May 11, 2010

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – A world renowned musician is giving back  to western Massachusetts.

Two years ago, world famous cellist,  Matt Haimovitz, received a grant from the Grinspoon Foundation to take  some of his students to Israel. Now he’s in town to play  a benefit concert for Rachel’s Table. But first, he got a first  hand look at what the non-profit does for people in the community.

He  followed around volunteer Ronda Jackowitz on Tuesday as she picked up  food for donation at Big Y in Longmeadow.

Each week, Ronda  travels to different businesses to pick up leftover food and then  delivers it to the Seniority House in Springfield.

“There are so  many vendors with leftover food and nothing to do with it and this gives  them the opportunity to help people who would otherwise go hungry,” she  said.

“We don’t do this every week like she does, but it’s  heartwarming to see it in action,” Matt said.

Now Matt will also  give back to the community through music, by playing a brief concert for  some of the residents at Seniority House. The benefit concert will be  Wednesday night at Glenbrooke Middle School in Longmeadow.

by Jackie Brousseau

Story link: wwlp.com