing.
Clark plans to continue with Saturday pop-ups, probably two or three a month, she said. The pop-up dates will be posted on Facebook, where you can connect with Clark. For Valentine’s Day, Clark sold a $25 gift box (chocolate bagels and more) that had to be pre-ordered online.
Future plans for Clark include selling her bagels wholesale to local restaurants and businesses. “Maybe a food truck later on.”
Clark said she would seriously think about selling doughnuts in addition to bagels if she owned a food truck. “There are so many possibilities,” she said. “It’s exciting and terrifying at the same time.”
A former contestant on Food Network’s TV competitive cooking show “Chopped,” Clark also wowed judges at the 2018 Worcester’s Best Chef competition, winning the Judges’ Choice Award, which brought her to center stage for the final round of competition. As a judge at the event I can attest Clark’s a tough competitor and amazing chef, whether she’s baking or cooking.
Tidbit about Clark’s bagels: She gets flour from a Hadley business that mills it to order. The flour makes a world of difference in her bagels, “making them so good,” she said.
Keep an eye out for Doh! Girl’s next pop-up!
