Chronicle Readers Raise $115K-Plus For Family Pantry

HARWICH – As they have done each holiday season since 2004, readers of The Cape Cod Chronicle have come together to support the Family Pantry of Cape Cod, ensuring that the food pantry is on a firm footing as it starts 2026.

 The 2025 Holiday Helping Neighbors campaign raised $115,595.56 to help the Pantry provide food and clothing to people in need. Thanks to the Family Pantry’s bulk purchasing power, that generosity will provide more than 462,000 nutritious meals.

 “Unfortunately, 2025 featured lots of news stories about the rise of food insecurity on the Cape,” Cape Cod Chronicle Editor Tim Wood said. “But through Helping Neighbors, it also featured plenty of headlines of ordinary Cape Codders helping one another through a time of crisis. We’re proud of our readers for their generosity, and humbled to facilitate their giving to a worthy cause.”

 While the final tally fell short of the $130,000 fundraising goal, it meant that every donation that came through during the campaign received a dollar-for-dollar match. Added to the 2025 Summertime Helping Neighbors campaign, Cape Cod Chronicle readers pitched in some $241,690 for the Family Pantry last year. 

 “That’s far more support than a small business like The Chronicle could ever provide on its own,” Wood said. “As always, the heroes of this story are our readers.”

The holiday campaign was boosted by a generous last-minute $5,000 donation by Bill Marsh of Chatham, doubled to $10,000. It was made in memory of former Chatham Natural Resources Director Dr. Robert Duncanson, who passed away on Dec. 15.

 When the newspaper launched Helping Neighbors in 2004 under the leadership of Publisher Hank Hyora, it had no set fundraising goal, and still managed to raise $11,265 for the Family Pantry. The generosity has increased steadily through the years, keeping pace with the increased need for services on Cape Cod. Since its inception, Helping Neighbors has raised over $2.3 million.

While the Helping Neighbors campaign is over, the Family Pantry continues to welcome donations through its website, www.TheFamilyPantry.com. The website also explains how to inquire about getting help with food and clothing. 

The 2026 Summertime Helping Neighbors campaign will launch on Memorial Day.