Table Talk - Sunday, May 4

Budget Cuts Hitting Food Supply

In the first quarter of 2025, demand for our grocery programs rose 8% compared to 2024 as our funding and food supply face new threats from federal budget cuts. In April, the Greater Boston Food Bank, our largest food provider, lost $3.3 million of funding used to purchase healthy foods like chicken, milk, eggs and fresh produce. The funding pays farms to produce fresh food for frontline food programs and local schools. These are items we will need to purchase if we can't access a consistent supply.
The impact to our food supply is sustainable for now, but there are more dark clouds on the horizon. The prospect of rising grocery prices combined with further cuts to vital programs like the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) could set up a perfect storm for our food safety net.
Our community continues to step up in times of need, and this year local support is more important than ever. We can plan ahead when we know we can count on your donation each month. That's why one of the most impactful ways to support our work is with a recurring donation through our Breakfast Club. Together, we'll fill every table.

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Donations Make for Sweet Holiday

At Our Neighbors' Table, we believe everyone deserves great Easter and Passover memories. Together, we made that happen for hundreds of families across the region.
We asked our community to donate candy and 1,100 chocolate bunnies, and you came through. Atria Merrimack Place donated four cases of bunnies to put us over the top. Local school kids decorated Easter bags, and a crew of volunteers filled each one. Local girl scouts donated cases of cookies, adding another special holiday treat to the shelves. Our program team made sure whole chickens and stuffing were available to any family who needed one, and invited the Easter Bunny to the Community Meal.
​By week's end, we provided a holiday with dignity to 2,400 neighbors, one of our busiest weeks ever. It's amazing what happens when we come together for our neighbors. There are so many ways to help. Join us!

Calling All Schools - Start a Dollar Drive!

Our Neighbors' Table has a new way to get kids involved in giving back to their neighbors while showing some school pride along the way. Already, Amesbury Middle School and Newburyport's Molin Upper Elementary School in Newburyport are holding "Dollar Drives" to support local food security. The school that raises the most dollars gets to watch a movie at school! While money is the most effective way to support our mission because we can purchase food at lower prices, schools can also opt for a condiment drive. Get your school involved today! Contact Community Engagement Coordinator Leanne Cavallaro at [email protected] to learn more.

​Save the Date - Let's Celebrate!

At long last, we are ready to officially open the Seacoast Regional Food Hub and get it to work for the 17 communities we serve. This vital resource could not come at a better time. With a huge warehouse and and three giant cold storage units, we can increase the food supply and our partners' ability to access it. Join us and our partners on Thursday, June 5, at 9 a.m. as we celebrate the incredible community support that made this vision a reality.