1 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:11,560 Speaker 1: From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England 2 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: Weekend where each and every week right here we come 3 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 1: together we talk about all the topics important to you 4 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: and the place where you live. Thanks again for tuning 5 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: in this week. I'm Nicole Davis. You may not like 6 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,160 Speaker 1: your food overly spicy. I know I don't, but a 7 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: little bit of seasoning at least can transform what was 8 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: a boring meal into something both nutritious and tasty. If 9 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: you listen to the show frequently, you know we talk 10 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 1: often about food insecurity and its prevalence in Massachusetts. But 11 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: when people are able to get a hold of much 12 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 1: needed food through food banks or pantries, usually spices and 13 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: seasonings are not part of that deal. The Boston Public 14 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 1: Library says it's doing its part to change that. Library 15 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: officials are now asking for your help to pull together 16 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: spices and seasonings for local families. And here to tell 17 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: us all about this, we have Ali Hahn on the show. 18 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: She is the children's librarian at the Branch and Brighton Center. 19 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: It is good to have you here, Ali, and I've 20 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: got to know the library is usually big on books. 21 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 1: Why is the BPL getting involved in. 22 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 2: Spices so we are talking about spices at the library 23 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,920 Speaker 2: because libraries are in a lot of ways community hubs. 24 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 2: They are places that people gather and they are a 25 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 2: place that people think of when they think of community 26 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 2: and helping and connecting with each other. And so we 27 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,319 Speaker 2: thought it was a great place to kind of expand 28 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 2: on what we do. And a lot of folks in 29 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 2: the library are always looking for ways to do more 30 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: or to donate and get involved in their community, and 31 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 2: we're a great way to connect people with that. And 32 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 2: so the Spice Bank allows for us to not only 33 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 2: help people and provide folks and food pantries and community 34 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 2: members with spices which are sometimes out of reach due 35 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 2: to cost or availability to folks. We help connect them 36 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 2: with those spices and give them to our local food 37 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 2: banks and food pantries so that people can stay culturally 38 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 2: connected to spices, eat yummy, delicious food. And it's a 39 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 2: great way to also connect people and have them feel 40 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,639 Speaker 2: like they're doing something really directly that helps the community 41 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 2: they already live in. 42 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, you think about food banks and food pantries that 43 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:22,800 Speaker 1: right now, frankly are doing Yemen's work. They are incredible institutions. Yeah, 44 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: but spices are not really something you think about when 45 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: you go to the food pantry. So this has got 46 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 1: to be a really big help for the Greater Boston 47 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 1: Food Bank and all the other food pantries you work with. 48 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, we often think about when we're donating food to 49 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 2: food pantries or food banks. We think about canned goods 50 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 2: and things with a long shelf life, and we think 51 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 2: about those boxed mac and cheeses, and there are things 52 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: that we don't always necessarily think about access to. Right, 53 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 2: so even for that box mac and cheese, like, does 54 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 2: somebody have access to milk or a dairy alternative to 55 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: like be making that mac and cheese? And then so 56 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:59,720 Speaker 2: an extension of that is do people have access to 57 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 2: this vices that they need to not just eat, but 58 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 2: eat well and eat in a way that is fulfilling 59 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 2: to them both in nutritional sense but also in a 60 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:14,120 Speaker 2: cultural sense and a way of like enjoying food. Food 61 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 2: is such a big way that we connect with each 62 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: other and connect to our culture and to our family traditions, 63 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 2: and so having those spices available means that someone gets 64 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,720 Speaker 2: to go home and have that experience and connect more 65 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 2: with the food that they're eating. It isn't just eating 66 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 2: so that we can keep going. It's eating because there 67 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: is a joy in sharing meal together and eating something 68 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 2: that reminds you of your family or something about yourself. 69 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: And so spices are kind of an extension of we 70 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 2: don't want people to just eat to eat, We want 71 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 2: them to eat to enjoy. And I think that that's 72 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: a big part of like BPL's overall mission is that 73 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 2: you know, a library is traditionally like a room full 74 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: of books, right that you can take home, And that's fantastic, 75 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: that's already addressing a need in the community, and that's great, 76 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 2: but we always see that as a way of like 77 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 2: how else can we connect? And it's not just oh, 78 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 2: I'm taking this book home, but it's like, how do 79 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 2: I feel connected to my library? And how do I 80 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 2: feel connected to my community? And so for me advocating 81 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 2: for the Spice Bank, it feels like a very natural 82 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 2: connection to be like, how do we help people connect 83 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:30,680 Speaker 2: to their culture, to their identity to other people through food? 84 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 2: And a lot of the answer to that is the 85 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 2: spices we use for making that food. 86 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: It's dignity as well, because if you find yourself in 87 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: a space where you do need to reach out to 88 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: the food bank, or you do need a food pantry, 89 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: which a lot of people in the city of Boston 90 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: are right now. It is not a failing by any means. 91 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 1: But you deserve the dignity to eat your food as 92 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 1: you choose to eat it. 93 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 2: Yes, And I think that also kind of like goes 94 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 2: hand in hand with what we try to do at 95 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 2: the library with connecting people to resource, is that we 96 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 2: our goal is to always be able to answer your 97 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 2: question in a judgment free way. There is no shame 98 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:11,679 Speaker 2: in the questions that people bring to us. You should 99 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 2: never feel embarrassed to bring those questions to us. And 100 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 2: so in that same vein kind of like we have 101 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 2: been providing folks with information about food resources for many years, 102 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,159 Speaker 2: I think especially now, it was more important than ever 103 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 2: that we have that available and we did. But we 104 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,600 Speaker 2: do like to think about like I don't want to 105 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 2: necessarily go like spiritually fulfilling, but like what nourishes you 106 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 2: outside of just like the basic things you need to 107 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 2: keep your body going, how do you feel nourished? And 108 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 2: spices play such a big role in that they can 109 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 2: totally change a meal and they can really elevate a 110 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 2: meal as well, and you know, it's a great way 111 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 2: to remind people that like things are delicious and good 112 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 2: and maybe a bright spot when you know, maybe food 113 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,440 Speaker 2: access is something that feels very stressful. To be able 114 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 2: to go home and have or have a meal that 115 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 2: is reflective of your experience or that just tastes so 116 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 2: good is a break from that. It is a break 117 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,160 Speaker 2: from having to think about all the time where your 118 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 2: next meal is coming from nourishing in a different way, 119 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 2: I think, while still also helping to connect people to 120 00:06:20,520 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 2: the things they need to nourish themselves with in order 121 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 2: to continue on. 122 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: So if people want to donate and they want to assist, 123 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: I am assuming the Spice Bank. It's not like that 124 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 1: seed bank in small bart or whatever, where it's just 125 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: a giant building where you show up with a bunch 126 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 1: of coriander. It's a little less intensive than that. Where 127 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 1: can people donate and what should they bring? 128 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, So there are quite a few branches across the 129 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: city that are accepting donations. The Adams Street Branch, the 130 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 2: Brighton Branch where I am, the Central Library in Copley Square, 131 00:06:53,279 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: Charlestown Branch, Fanual Branch, Jamaica Plane Lower Mills, North End, 132 00:06:57,960 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: Roslindale and South Boston. And all you do is you 133 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 2: can bring in an unopened spice or dried herb that's 134 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 2: been packaged. You can bring it in. There are little 135 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 2: boxes available. It'll depend on the location to where to 136 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 2: find it, but it should be somewhere near the front 137 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 2: desk where any staff member can help you out and 138 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 2: you just drop it in the box. You can speak 139 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,040 Speaker 2: with staff or you can just do so and like 140 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 2: leave on your regular book pickup. And when we collect 141 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 2: a certain amount of spices or the box gets full, 142 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 2: we connect with the organization that we donate to. So 143 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 2: in Brighton we work very closely in partnership with the 144 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 2: food pantry over at the Congregational Church, and so that's 145 00:07:38,920 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 2: an option for us to be able to donate to 146 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:44,680 Speaker 2: their food pantry or a local community fridge or a 147 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:48,400 Speaker 2: local food pantry. We really try to get the spices 148 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 2: into the communities they're donated in. So we're all connected 149 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 2: to different food banks and different food access providers through 150 00:07:56,200 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 2: the Greater Boston Food Bank. 151 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: Phenomenal and how long is this going on? For just 152 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: a few weeks or longer than that? 153 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 2: So it started November first, so we're right at the 154 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 2: beginning and it's going to run all the way until 155 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 2: April April fifteenth, which is one Boston Day or you know, 156 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 2: the marathon anniversary, or if you want to get really specific, 157 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 2: it's you know, tax Day. But up until April fifteenth, 158 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:24,920 Speaker 2: we are accepting those spices and really encouraging folks to 159 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 2: just bring something out of your cabinet or pick something 160 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 2: up a little extra at the store and drop it 161 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 2: off at your local library and we'll take care of 162 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 2: the rest. 163 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, And it's important to note here no bringing half 164 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: a thing of salt or no use spices. 165 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:42,559 Speaker 2: Please do not. Yeah, no used spices. And as much 166 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:46,360 Speaker 2: as I would love to have some basil from somebody's garden, 167 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 2: we do ask that it is professionally prepared, so it 168 00:08:49,840 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 2: comes packaged and it's followed all food safety standards. And 169 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:55,719 Speaker 2: that's all. The spices that you donate to us are 170 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:57,000 Speaker 2: new and unopened. 171 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: All right, phenomenal. Well, where can people find out more 172 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: about what's happening, not just with the Spice Bank, but 173 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: also everything going on at the BPL. 174 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, so our website is a great place to find 175 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 2: out about that. BPL dot org. We also have a 176 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 2: great instagram that keeps you in the loop about everything. 177 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 2: It's BPL Boston and then each of the local branches 178 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 2: typically has their own instagram as well, so folks should 179 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 2: look BPL and then their branch name to stay in 180 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,960 Speaker 2: the loop about their most local library events as well. 181 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 1: Okay, Alie, this is great info. Thank you so much 182 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: for all you do for the Spice Bank. 183 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 2: Awesome. Thank you, Nicole, and thanks for highlighting it. It's 184 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 2: a really cool thing and I'm glad that we're getting 185 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 2: the word out some more folks. 186 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 1: Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join me again 187 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole 188 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio.