When CFNCM awarded $5,000 to the Ashby Free Public Library for the Ashby Harvest Health Initiative, we hoped to support healthier eating habits and better digital access to healthcare for rural residents. What we didn't anticipate was that this investment would catalyze a community-wide transformation, one that continues to grow long after the grant period has ended.
The library's work offers a compelling example of what thoughtful, community-rooted programming can accomplish. Here's what our grant made possible.
Cooking Classes That Changed the Way Families Eat
Led by library staff, the cooking program brought Ashby residents together around seasonal, affordable, locally grown food. Classes focused not on gourmet techniques but on practical meals families could realistically prepare at home — a philosophy that resonated deeply with participants of all ages.
A CSA cooperative series became a particular highlight: each week, participants received "mystery vegetables" from a local farm share and collaborated to prepare them. Families reported a significant increase in both vegetable consumption and enjoyment, including vegetables they had previously refused to eat.
"I never thought I'd enjoy kale, but after making the Miracle Salad with my kids, it's now a regular part of our meals!"
- Program Participant
Children's sessions drew immediate enthusiasm, with kids eagerly eating fresh spinach salads and asking for seconds. Community demand for new topics led to additional workshops on kimchi, sauerkraut, rice bowls, fire cider, and gluten-free cooking — well beyond the original program scope.
Digital Health Literacy: Real Help for Real Needs
The grant also supported digital literacy programming to help residents access online healthcare resources and telehealth services. Early on, library staff recognized that the structured workshop model wasn't meeting participants where they were. Medical and digital access needs are deeply personal; people needed help solving real, immediate challenges, not hypothetical exercises.
The program pivoted to one-on-one instruction tailored to each participant's specific needs: setting up telehealth appointments, navigating patient portals, and accessing medical records. The result was transformative.
"I can finally access my medical portal and schedule telehealth appointments on my own — it's changed how I manage my health."
- Program Participant
An Unexpected Outcome: The Ashby Food Project
Perhaps the most powerful result of our investment was one nobody planned for. The energy generated by the cooking and health programs inspired a community member to make food justice her mission. What had been a single shelf of occasional pantry donations became the Ashby Food Project, a robust, community-centered initiative pairing food access with nutrition education.
When SNAP benefit cuts took effect in October and local job losses hit the community, the food pantry was already positioned to respond. As winter arrived, the project expanded further to include coat distribution. The library became a critical lifeline for families navigating an especially difficult season.
"Beyond the direct program outcomes, this grant has enhanced community engagement, built sustainable infrastructure around food justice and education, and created lasting opportunities for residents of all ages. We are deeply grateful for CFNCM’s support, which has enabled us to amplify our mission and make a meaningful, enduring difference in the lives of Ashby residents.”
- Heather Brody Perry, Library Director
The Food Project has since attracted $2,500 in additional grants from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, along with hundreds of dollars in community donations, resources that would not have materialized without the infrastructure our grant helped create.
Lasting Impact: A Community Cookbook
The recipes developed throughout the initiative have been compiled into a community cookbook, now available at the library and on Amazon. The cookbook explicitly credits this grant as the catalyst for its creation, a permanent, public acknowledgment of what community investment can spark. Proceeds support the library's ongoing programs.
Why This Grant Matters
Ashby is a small, rural town where residents don't always have easy access to health resources, fresh food, or technology support. The library serves as a critical community hub, and this grant gave it the capacity to do something remarkable.
For us at CFNCM, this project is a reminder of why we invest in community-based organizations. The Ashby Free Public Library didn't just deliver a program. It listened, adapted, and built something sustainable. The Harvest Health Initiative has generated a cookbook, a food justice project, expanded digital equity programming, and a community that is more connected, healthier, and better equipped to face challenges together.
We are proud to have played a role in making it possible.
For more information about the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts please contact Meghan Maceiko at mmaceiko@cfncm.org
