ONT Executive Director Lyndsey Haight sat down with Dot to hear about her experiences as a guest and volunteer at Our Neighbors’ Table.

LH: What brought you to ONT for help?
Dot: I was going through a divorce and it took 3 years to start receiving child support. I was working a 30-hr/week job and had a daughter that had special medical needs that prohibited me from getting a second job. Friends helped me out a lot but they are not an unlimited resource and they have their own lives and needs to worry about.
One day it came down to either putting gas in my car to get to work or buy food.

LH: How did you find ONT?
Dot: I have two teenage kids. They had volunteered for ONT as part of their school. We lived in Amesbury so we were aware of the organization.

LH: What was it like to come to ONT for the first time?
Dot: I was so ashamed. I felt so humiliated on the drive over. I come from Manchester, MA, where people don’t think about getting help or the possibility of needing help. A lot of people were saying 'you should be getting a second or third job' but that wasn’t a possibility for me.
The day I came to ONT, I walked in and met Lori [ONT’s Pantry Director]. She chatted with me about regular things, like I had just met her in the grocery store. She treated me like a normal human being. After that, I left with my head held high. I felt like I left with my dignity intact – on my way over I felt like I was losing it by asking for help.

LH: How often did you use the programs at ONT for help?
Dot: I came to the pantry every Saturday for close to a year and then once in a while when things got tight.

LH: How did it make a difference for you?
Dot: Just to know that there was food in the cabinet to make a meal and to be able to feed my children a nutritious meal. I have type 1 Diabetes so it meant a lot to be able to come and get wholesome food and meat. It’s important for me to eat quality food to control my diabetes so that I can take care of myself and, as a result, take care of my kids. As money got tighter, the food I had to choose at the grocery store was the “cheaper” more processed food, not really what we should be eating.
Coming to ONT didn’t eliminate our financial constraints, but the meat we could get and the holiday meal program made a big difference. Knowing that if I was going to someone’s house for the holiday and could actually bring something to share, a pie or a dish – like a normal person – meant a lot to me.

LH: Can you talk a little about your experiences here at ONT?
Dot: I was standing in line and the woman in front of me was an attorney with three small children and a sick husband. She had lost her job. She never expected to be wanting for anything. But life circumstances happen – they can happen to anyone.
I had to put my pride in the back seat. I was raised that you don’t ask for help; that it’s the worst thing to ask for help. It was actually healing for me to be able to ask for help and to leave with my pride and dignity intact.
I came for the holiday program once and saw two women I knew well from town. I couldn’t come in; I made my sister come and get my food. The parent of my son’s friend was volunteering here. I didn’t want to come when she was here, and then I found out that they come here too.

LH: Did your children know you were using a food pantry?
Dot: At the time, my son was 14 and daughter was 17. They knew what our financial situation was like. It’s in the little things every day. We rented an apartment and got fuel assistance, so when the weather got cold, I’d tell them to put on another sweater.
They knew I had to come to ONT for help. We talked about it before I came; I told them I needed to get help. I usually tried to come by myself but sometimes they would wait in the car. After some time, they actually felt a little excited each time I came home with bags of food – digging through the bags to see what I got. There seemed to be a sense of relief – a bit different from their reactions when I came home from the grocery store. They loved making grilled cheese with the bread and cheese I got.
My son, now 16, was doing a psych project for school and said he almost misses being financially strapped because it made him appreciate the little things – things he doesn’t have to worry about now.

LH: Where are you today?
Dot: Today I am happily remarried. We have a joint income that supports our family. When we were dating, even though he wanted to take care of us, I still came here. I didn’t want to rely on him. I have a job I love at the NH SPCA. And now I can give back. It means a lot to give back at Our Neighbors’ Table.
It’s such a relief to be able to sleep at night and not worry about where our next meal is coming from.

LH: Why do you want to share your story?
Dot: I want people to not be afraid to ask for help. Everyone goes through it in one form or another. That energy you’re expending – that feeling of terror to think that you won’t be able to eat – you can focus that energy on working and changing your situation, or to focus on enjoying time with your children, it takes the joy out of your life, getting this help helps you put that joy back into your life and not focus all your energy on trying to dig out of this hole.
I used to have a nice house; we used to go on vacations. I used to go to Plum Island to go birding or go up to North Conway to hike. But that’s gas that is otherwise getting me to work. You realize all those little things that you once had in your day-to-day life. Then to realize you can’t stop at Dunkin’s for the $2 coffee because it meant taking food out of my kids’ mouths. Your life starts to shrink. 
It was so all-consuming. I was making $19,000 a year so a cup of coffee was a luxury. When everyone at the office is pitching in to get pizza and they stop asking you because they know you don’t have the money – you really feel bad about yourself. There's a ripple effect of how it affects your life.

LH: What would you want to say to someone debating looking for help?
Dot: You shouldn’t be afraid. You will be treated with an enormous amount of dignity. The relief is worth the anxiety you felt in deciding to come. And you will leave with your dignity. Everyone can fall on hard times and usually it’s temporary. It’s important to know there’s something to help you during that time.

LH: What would you say to someone who currently supports our programs?
Dot: With just an item or two, you’re making a big difference. Never underestimate the impact of one person. Taking a moment to buy a couple of healthy items allows people to have good choices – it’s so easy yet such a nurturing gesture. For someone to walk in and be able to pick up the brand of pasta they would normally buy if they could, gives such relief to that guest. Just that one item can give that person that feeling of normalcy in an otherwise very difficult time.

It was a big deal to get a big tube of toothpaste. The toiletries were a big deal. You think about needing food, but you don’t think about shampoo and soap until you realize you can’t afford them.

Growing up in an Italian family, I was immersed in the culture of food. I believe that good food is more than just sustenance. Food unites us all as human beings. Food is a common thread and a significant part of our culture. Mom taught me the importance of good food and nutrition and how important bringing the family together around the dining table was to our culture. For people with scarce economic resources, a regular source of nutritious food at little or no cost is a tremendously vital component of their existence.

My mom, Angeline, was a wonderful cook, and a great collector of recipes. As part of my work as Executive Director of the Amesbury and Merrimac Housing Authorities, I published a regular newsletter for our residents and would always include some of Mom’s recipes on the back page, under the heading The Recipe Lady. The residents loved these recipes, not only because they were delicious, but because they used common, inexpensive ingredients and seasonings – perfect for anyone on a budget who loves great food.

I was introduced to Our Neighbors' Table during my tenure at the housing authorities. Once I became aware of the mission and the good work that was being performed by ONT, I became a devotee. Our Neighbors' Table was a force of good that would assist our residents in a multitude of ways, not the least of which was to enhance “food security” by providing good nutrition, on a regular basis. Over the last decade, I have seen Our Neighbors’ Table expand its mission and outreach, even in the midst of difficult economic times for small charities. I get deeply involved in causes that I believe in, and Our Neighbors’ Table is one of my favorite charities. 

My participation in Our Neighbor’s Table was so important to me before my mom passed away in 2014 at the age of 97; and now especially after her death, it is a way I can continue to honor her and stress those things that were very important to her.

To honor my mother and to keep her memory alive, I have put together the best of her recipes in a cookbook called, appropriately, The Recipe Lady. The initial run of the “The Recipe Lady” cookbook will be paid for in full by my family to honor this great lady. All of the proceeds will go directly to Our Neighbors’ Table. One of the single most important aspects of mom’s life was “La Famiglia” (the family). I am sure she would be very pleased to know that her recipe collection will benefit families in need and give them the opportunity to gather together each day around the dinner table with a wonderful meal to nourish their bodies, minds and spirit.

Working with charities is an American Tradition. For me, the most important contribution I can make is to assure that elders, the disabled, and especially families with children have access to good nutrition. It's getting back to the basics. And it's about staying local.

It's too hot to cook, so come out with your family and friends and have fun for a great cause!

The Ale House is hosting a party to celebrate Tom Brady's birthday AND to support Our Neighbors' Table on Monday, August 3, 6:00pm. The event is open to the public and will feature a live drawing for a pair of tickets to see Tom Brady and the New England Patriots play at Gillette Stadium (Sect 204) and a framed, autographed action photo of the MVP Quarterback! Tickets are being sold through August 1st at the ONT office or online. 

In addition to the live drawing for the Pats tickets, the Ale House has also secured lots of other fun prizes, including a pair of BRUINS TICKETS to be raffled off that night! Remember, this event is open to the public, so get there early! And get your Patriots Raffle tickets now!

Thank you to ONT Board member Frank Childs for donating the tickets, to the New England Patriots for the autographed photo, and to Newburyport Framers for generously providing the custom framing.

ONT will be hosting a food drive this Saturday, July 18th, 9a-3p, at the Market Basket in Rowley. We're hoping to fill our box truck to help keep our food pantry programs stocked through the summer. 
Most people think of holding a food drive during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. But the reality is hunger is prevalent in our community year-round. Summer months are particularly hard for families whose children typically get free- and reduced- meals at school.
1 out of every 8 children and more than 1 out of every 5 seniors in our area are facing hunger and need our help.
Join us on Saturday, 9am-3pm, at Market Basket, Rte. 1, Rowley, and donate non-perishable food items and toiletries to help us keep food on our neighbors' tables all year. Check out our wishlist for our most-needed items. See you Saturday! 

The 2015 Align Credit Union Rock CAN Run raised nearly $4,000 to support ONT's food pantry programs! Now in it's second year, the Rock CAN Run, organized by 10-year old Andre Bailin and his friends, continues to grow and bring in great support for ONT. More than 100 runners, walkers and supporters of all ages turned up on June 14th for One Loud, Hard Mile up Po' Hill carrying bags of donated food and toiletries. This year's event featured celebrity runners Rep. Jim Kelcourse, Sen. Kathleen O'Connor Ives, and former Amesbury Chamber Executive Director Melissa Cerasuoulo. ONT sends a huge thank you to Andre and Eli Bailin and their entire team, to our celebrity runners, and to all of the runners and walkers who made the hard climb. And thank you to Align Credit Union for being our title sponsor! We'll see you all again next year!

When people lose their jobs or their homes and need somewhere to turn 
They come to Our Neighbors' Table and there they get help and they also learn.
You will ifnd the people there are friendly and kind
In today's world that is such a rare find.
People from all walks of life have been making the time to share
For at Our Neighbors' Table you are always welcome there.
The old, the young, and everyone in between
At Our Neighbors' Table today can be seen.
And there is so much more to Our Neighbors' Table than many ever see
There is compassion, hope, help and company for you, for me.
Volunteers will see what it is like to be someone in need
And see the faces, hear the stories of those whom your donations feed.
So give a little bit of your time to lend a hand
For at Our Neighbors' Table volunteers are always in demand
Please donate, drop by, help out, come by today
For you will feel much better
After making a difference to someone somehow in some way.

The event is boosted by the support from the local shops in the Carriagetown Plaza, including Papa Ginos, who provides free pizza to the volunteers, and Stop & Shop who provide coffee and hot chocolate and really help to promote the drive inside their store. RTN Credit Union will be accepting donations all week leading up to the drive. Whether you're shopping on Saturday or can just swing by to drop off donations you've picked up earlier in an another place, ultimately this day is a success because of YOU!

As we approach the holidays, so many of you are thinking of ways to give back. ONT is lucky to have such a generous community. In Amesbury, our busy food drive season kicked off with a bang with great drives organized by AHS students at the election polls and Scout Packs 4 & 7 in their annual Scouting for Food Drive. Combined, these drives brought in $1800 and more than 2,000 pounds of food! Thank you, all, for such a great job!

If you're going to the Amesbury-Newburyport Thanksgiving Football Game, the Boosters from both rival cities will host their annual food collection.
And, in case food drives aren't what you're looking for, you can host your own event. What better reason to have a party than to celebrate the holidays and invite your friends and family to support your favorite organization - Our Neighbors' Table? New this year - ONT now has a Giving Tree Program! Host a Giving Tree in your home or place of business, complete with tags for donations that will help feed your neighbors in need throughout the year. We've even created the tags for you! Email Joan.bukoskey@verizon.net for a complete Giving Tree kit or for tips on organizing your holiday party.

Do you like to shop? Help our guests "shop" in our pantry each Friday and Saturday. We have openings throughout November and December and are especially in need of volunteers to sign up for Friday and Saturday, January 2nd and 3rd. Friday shifts run 10am-1:30pm; Saturdays shifts are 9am-12:30pm. If you are available and want to pick up shifts, please email Betty. Haven't volunteered before? Fill out our volunteer application and email it to lyndsey@ourneighborstable.org today! You must be at least 16 years old to fill these shifts.

Do you like to pick things up and put things down? We are looking for some strong, physically active individuals to help us set up and break down our pantry on Fridays and Saturdays. Must be comfortable lifting up to 50 pounds at a time. No kidding!
Fridays - 8am - 10:30am; 12pm - 2pm
Saturdays - 7:30am - 9:30am; 11am - 1pm
Also looking for individual who would be able to help our guests carry groceries to their cars. Fridays, 10:30am - 1pm, and Saturdays, 9:30am-12pm. Email Lori if you are interested and available!


STUDENTS!!! All of these volunteer opportunities count as community service hours! Yes, even dancing around like a chicken!

Could you go a day without toilet paper? I sure couldn't. For many of our guests, something most of us take for granted is a luxury they can't afford. Each week, ONT gives one roll of toilet paper  to each household who comes to our pantry. While guests may pick and choose different food items, everyone always says "yes" to this offering.
Imagine trying to get your life in order, but you don't have enough money to purchase toilet paper, soap, shampoo, or toothpaste. Imagine having to go for a job interview, but you haven't been able to brush your teeth for a week. Imagine your daughter's classmate trying to fit in, but facing ridicule because she has not been able to wash her hair. What would this do to your self confidence? At the core of ONT's mission is to serve our neighbors with kindness and dignity. Offering toiletries in our weekly pantry is just as important as providing food. These personal care items feed our guests' sense of confidence and personal dignity and support their overall health. Even if a family receives WIC or SNAP (food stamps), these benefits cannot be used to purchase essentials like soap and toilet paper.
Our pantry is very low on toiletries. We need your help to continue to nurture our guests' sense of self. The next time you are shopping or clipping coupons for discounts on toothpaste or shampoo, please consider buying a few extra items for our pantry. Donations can be dropped off at our office Monday through Saturday or put in donation bins located at Citizens Bank/Stop & Shop or Vermette's Market. For more information about toiletries in our food pantry, please feel free to contact our Pantry Director, Lori Townsend.