The Mason Square Health Task Force — formed in 2007 with a $2.8 million grant from Baystate Health — may have closed its doors on Nov. 20, but its members say the work to improve healthy, affordable access to food in Springfield goes on.
“We no longer have a physical office, but we’re working diligently to transition the work because the work is important to all of us,” said Pastor J.P. Morgan Jr., of Holy Trinity Church and chairman of the task force.
Morgan said members of the task force, devoted to addressing health concerns within the inner city neighborhood, hope to make an announcement about a new financial partnership after the new year arrives.
“Other groups are very interested in moving that work forward,” said Annamarie Golden, board member on the task force’s executive committee and manager of public health and community relations for Baystate Health.
Golden said that the initial grant — awarded in 2007 — came with an expiration date.
“This funding was intended to be seed money,” Golden said. “Baystate would, through these funds, create some resources, bring partners together, mobilize community leaders and together they could find ways to continue the work.”
Because of economic adjustments in the years since 2007, Baystate is unable to make as much of a commitment as it did at the task force’s inception.
“Baystate doesn’t have the funds at its disposal to continue to invest in the ways that it has over the past several years,” Golden said.
Still, Golden, Morgan and the task force are confident in their ability to carry on the brand and continue their work in Springfield — which covers an array of health concerns, including diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and food access.
“We’ve just done some really great work so there’s an expectation,” said Morgan. “The community trusts us.”•
Contact Amanda Drane at adrane@valleyadvocate.com.
