2024 GHSMGA Food Pantry Donation Is Biggest Yet! 

During the throes of COVID in 2020, the Greater Holliston Senior Mens’ Golf Association (GHSMGA) took advantage of loosening rules about gathering outdoors, to indulge in its namesake activity.  At that time there was concern that passing cash could also pass germs.  Thus began what has become an annual event – a donation from the members – in lieu of weekly wagers. 

Below, the first donation of $531 was delivered to the Holliston Pantry Shelf by way of a LONG ball retriever – Wally Thornton and Bob Keeley (1^st and 2^nd from left) passed the check to Dave O’Neil as Peter Eagan looked on – all socially distant and fully masked. 

The threat of passing germs via cash has passed, but the custom of tallying up our annual donation (roughly based on winnings and losings) continued.  In 2021 the donation rose to $703.  In 2022 the group’s donation topped $1,000, reaching $1,015. After the 2023 season, $1,465 was donated.  

This year, the 20 or so members from Holliston and neighboring towns ran up a new high – $2,100.50 – donated in memory of Bob Nemet, a long-time member of the Pantry Shelf’s Board of Directors, who recently passed. 

Each year the group adds new members whose generosity seems to have no limits.  Below are most of the active members seen at the annual awards’ night.  (Photo courtesy of Sharon Thornton. 

The members of the association wouldn’t be allowed to play golf once or twice each week if it weren’t for their wives.  In fact, the Commissioner, Wally Thornton, often reports that wives call him to schedule more golf so there can be peace and quiet at home.  The smiling ladies below verify that they’re happy to see us go – and come home with golf tales.  (Photo courtesy of Sharon Thornton) 

The Holliston Pantry Shelf serves about 260 families, roughly 450 individuals.  At this time each year the Pantry Shelf gives out $100 gift cards to registered families for holiday meals.  Dave O’Neil, Pantry Shelf Treasurer, (second from left below) noted the timeliness of this year’s donation, as those gift cards will be distributed beginning Monday, December 9^th. 

Below, Chris Cain (left) and Peter Eagan (right) witness Wally pass Dave this year’s donation that brings the five-year total to $5,814.50. 

(Photo courtesy of Sharon Thornton) 

Clearly the members of the GHSMGA embrace the Pantry’ s Shelf “neighbors helping neighbors” theme and look forward to continuing what has become our annual tradition.