The Commons in Lincoln Residents Collect More Than 600 Items During Food Drive to Benefit Local Food Pantry

The residents of The Commons in Lincoln, a continuing care retirement community in Lincoln, Massachusetts, recently wrapped up a nearly month-long food drive, collecting 667 food items for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Lincoln.

Community Food Drive Supports Local Families Facing Food Insecurity

The effort was led by resident Anne-Marie Seltzer, who, together with a group of fellow residents—Marilyn Jacobs, Judy Mayer, Joanne Monaghan, Toby Schlein and Don Seltzer—inspired The Commons’ community to contribute much-needed food items to support individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in the Lincoln and Weston area.

Local Partners Praise Generosity and Community Effort

“It was wonderful to work with Anne-Marie and her friends. We were blown away by the generosity of the residents at The Commons. This was an amazing, four-week-long food drive that provided so much high-quality food for our food pantry families. We are so grateful to Anne-Marie and to everyone who contributed to the drive,” said Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Lincoln and Weston Board Member Ursula Nowak.

Resident Leadership Drives Meaningful Impact

“The community food drive was an excellent example of how TCIL management, the Resident Council and residents work together to be good neighbors and help the broader community,” Anne-Marie said. “The volunteers at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Lincoln were wonderful to work with. The drive was definitely something special.”

Volunteer Experience Strengthens Community Commitment

While this was her first experience chairing an on-campus food drive, Anne-Marie has extensive experience as a volunteer and leader in the philanthropic space. From 2010 to 2016, she volunteered for the USO at Logan Airport and trained new volunteers. Additionally, she served as vice president of the Arlington Historical Society and produced several antique shows to raise funds.

Looking Ahead: Expanding the Food Drive Group

“I enjoy working on projects that allow me to see immediate results. In this case, it was knowing that the hard work everyone was doing—organizing the food according to type, packing boxes, labeling, storing and checking for expired food—would help our hungry neighbors,” Anne-Marie said.

Anne-Marie and her cohort, The Food Drive Group, currently includes five members and is seeking additional participants. They plan to host their next food drive after the 2026 holiday season.

Cover Photo: Residents Joanne M., Anne-Marie S. and Toby S. help deliver donations collected during The Commons Community Food Drive. Thanks to the generosity of residents, associates and families, more than 650 food items were gathered to support the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Lincoln.