News From Our Table

A Way to Give Thanks!

March, 2013: Ten Local Banks Team Up to Stock the Pantry!

In a unique, collaborative effort, nine area banks (a total of 19 branches) will be collecting non-perishable food items for Our Neighbors’ Table Food Pantry. Participating banks will have collection boxes available in their lobbies throughout the month of March, and will be offering their customers the opportunity to make donations.

Lyndsey Haight, Executive Director of Our Neighbors’ Table, comments: “Our Neighbors’ Table is very excited about this extraordinary collaboration! Having the local banks join forces to work on reducing hunger in our community means so much to our agency and to the families and individuals that we serve. The food donated through this drive could potentially keep our shelves stocked throughout the spring and into the summer months. We are so grateful to the banks for their enthusiastic support of this project.”

Did You Know?

• Our Neighbors’ Table has been serving the community for more than 20 years.
  
• ONT’s guests come from the greater Amesbury/Newburyport region, including 12 cities and towns.
  
• The number of households coming to the ONT Food Pantry has increased 100% since 2011, with a 33% increase in the number of children served.
  
• In 2012, more than 12,300 visitors came to use ONT’s food pantry programs.
  
• Last year, ONT distributed nearly 310,000 pounds of food, or 238,000 meals to families and individuals in need.
  
• 1 in 12 households in Amesbury received food from the Food Pantry in 2012.

Our Neighbors’ Table Most Needed Items: Peanut Butter, Canned Tuna, Canned Chicken, Pasta Sauce, Baked Beans, Canned Meals (Ravioli, SpaghettiOs, Beef Stew), Canned Fruit, Shampoo, Deodorant, Razors, Toothpaste, and Toothbrushes)

This project was organized by Our Neighbors’ Table Food Drive Committee. The Committee thanks all the banks and everyone in the community for their generosity in helping to keep ONT’s pantry shelves stocked with food.

Our Neighbors’ Table services include a Wednesday Meal, Friday & Saturday Food Pantry, Merrimac Mobile Pantry, Emergency Food, Summer Lunch Program, Holiday Food Distribution and information/referral to other agencies in the community. ONT serves residents of Amesbury, South Hampton, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Salisbury, West Newbury, Groveland, Byfield, Boxford, Rowley and Georgetown.
 Participating Banks and Branches

Bank of America (2 State Street, Newburyport)

Citizens Bank (100 Macy Street, Stop & Shop, Amesbury)

Eastern Bank (17 Storey Avenue, Newburyport)

Institution for Savings (93 State Street, Newburyport; 68 Storey Avenue, Newburyport)

Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank (43 Main Street, Amesbury; 40 Friend Street, Amesbury; 63 State Street, Newburyport; 21 Storey Avenue, Newburyport; 27 High Road, Newbury; Merrill Street & Route 110, Salisbury)

The Provident Bank (5 Market Street, Amesbury; 1 Haverhill Road, Rt. 110, Amesbury; 66 Storey Avenue, Newburyport)

RTN Federal Credit Union (100 Macy Street, Amesbury)

Sovereign Bank (45 Storey Avenue, Newburyport)

St. Jean’s Credit Union (45 Storey Avenue, Newburyport)

TD Bank (51 State Street, Newburyport; 150 Main Street, Amesbury; 33 Low Street, Newburyport)

Our Neighbors’ Table needs your help to meet growing demand
It’s a typical question for someone to ask: “How’s work?” And, in today’s economy, the best answer you hope for is “We’re very busy”. But at Our Neighbors’ Table, that answer has a very different, and bittersweet meaning. Sure, our staff and volunteers like to be busy while they’re here. But being busy at ONT means that the need in our community continues to rise.

Regardless of what the media might report about the economy, whether it’s up today or down tomorrow, we know one thing for certain: the lines at ONT are longer than they’ve ever been in our nearly 20 years of existence. Since 2009, our attendance at our Saturday pantry has grown by over 40%. What’s more, those that are coming are in need of more food than they were before. In 2010, our Saturday pantry served an average 75 households per week. In early 2011, that number jumped to close to 90, and since June 2011 has topped 110. And each week, we sign up at least a handful of new people for our USDA program, which serves the neediest families who fall at or below 185% of the poverty level, or $41,000/year for a family of four. Even the latest US Census data reveals that many Amesbury households are barely making it. The 2009 median income for Amesbury was $70,522. According to the Crittenton Women’s Union annual economic index, it takes a family of four in eastern Massachusetts about $70,000/year to just put a roof over their head, food on the table, clothes on their back, and keep the lights on; this doesn’t cover extras like a car, cable, toys, sports, or other things many of us come to consider life’s necessities.

So how can you help? Right now, we need food. The best way you can help us serve more people and keep our costs down is by helping us stock our pantry shelves by making a food donation, organizing a food drive, or contributing to one of the existing food drives scheduled for the upcoming months. Check out the “Help Fight Hunger” page of our website for a list of our most needed items and ideas for food drives, and, as always, please feel free to call us for help or to answer any questions at 978-388-1907.

Are you planning an event to support Our Neighbors' Table? Please let us know and we'll help promote it!
Lyndsey@ourneighborstable.org
978.388.1907