From the Executive Director:
As I write, our world continues to change, affecting each of us differently. Right now is really hard, for so many, for so many different reasons. But it has been a call to action for many. From whichever chair you may be reading, I’d like to use this Table Talk to give you a moment of gratitude, hopefulness, and positivity. No matter what is happening in the world, I am grateful to spend every day here at ONT with the best of humanity. ONT’s spirit is still very present, no matter what our Market or Meal might physically look like. Volunteers and guests exchange warm smiles through the windshield, over the rims of their masks; friendly conversation rings through the phones; and online ordering gives a sliver of dignity and choice in a seemingly oppressive time. 
​
In the last 5 years, we’ve been working to raise awareness of food insecurity. Together, we’ve invested in increasing food access, reducing the shame and stigma in seeking help, and ensuring that whether you are a single elder, or a young family getting on their feet, you never had to worry about your next meal. There is no greater test of our impact than a global public health and economic crisis. So how have we done?
Schools/A+ - Every one of the school districts mobilized to distribute free breakfast and lunch to all of their students within a week of closing.
Seniors/A+ – Councils on Aging, housing authorities and elder services kept meals on wheels and grocery delivery constant, even expanding as needed.
Leadership: A+ – Mayors, town managers and social service directors put food access at the top of their planning lists on day 1.
Community – A+ – YOU have reached out to offer your time, make donations, pick up an order for your neighbor, create apps so people could find food. When it mattered most, our community has rallied to keep food on every table.

Thurgood Marshall said “The measure of a country’s greatness is it’s ability to retain compassion in crisis.” Our commitment to take care of each other in good times has made it possible for our compassion to translate into food security even in this crisis. We continue to serve those who were already struggling, and, without hesitation, have opened our programs to hundreds more who are scraping by. Please, continue to beat this drum, letting your neighbors know we are here for them. We are here for you.

And for those of you who have so generously given what you can to this mission, including the more than 700 people who gave to ONT for the very first time, thank you. This crisis will eventually end. Our new reality is still yet to be defined. Our 2019 Annual Report highlights some of our finest moments pre-COVID; let’s commit to making them the hallmark of our future.
Be safe, be well, be kind.
Lyndsey

When Heather McPeake sat in ONT’s community room for volunteer orientation in the summer of 2018, she never imagined she would be in the same room; packing grocery orders in a face mask.  Heather and her daughter came to ONT because they wanted to do something together to give back to their community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Heather found herself working from her home in Amesbury 4 days a week for a law firm. “I hadn’t volunteered for awhile and I was feeling like I wanted to do something help during the crisis,” Heather said. And help she is! Heather has answered the call and is helping in 2 crucial areas of ONT’s program operations. Read this month's Volunteer Spotlight ››

Virtual Food Drives
You can help stock ONT's Market safely from home by hosting a virtual food drive! Instead of collecting items in person, you'll collect financial donations that ONT will use to provide guests with fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats and toiletries.

​When Heather McPeake sat in ONT’s community room for volunteer orientation in the summer of 2018, she never imagined she would be in the same room; packing grocery orders in a face mask.  Heather and her daughter came to ONT because she wanted to give back her community and do something meaningful with her teenage daughter.  The two enjoyed volunteering together stocking shelves in the Market.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Heather found herself working from her home in Amesbury 4 days a week for a law firm. “I hadn’t volunteered for awhile and I was feeling like I wanted to do something help during the crisis,” Heather said. And help she is! Heather has answered the call and is helping in 2 crucial areas of ONT’s program operations.  On Wednesdays, she helps pre-pack the dry goods for the Newburyport pick-up orders. Heather she loves the organization of checking off the packing list and making sure the guest gets everything they ordered.
Heather is also part of our remote support team, helping guest with their customized grocery orders over the phone if they don’t have internet access to place their order. “I love talking to the guests on the phone,” she said. “Everyone is so nice, you can tell how appreciative they are for ONT.” Despite the programmatic changes, Heather says that the ONT atmosphere is still the same. She loves the team spirit and working side by side (from a safe distance!) with her neighbors to help each other.
Heather and her husband have called Amesbury home for 15 years. When not at ONT, she loves to cook, do yoga and go for nature walks with her 15-year-old daughter. If you see her out walking her yorkie, Elsie, be sure to wave hello!

Our Neighbors’ Table’s grocery programs remain open in the curbside pick-up. Our priority is and will continue to be ensuring people have consistent, reliable access to food as safely as possible.

ONT shifted to an entirely curbside model for grocery distribution on March 25 and will remain operating in the curbside pick-up model for the foreseeable future. Guests can pre-order groceries online and schedule the time to pick-up. If you cannot order online, please call 978-388-1907 to place your order. Groceries will be delivered directly to your car during your scheduled pick-up time. If you cannot leave your house, please have someone pick up for you. If you need delivery, please call 978-388-1907.

Ordering is for next day pick-up. We're sorry but we cannot process same-day pick-ups. Please place your order by 4:00pm the day before you want to pick it up. New  guests must fill out a guest registration before ordering and 

Curbside pick-up will be available at the following locations. 
Amesbury Market - Our Neighbors' Table, 194 Main Street​

• Wednesdays: 10:00am - 1:00pm and 2:00pm - 4:00pm 
• Thursdays: 12:00pm - 3:00pm and 4:00pm - 6:00pm
• Fridays: 9:00am - 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 3:00pm
• Saturdays: 9:00am - 1:00pm

​Newburyport Market - Nock Middle School, 70 Low Street

• Thursdays 10:00am - 12:00pm

Merrimac Market - Sweetsir School, 104 Church Street

• 1st and 3rd Saturdays: 9:00am - 10:30am

Wednesday Meal - Main Street Congregational Church, 145 Main Street, Amesbury

• Hot to-go meals will be available for takeout. Limited seating available to those who need it. Guests will come to the back entrance to receive the hot meals. If you are ill, please send someone to pick up your meal for you. If there isn't anyone available to pick up a meal for you, please call 978-388-1907 to make arrangements for food.

In addition to ONT's programs, we are maintaining an updated list of food resources across the region. You can view this list online or download a copy to your computer. Remember to check back regularly as things continue to change.

To do our part to minimize risk of infection and to allay fears of exposure in our community, ONT is taking the following steps:

• Communication: any changes in programs, policies or protocols will be communicated through our social media, email and website platforms
• Food access: Access to food when and where people need it remains our top priority. We are developing alternate distribution methods to assist people who are too ill to come to ONT or who are particularly vulnerable to the flu or Covid-19. Groceries will be distributed curbside to vehicles; Wednesday Meals are available for take-out at the back church entrance, with limited seating inside for those who need it. Additional protocols will roll out as needed. In the meantime, if you cannot come to us, please call our office 978-388-1907 to speak to a member of our program team to make arrangements.
• Protect yourself and others: If you are feeling ill or have recently come in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or is under investigation regardless of how minor your symptoms, we ask you to stay home. We make this request of staff, volunteers and guests. If you have recently come in contact with anyone who is displaying symptoms of or has been diagnosed with COVID-19, please do not come to ONT. If you are in need of food and are ill or have been exposed to the virus, please call us at 978-388-1907 to to make arrangements.
• Routine Screening/Cleaning: ONT is taking extra steps to screen all volunteers, staff and visitors. The ONT office is closed to outside visitors. Everyone on ONT premises will be screened for previous exposure and subject to hygiene and social distancing protocols. Handwashing continues to be an important part of maintaining a healthy environment. Extra washing, hand sanitizers, and surface cleaning will be routinely administered in all ONT environments.
• Crowd Control: We have slimmed down our volunteer shifts to the least amount of people possible in the building volunteer shifts will be minimized; staff and volunteers will be recruited in teams for specific “home bases” and timeframes to minimize potential spreading from one population to another.

 ​How can you help?

• Please help us spread this information so that people know how to access food.
• Please do NOT come to our office, market or other program locations unless you are a scheduled volunteer. Please do not come to drop off a donation or inquire about helping. You can reach us via phone or email: Lesley@ourneighborstable.org
• Help your neighbors: If you know of someone who is afraid, too ill, or too vulnerable to come out and get food, offer to come and get food for them or tell them to call us. We don’t want anyone going without.
• Volunteering: If you are in our volunteer system, be on the lookout for calls to action as we adapt our programming to developing needs. If you have never volunteered with ONT before, we appreciate your desire to help. We are now recruiting for "Team B" in case any currently scheduled volunteers become ill. If you would like to serve on "Team B," please email or call Melanie at 978-388-1907 x21. 
• Donations: With schools and community meals closing, ONT’s programs will be a critical resource for families and elders, in particular. Please consider a monetary donation to help us ramp up our programs. Financial donations allow us the flexibility to purchase whatever needs may arise in the coming weeks as our programs adapt to public health guidelines.  Donations can be made online at ourneighborstable.org/give.
• Food donations: At the direction of the local departments of public health, we are not currently accepting donations of food from the general public. However, if you would like to donate personal care items (toilet paper, shampoo, toothpaste, soap), those items are needed and can be most easily shipped to our warehouse via online purchasing. If you operate a commercial kitchen or retail outlet that has perishable foods that you need to get rid of, please call us as we may be able to redistribute those items through our programs.

Contact: 978-388-1907
Lyndsey Haight, Executive Director, x11
Lori Townsend, Program Director, x12