LEEDS, Mass. (WWLP) - Members of the Northampton Elks Lodge held a check presentation to the Veterans Food Pantry on Saturday. The Northampton Lodge of Elks No. 997 donated $4,000 to be used to purchase and distribute food to veterans in need. The food pantry opened nearly three years ago and ser ves approximately 744 veterans and their families. This year alone, over 16,000 pounds of food have been distributed. Mass. exploring possible third state-run veterans’ home “Northampton Lodge of Elks No. 997 is providing this donation through the Elk’s Beacon Grant Program which funds community needs identified by our local Lodges,” says Lou Gingras, Northampton Elks Lodge No. 997 Loyal Knight. “Nationally, one in five veterans suffers from food insecurity, which is nearly double the average for the general population. Supporting veterans is the Elks number one priority. We are asking veteran groups and the general public to join us in supporting the Veterans Food Pantry by donating nonperishable food, and monetary gifts to the Pantry." The Veterans Food Pantry is located at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Health Care on 421 N. Main Street in Leeds. They are open Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For those who wish to donate, they can drop off weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local News Headlines EPA to hold hearing on water pollution control permits Construction begins at Pontoosuc Lake Park Portion of Cold Hill Road in Granby closed due to crash Pittsfield man sentenced to prison for multiple counts of sexual assault of a child WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. ...read more read less