Our Neighbors' Table
  • Home
  • About
    • Annual Reports
    • FSAG
    • Strategic Plan
    • Contact Us
  • Get Food
    • Programs + Services
    • Guest Newsletter
  • Give
    • Breakfast Club
    • Planned Giving
    • Ways to Make a Donation >
      • Securities
  • Help Fight Hunger
    • Volunteer >
      • Volunteer Application
    • Host a Food Drive
  • News/Events
    • InspiringStories

Table Talk, August 2018: Laying the Path to Food Security

8/20/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
In our last issue, we celebrated Amesbury as a Food-Secure City. Through partnerships with schools, city services, social service partners, and hundreds of private citizens, ONT has helped raise awareness of food insecurity in Amesbury and has created and sustains a network of resources to provide food for all residents in need. Today, I am thrilled to report that ONT is well on its way to mobilizing neighboring communities to do the same. Over the last eight months, ONT has convened the Food Security Advisory Group and its Assessment Working Group to develop a plan to better understand where and why food insecurity persists in our region. We launched this assessment in July and will issue a first round of findings later this Fall.
 
While we work with our partners to gain this knowledge, we are simultaneously piloting new programs and projects, building new partnerships and using our experience, lessons from national leaders to strengthen the existing network of food resources across our region.
 
The thought of declaring our entire region as food-secure is both incredible and entirely possible. Our experience in the City of Amesbury, and in just the short time of engaging community members in Newburyport has demonstrated that one of our region’s greatest strengths is the motivation of its citizens to mobilize and take care of one another. ONT experienced that eagerness first-hand in 2016 when we raised $1.1 million to open the Jardis-Taylor Center, and again this June. With 10 days left in our Spring Appeal, we put out a call to community members to meet a $10,000 challenge match. Well, the community answered and raised the bar – raising $21,000! ONT secured it’s $10,000 matching gift and finished the Spring Appeal well over its goal, having raised $113,000! To everyone who made a donation, helped spread the word, or volunteered in our programs putting those dollars to work, I thank you. I thank you on behalf of the thousands of guests, particularly the 900 children who have come to know that their community will be here to keep their bodies nourished and nurtured.
 
I am personally excited at the potential we hold to ensure every one of our neighbors never has to worry about going hungry. And I hope – I know – you are too. I look forward to sharing our ongoing progress with you and invite you to get involved – volunteer in our programs; take a tour of our groundbreaking market; join us at Fill ‘Em Up Fest September 8, and at our Annual Breakfast in October; and become a sustaining donor. You’d be amazed at what we can accomplish with just $25 a month.
 
                                                                                              Here’s to a Path to Food Security!
                                                                                                             Lyndsey Haight
                                                                                                            Executive Director

ONT Launches Regional Assessment to Understand Barriers to Food

​​Over the last 8 months, the Food Security Advisory Group (FSAG) has convened and declared food insecurity an important issue in our region. More importantly, the members of the group have agreed that time and resources need to be dedicated to understanding and addressing hunger and food security for all residents. Working through its Regional Assessment Working Group, member agencies and municipalities have launched the first phase of our regional food security assessment. Surveys are being administered at Anna Jaques Hospital, Children’s Health Care, local Councils on Aging and online to start to understand where and why local residents experience barriers to getting enough food and getting enough nutritious food.

Volunteer Spotlight - Mike Pollard

Over 540 Children Served This Summer

Picture
Twice a week,  Mike Pollard drives the ONT box truck down to Boston and brings it back to the Jardis-Taylor Center full of pallets of fresh produce, dairy, meat, and non-perishable items. Read more about Mike in this month's Volunteer Spotlight! 
​ONT is looking for more volunteers to drive the box truck for food pick-ups locally. Training is provided. Contact Alice or fill out a Volunteer Application today if you're interested in driving the truck like Mike! 
​
P.S. ONT loved showing appreciation to our volunteers at the 2018 Volunteer BBQ. Check out the pictures if you missed it!

Announcements

Picture
Fill 'Em Up Fest: September 8
ONT's annual food truck festival is fun for all! Tickets are $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Kids 12 and under free! 

Annual Breakfast: October 23
ONT's Annual Breakfast returns to Blue Ocean Event Center on October 23. We look forward to sharing and celebrating our progress with you.

ONT Open Houses Announced! 
Ever wondered what the market looks like? Have a friend curious about what you do at ONT? RSVP to one of our Fall Open Houses to get a tour and glimpse of a day-in-the-life here at Our Neighbors' Table.

Check out the entire 2018 Calendar of Events!

Welcome, Aaron!

Picture
​Aaron Merrow is our new Market Manager. Stop in to say hi next time you're at the Jardis-Taylor Center!

Insights from Local Philanthropist
​ONT is proud to be a 2017 recipient of the Cummings Foundation $100K for 100 grant program. Cummings Foundation co-founder Bill Cummings has written a book about his life and philanthropy, Starting Small and Making it Big, with proceeds to benefit the Cummings Foundation's work.
Picture
​ONT's Summer Lunch Program continues to be a lifeline for families while the kids are home from school. Now in its 8th year, the Summer Lunch Program offers families specific foods for breakfast, lunch and snacks that are both kid-friendly and wholesome. 541 kids have been able to eat oatmeal and bananas for breakfast before camp or enjoy a snack of carrots and hummus after a morning of playing outside. As one parent told ONT, "Summer is hard financially because the kids are home and eat twice as much. God bless and thank you."

Kids Fill 'Em Up!

Picture
A huge THANK YOU to all of the kids who collected donations for ONT with a Fill 'Em Up Bag this summer! Over $3,750 was raised through 99 bags - helping to provide over 4,000 meals for children and their families this summer! 

Men Fighting Hunger

​Fun was had by all at our inaugural Grill Master's Challenge & Brew Party! Check out the event pictures and make sure you don't miss out on next year's event!
Picture

Join ONT's Run Out Hunger Team!

Picture
We need your help to Run Out Hunger! Runners (or non-runners!) of all abilities are invited to support ONT and get a VIP experience for the Newburyport Half Marathon on October 21. Each runner commits to raising a minimum of $500 to support Our Neighbors' Table, which will provide more than 500 meals to the community. Personalized online giving pages are available to easily collect donations from your family, friends, and co-workers.
Never run a half marathon before? No problem - we have you covered! Studio Five in Rowley is offering coaching to support your training to get you across the finish line.

2018 Great Neighbors

​Thank you to these Great Neighbors for making a big impact on hunger. Join their ranks and become a Great Neighbor today!
Picture
0 Comments

ONT Launches Regional Assessment to Understand Barriers to Food

8/20/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
ONT’s 2020 Strategic Plan lays a Path to Food Security, focusing on the communities of Newburyport, Salisbury and Merrimac, where current data demonstrates greatest need. The core component of ONT’s success in creating a food-secure Amesbury and expanding regional food security is its strategic partnerships with public and private institutions and with private citizens. ONT has convened local leaders to form the Food Security Advisory Group. Members include Anna Jaques Hospital, Children’s Health Care, Mayor Holaday (Newburyport), Mayor Gray (Amesbury), superintendents and school personnel from the Newburyport, Merrimac, Pentucket and Triton school districts, the Merrimac Police Department, Pettengill House, Newburyport and Salisbury Councils on Aging, and the Greater Boston Food Bank.
 
Over the last 8 months, the Food Security Advisory Group (FSAG) has convened and declared food insecurity an important issue in our region. More importantly, the members of the group have agreed that time and resources need to be dedicated to understanding and addressing hunger and food security for all residents. Working through its Regional Assessment Working Group, member agencies and municipalities have launched the first phase of our regional food security assessment. Surveys are being administered at Anna Jaques Hospital, Children’s Health Care, local Councils on Aging, libraries and online to start to understand where and why local residents experience barriers to getting enough food and getting enough nutritious food.
 
“Current research shows that 80% of illnesses and hospitalizations are tied directly to the food that we eat,” shares Dr. Gail Fayre, Chief Medical Officer at Anna Jaques Hospital. “Our joint efforts will help inform best practices to address local need.”
 
Over the next two years, ONT and the FSAG will focus on uncovering areas of unmet need and developing creative strategies to ensure no one falls through the cracks. “Our region is fortunate to have a number of food resources available. The challenge is understanding why people do not or can not participate in these resources and if the existing programs are best suited to meet their need,” states Lyndsey Haight. “But we are deeply encouraged by the interest and commitment of local leaders to solve this problem.”
 
For more information about the Food Security Advisory Group or how you can get involved with the regional assessment, please contact ONT Executive Director, Lyndsey Haight, at lyndsey@ourneighborstable.org.

0 Comments

Volunteer Spotlight - Mike Pollard

8/17/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Have you ever wondered how Our Neighbors’ Table gets all of its food? Well, a large part of it comes from the Greater Boston Food Bank located in South Boston. And thanks to Amesbury resident and ONT volunteer Mike Pollard, it arrives at our Market and into the shopping carts of our guests. Twice a week, Mike drives the ONT box truck down to Boston and brings it back to the Jardis-Taylor Center full of pallets of fresh produce, dairy, meat, and non-perishable items. Mike logs over 165 miles per week for ONT and we would be lost without him!

Mike has been volunteering for ONT for a long time—so long in fact, he can’t remember when he started! He thinks it’s been about four or five years. He began volunteering after he retired from his career as a self-employed chimney sweep. “I had a lot of time on my hands,” Mike said. “I liked the idea of driving. I was a little involved in social programs before but was frustrated not knowing if I was doing things effectively. Driving a truck is straight forward, and I know I’m doing it right.”
​
Mike is also a key piece of the Merrimac Mobile Market. He drives the truck full of fresh produce and wholesome food to the Merrimac Senior Center one Saturday a month. Mike has a valued volunteerism for much of his life. He served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member in 1970 with New Hampshire Legal Services. When he’s not volunteering with ONT, Mike enjoys exercising, reading, spending time with his wife and finding the best baked goods to satisfy his sweet tooth.
​
When asked why he volunteers Mike says, “I like giving to the community. It makes me feel good and it’s satisfying. I like being reliable and I believe providing food to people is really important.”
​
Want to volunteer like Mike? Complete our volunteer application and we'll get you started! 
0 Comments

    Categories

    All
    Around Town
    Donations
    Events
    Food Drives
    Food Insecurity
    Fundraisers
    How To Help
    Most Needed Items
    Newsletter
    Table Talk Newsletter
    Volunteer Opportunities

    Archives

    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    November 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    September 2013
    May 2012
    September 2010

    RSS Feed

Our Neighbors' Table
P.O. Box 592
Amesbury, MA 01913

Call us @ 978.388.1907
Emergency Hotline: 978.835.3016
Picture
Our Neighbors' Table is a proud member of:
Picture
Picture
Photo used under Creative Commons from emily.laurel504