10/30/2025
Good Evening,
As many of you are aware due to our country’s current political instability, we are in an active government shutdown and effective tomorrow on Friday, October 31, 2025, there is a high likely hood and potential for snap benefits not to be funded or reactivated within the Commonwealth.
Upon doing some research I had learned that roughly one out of every three Fall River residents currently receive some form of SNAP benefit or food assistance, I also had learned today that there is roughly 93,000 residents in our city of which I not only own a business in, work every day in, but also proudly reside in as a member of our community, and to think even one out of every three of my fellow Fall Riverites could go hungry due to our government's current instability bothers me to my core as a human being.
Many people do not know this about me, prior to the position I am in now in life our household received SNAP Benefits as a child. When I say the struggle is real for families the struggle is real, prices of food have increased substantially.
In response to this current crisis, I have decided to personally donate $50,000.00 towards starting a temporary nonperishable food drive, I have also decided as President and Owner of Southcoast Funeral Homes that the funeral homes will match my donation, so combined we can acquire $100,000.00 of nonperishable food items for the community.
Effective this Sunday, November 2, 2025, between the hours of 12 Noon and 3:00 PM we will be hosting a Non-Perishable Food Drive for Fall River residents and their families in need at our 1555 Pleasant Street, Fall River, Southcoast Funeral Home Location. The only item that we require is proof of Fall River residency, to maximize the assistance to the community we will be permitting three full grocery bags per family during each event. Our goal is to run a Non-Perishable Food Drive out of our Pleasant Street Location every Sunday from 12 Noon – 3:00 PM until Sunday December 21, 2025.
In keeping with Massachusetts General Laws and the Rules and Regulations of the Massachusetts Funeral Board these non-perishable food drives will be restricted to non-perishables, non-alcoholic, non-refrigerated items, nor will they be provided in any general vicinity or same floor level as the care and custody of human remains. Our firm is upholding the highest levels of compliance with regards to still honoring and respecting individuals loved ones and their rights to privacy as no services will be held on any of these Sunday’s.
Committed to Putting Families First.
Tom James
