Table Talk: Summer 2023

A Groundbreaking Achievement!

After three years of planning, we don’t need to imagine the Seacoast Regional Food Hub much longer.
On Tuesday, August 8, we celebrated the groundbreaking at 114 Bridge Road, Salisbury, alongside more than 75 of our partners, from elected officials to food access partners to our devoted community of donors and volunteers.
The physical groundbreaking took place the same week; contractors began the loading dock excavation, demolition inside the building and concrete abatement in the warehouse. The entire project is expected to take 6 months from start to finish, with hopes to open access to the warehouse prior to completion.
Once complete, the food hub will have a major impact on food insecurity in 17 communities across the Lower Merrimack Valley by expanding storage capacity and creating more efficient food procurement and distribution.
This project is only possible because of the community of support ONT has received over 31 years, allowing us to grow from a small food pantry inside a church to a regional food access agency that served more than 1 million meals last year.
But our work is not done. This $7.8 million project has already raised $3 million from public funds and private donors, and we will continue to work closely with our partners to raise the rest.
Want to learn more? Visit www.ourneighborstable.org/foodhub.

What's in the Food Hub?

The Seacoast Regional Food Hub will include:

• A triple-loading dock for deliveries and pickups, including a Greater Boston Food Bank cross-dock
• 3,000 square feet of refrigeration and freezers
• 7,000 square foot warehouse
• Free Salisbury Grocery Market
• Community Conference Room
• ONT headquarters

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Volunteer Spotlight: Anna Bradfield, Newburyport

​When Anna Bradfield moved to Newburyport to be closer to her grandchildren after her husband passed away in 2020, she was looking for friendship and a purpose. She found both at Our Neighbors’ Table.
“The friendships and the people are most important to me,” Anna says. “There’s not a volunteer here that isn’t a nice person.”
The former Dean of Education for Bridgewater State University from 2003-2017, she also enjoys being part of a team instead of being in charge. Anna has worked in almost every volunteer role at ONT, and tries to fill in where she’s needed. She started in the warehouse because she enjoyed the physical labor and was interested the logistics of the supply chain. At one point she was known as the food drive lady, because she was always willing to help unload and sort the donations. When the Market needed more help, she shifted her efforts there. She’s even handled the phones.
“I enjoy the community here,” she says. “People need food. There is nothing bad about this work, and Our Neighbors’ Table is a great organization.”
Know someone who would enjoy becoming part of our community? Tell them to volunteer!

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Hunger Action Month: Get involved today!

Building a food secure community requires a community of support! For Hunger Action Month, we are launching our community mobilization effort to expand the network of support for regional food security so we can take full advantage of the Seacoast Regional Food Hub's expanded storage capacity. We need your help! Learn more here! 
GET INFORMED:

• Follow ONT on Facebook and Instagram, and share our posts!

• Join ONT's email list
• Attend the Annual Breakfast October 24

TAKE ACTION:

• Fill out a Volunteer Application
• Make a donation: $1 = 1 meal for a neighbor in need
• Join the Breakfast Club as a recurring donor
• Sponsor & Serve a Community Meal

RALLY YOUR NETWORK:

• Start a virtual food drive
• Become a Social Media Ambassador
• Host a Table to Table Gathering

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We are growing! Meet our new staff

Since our last newsletter, the Our Neighbors' Table family has grown!
Welcome to our new staff members:
Leanne Cavallaro, Development Associate
Will Courtney, Associate Director of Communications
Greg Ezell, Program Director
Kayleigh Hudson, Warehouse Assistant
Join our team! Visit ourneighborstable.org/careers to view current openings. Or sign up and volunteer!

Gregg Ezell

Leanne Cavallaro

Kayleigh Hudson

Will Courtney

News & Events

Demand for Market up this summer

A post-pandemic THANK YOU!

Save the date! Upcoming events

Since officially re-opening to in-person shopping in June, the Amesbury Market is seeing record numbers of families come through each week. In the first week of August, the number of households utilizing the market increased more than 30% over last year, surpassing 600 households each week in August. The market has also helped more than 400 families with children this summer through the Summer Lunch Program. Visit our website for more information on our markets.

This summer we officially ended our pandemic protocols, brought back our Amesbury Market to in-person shopping and the Community Meal to in-person dining, and ended our vaccine requirement for volunteers.
​Food insecurity doesn’t stop during a pandemic, and our staff and volunteers rose to the challenge. Thank you to everyone who made sure our neighbors stayed food secure under the most difficult circumstances.

There is a lot going on at Our Neighbors’ Table this fall!

• September 12 – Spoon Platoon reception, 4-7 p.m., Jardis-Taylor Center, Amesbury
• September 19 – Volunteer Appreciation Event, 5-7 p.m., Heritage Park, Amesbury
• October 24 – Annual Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., 114 Bridge Road, Salisbury, future home of the Seacoast Regional Food Hub