 Dear friend,
None of us could have dreamed of the reality we all face today. Without notice, our schools had to close, local businesses had to be shuttered, and life seemed to turn completely upside down. In the last 2 weeks, I've spoken to longtime ONT volunteers who are afraid to leave their homes; a mother who, along with her husband, has just lost her job and is worried about keeping it together for their 2 children; a woman who was supposed to start her job as a census worker and now has no income to pay her rent; a retired veteran who lives alone, with no children, who is glad he can come to ONT, even if it's just pulling up in his car, to see some friendly faces. These conversations remind me that Our Neighbors' Table is more than just the food on our shelves, ONT has always been a source of community and connectedness. Something we are all craving right now. My late grandmother always had a fondness for lighthouses. In these stormy times, I want you to know ONT is here to be a beacon of hope and light. All of our work over the last 28 years has prepared us to be a lighthouse for our community. And now, I need to ask everyone who can, to pitch in. If you can give $10, give $10. If you can give $1,000 or more, now is the time. Join our Breakfast Club to make your donation in monthly installments. Our priority is and will continue to be ensuring people have consistent, reliable access to food, and, as always, to do it with kindness. To do this we have had to completely change our program operations to keep our guests healthy and safe. After spending 4 years growing our markets, this week we had to close their doors and shift to an exclusively curbside model with very little preparation time. Here’s a glimpse of what that change has meant in 1 week:
These last two weeks were hard, but now the real work begins. Now we will be serving a surge of new neighbors who face economic uncertainty in the coming weeks and months. In addition to the 600 households we were already serving each week, we've already registered 65 new households (with nearly 200 mouths to feed) just since March 16. Our neighbors are counting on ONT when they have nowhere else to turn. Are you in a position to help? Every dollar matters, please give what you can. Be well and take care, Lyndsey Haight Executive Director
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 Tonight, Santa will make his annual visit to the Our Neighbors' Table Wednesday meal. Each year, he comes to dinner to visit with our guests, young and old. Children get dressed in their frilly dresses and bows and sweaters and ties. And the excitement bursts from their faces the moment they see his jolly face.
This is a special time of year, when cheer and gratitude fill the air. I’d like to share a favorite story about a very special gift we received at a previous Santa visit. Some of you may have heard this story before, but it is worth retelling as it captures the true essence of the season of giving. On this particular night, the crowd had gathered as usual to see Santa Claus - many familiar faces sprinkled with new families coming for the first time. As I was greeting and lining children up for their photos, a woman dressed festively in an elf hat and holiday sweater pulled me aside. "My son has something he wants to say to you," she said. I knew this woman, we'll call her "Lynn", and her son "Steven". Lynn is a single mother with two young boys. She works as an assistant manager in a fast food restaurant. Her mother, who also struggles financially, provides help with the boys when she can. The family shops weekly at our market and is especially grateful for the extra food that comes with the Summer Lunch Program. So back to the Christmas dinner. I bent over so I could hear Steven" as he stands closely to his mother, looking bashfully at the floor – his voice so soft and hard to hear in the crowd. "Hi, Steven. Merry Christmas!" I say. Steven slowly looks up at me with his big brown eyes and barely whispers "Merry Christmas" as he holds out his hand. As I look down, I see a crisp $10 bill folded neatly in his fingers. And he is handing that $10 to ME! Surprised and a bit confused, I ask Steven “What’s this?” "I had a birthday and I got this birthday money." "And you're giving it to us?" I asked. "Why?" Steven looked at me with a shy smile and replied, "So you can help families who come to Our Neighbors' Table." My heart nearly burst! I couldn't help but wrap my arms around him and give him a big squeeze. Steven, his mother and grandmother continue to come to dinner at ONT and use the market when things get tight. Steven has grown since his birthday donation, his shoulders getting broader, his face taking on the strong jawlines of a young man. His voice is strong, no longer a whisper. He talks about football and his favorite cars. This holiday season, if you were thinking of giving, but wondered what an impact your gift would have, think of Steven and his family. Every day they struggle. But for Steven, the meals he gets at Our Neighbors’ Table have already given him hope. Steven knows, even on his tough days, that he has the power to make life a little better for someone else. His is the kind of gift that keeps on giving. Today, in our community, 1 out of 8 children lives in a food insecure household, uncertain if they will get their next meal. We have the power to fix that, and, with the community’s support, with YOUR help, Our Neighbors’ Table can ensure no child in our community has to go hungry. This year, ONT will put more than 1 million meals on the table for families like Lynn and Steven, that’s twice as many as we distributed last year. Every $1 you give equals 1 meal! Happy Holidays to you and yours from all of the families here at Our Neighbors' Table! Warm wishes, Lyndsey Haight Executive Director Steven's compassion is an example to us all. Will you join him in helping a family who needs help? Give the gift that keeps on giving. One year ago, the Jardis-Taylor Center for Our Neighbors' Table opened its doors. The creation of this groundbreaking facility was the result of years of visioning and a steadfast commitment from an entire community to create a place for everyone. It was in those efforts, in the rallying of volunteers, donors, community leaders, that the Spoon Platoon was born. Today, the pioneers of the Spoon Platoon adorn the walls of ONT in a living wall sculpture that will continue to grow as more and more community members step forward to help us spread food security across the region.
The wood and aluminum sculpture was created through a collaboration between local artists Ryan Kelley (Wire by Ryan) and Stephen Martin. "As donations for the capital campaign started to come in, we were inspired by the support and wanted to share that inspiration. We launched the 'Spoon Platoon' as a way to symbolize our desire to march hunger out of our community," explains Lyndsey Haight, Executive Director. To join the Spoon Platoon donors gave a commitment of $1,000 or more. "It became really fun when groups would come together to make the donations on behalf of their families and neighborhoods or in memory of lost loved ones; it was exactly the kind of community engagement we were hoping for," Haight recalls. The debut of the Spoon Platoon Sculpture featured 171 spoons engraved with individuals, businesses, families, and even neighborhoods who contributed to ONT's Capital Campaign and supported its programs while the new facility was being constructed. The installation was unveiled at a reception on June 13th at The Jardis-Taylor Center. In addition to the tribute to the many donors who joined the ranks of the Spoon Platoon, the reception also included recognition of the leadership donors who helped drive the success of the $1.1 million Campaign to Create a Place for Everyone. "The vision for a new home for our programs began 7 years ago among our small Board of Directors. That was the first charge they gave me upon joining ONT," remembers Haight. "We never imagined the need would have grown as much as it has, but that has never deterred us. We dreamed this was possible and stayed committed to that vision. None of it would be possible without our entire community, without Greg, without those strong leaders who believe in investing in the food security of our neighbors."
Our Neighbors' Table extends a heartfelt thanks to Greg Jardis, Institution for Savings, J Charitable Endeavors, Amesbury Health Care Charitable Trust, The Edward S. & Winifred G. Moseley Foundation, The McDonagh Family Foundation, The Capolupo Family, Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank, The Peter & Margaret Kiely Charitable Fund, Murray Bailey, Frank Childs & Sally Delaney, J. Bennett & Company, and W.C. Cammett Engineering and to all those who gave so generously to build The Jardis-Taylor Center and the mission of Our Neighbors' Table.
YOU can join the SPOON PLATOON today! Read more...
  Last Wednesday, Santa made his annual visit to Our Neighbors' Table. Each year, he comes to dinner to visit with our guests, young and old. Children get dressed in their frilly dresses and bows and sweaters and ties. And the excitement bursts from their faces the moment they see his jolly face.
This year, the crowds gathered as usual - many familiar faces sprinkled with new families coming for the first time. As I was greeting and lining children up for their photos, a woman dressed festively in an elf hat and holiday sweater pulled me aside. "My son has something he wants to say to you," she said. I knew this woman, we'll call her "Lynn" and her son. She's a single mother with two young boys. She works as an assistant manager in a fast food restaurant. While the franchise has nearby locations, she continues to commute 35 minutes so that she can keep her tenure and her pay rate. Transferring stores would mean reverting back to $10/hour. Her mother, who also struggles financially, provides help with the boys when she can. The family shops weekly at our pantry and is especially grateful for the extra food that comes with the Summer Lunch Program. So back to the Christmas dinner. I bent over so I can hear the soft voice of "Steven", who stands closely to his mother, looking bashfully at the floor. "Hi, Steven. Merry Christmas!" I say. Steven slowly looks up at me, barely whispers "Merry Christmas" and holds out his hand. As I look down, I see a crisp $10 bill folded neatly in his fingers. And he is handing that $10 to me. Surprised and a bit confused, I ask Steven what this is. "I had a birthday and I got this birthday money." "And you're giving it to us?" I asked. "Why?" Steven looked at me with a shy smile and replied, "So you can help families who come to Our Neighbors' Table." My heart nearly burst! I couldn't help but wrap my arms around him and give him a big squeeze and quickly brought him over to share his compassion and generosity with Santa Claus, and just about anyone else who would listen. In this holiday season, if you were thinking of giving, but wondered what an impact your gift would have, think of Steven and his family. Every day they struggle. But for Steven, he is learning that even he can make life easier for someone else. His is the kind of gift that keeps on giving. 2016 Update: I ran into Steven at the dessert table last week at our annual Christmas dinner. "How are you doing these days?" I asked. "GREAT!" Steven responded enthusiastically! He was so excited to talk about playing football and basketball. I couldn't help by smile watching Steven visit with Santa and reconnect with an old school friend. They laughed and joked, like all kids should. Happy Holidays to you and yours from all of the Stevens here at Our Neighbors' Table!  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! And the season is just beginning. Through November 21st, students at Amesbury High School and the Cashman Elementary School can participate in various food and penny collections.
And, on Saturday, November 22nd, the Amesbury Police Department will be hosting the 10th Annual Fill-A-Cruiser Food Drive at Carriagetown Plaza in front of Stop & Shop from 9am-2pm. 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. Twenty-three area bank and credit union branches participated in the second annual food drive for ONT's pantry. Read more.
 Jewell Towne Vineyard in South Hampton, New Hampshire, celebrated Mother’s Day with tastings from their collections, paired with foods from local businesses including Cider Hill Farm and Ovedia Chocolates. A raffle featuring items from the hosting businesses raised close to $400 to support Our Neighbors’ Table.
 Members of the Newburyport Mothers' Club organized the 1st Annual Bake Off and Bake Sale, raising $1200 to sponsor Wednesday Meals at Our Neighbors' Table.
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