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Table Talk, Fall 2019: Feeding the Future

11/14/2019

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Imagine a community where every child starts the school day with a nutritious breakfast, where their bodies and minds are nourished and their hearts are raised up by the village around them. The truth right now is that 1 out of 8 children in our region live in a food-insecure home. Their parents are struggling to make ends meet, trading heating bills for groceries or gas to get to work. And every day, our children are thinking about being hungry instead of focusing on learning.

Hunger feels like an insurmountable problem, but we’ve seen the difference we are making. This year’s Annual Breakfast gave us a glimpse into the future. We heard from Josh and Jill, who both turned to ONT – Josh as a teenager living on his own, Jill as a single mom seeking a better future for her sons – and who are now flourishing and paying it forward. We learned from their stories that it wasn’t easy to ask for help. But what a lesson it was for us to witness Jill sharing her experience with Dr. Lars Lundgren from Children’s Health Care. Fifteen years ago, Dr. Lundgren was Jill’s family pediatrician. Today, Dr. Lundgren is leading his practice as a Medical Home, partnering with ONT to integrate food security into health care.

ONT is excited about the new partnership with Children’s Health Care. Seeded with a 3-year grant from the Mary Alice Arakelian Foundation, this partnership gives families like Jill’s a trusted partner in their pediatrician where they can work together to connect the whole family with ONT’s programs. This is a growing practice in health care and ONT is proud to be leading the way.

Today, we don’t have to just imagine a community where every child is fed. We’ve created that here in Amesbury. Through our growing partnerships and by sharing our stories, we will soon have a food secure region. As we enter this holiday season, give thanks to those around us. Your local businesses, your elected officials, your teachers, your girl and boy scouts, your friends, and your neighbors. I thank you for being so bold to make this imagined place a real place right here.
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Gratefully,
Lyndsey Haight
Executive Director

ONT Now a SNAP Outreach Partner

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SNAP is a monthly allowance provided so that you can purchase your groceries in any local grocery store. The money is put on a special card that works just like a debit card and is accepted at all of the local grocery store chains. ONT is now a SNAP Outreach Partner so you can process your SNAP applications and recertifications right in our Amesbury office! Our Food Resource Advocate Tress Ricker is new to our team but has many years of experience to help you navigate the often confusing process. To schedule a time with Tress for help with SNAP, please call 978-388-1907 x18 or pop into the intake office during Market hours. Read more about SNAP and ONT's partnership here. ​

Annual Breakfast Feeds the Future

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​This year's Annual Breakfast drew 300 community members, our largest crowd to date! We were honored to have Joshua Frappier and Jill Weiss Hrubes share their powerful personal experiences with ONT with the audience. It was an inspiring and energizing morning for all in attendance as we saw the power of neighbors helping neighbors, and how support yesterday and today feeds a brighter future. Special thanks to Dr. Lars Lundgren of Children’s Health Care for his perspective on the panel and to Dana Marshall for serving as emcee. Read more about the Annual Breakfast and our 2019 Community Champions here

Volunteer Spotlight - David Berlind

You probably know the acronym PTO, short for Paid Time Off, but have you ever heard of VTO—Volunteer Time Off? David Berlind says “I was a chronic procrastinator about volunteering, I always had an excuse. But then my company said take 56 hours a year and go work for somYeone else. So, I didn’t have any excuses anymore.”
David quickly got involved doing restocking and food donation pickups and hit his 56 hours of VTO pretty quickly. But according to David, “I can’t stop. I feel like I’m now part of a family.” Read more about David in the month's Volunteer Spotlight.
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News & Events

​Check out the complete list of events, hours and holiday programming!
Food Drives
Nov. 23: You have 3 choices for donating food to ONT next Saturday! 
  • Scouting for Food: If you received a tag at your house, you can leave food out for the Scouts to pick up.
  • Fill A Cruiser: Donate food at the Amesbury Stop & Shop in partnership with the Amesbury, Salisbury & West Newbury Police. 
  • Fill A Cruiser Georgetown: The Georgetown Police will be collecting food at Crosby's Marketplace
Nov. 25: Students at Amesbury's Cashman Elementary will be collecting donations at school through the 25th
Nov. 28: Booster Food Drive at Amesbury v. Newburyport football game

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Dinner with Santa
Don't miss out on this beloved ONT tradition! Santa will be making his annual visit to our Wednesday Meal on Dec. 11 for pictures, caroling and holiday cheer. Open to all! 

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Double Your Impact
Ask if your company offers a matching gift program. Many companies do as a benefit to their employees and will match your generosity to ONT. Others might give a financial donation to the organization in recognition of your volunteer time. If you need assistance, please reach out to Lesley.
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Giving Back 
With the holidays nearing, our thoughts naturally turn to helping those less fortunate during the season of giving. If you're looking for ways to give back to your neighbors this holiday season, ONT can help. Get more information here! Every $1 donated = 1 meal for a neighbor.
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Team Run Out Hunger
Congrats to our 2019 Run Out Hunger team for completing the Newburyport Half Marathon! These 5 members raised money for ONT and making an impact on hunger in our community! Run Out Hunger raised over $7,000, thank you to our team, sponsors and all who donated to provide 8,000 meals!
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Wednesday Meal
We are fully booked for Wednesday Meal sponsors in 2019 but our 2020 calendar is now open. Book today to get your desired date in 2020 to sponsor and serve! 

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Thank you to our 2019 Great Neighbors!

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Table Talk, Spring 2019

5/15/2019

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Together, we are turning traditional “charity” on its head, bringing local residents, educators, health care providers and elected leaders together to stand in solidarity with our neighbors who have been struggling in the shadows, worrying if they’ll have enough food for their children. Back in February, I shared how fired up I was after a strong year of reaching more than 4,000 of our neighbors. And, you told me just how fired up YOU are too! Here, I share a couple quotes that have really stayed with me.
“Being blessed with more than enough, I live by the maxim ‘to whom much is given much is required.’"
“Living on one income again is not something I planned on. You never know when your circumstances could change. There are days I go without to make sure my son does not…Pride sometimes stops a person from asking for help. ONT makes it a bit easier. They are welcoming and allow you to keep your dignity while getting through the struggles…I cannot give money but I can give time. No one can do it alone it takes a village. If you need a hand, take it. If you can give one then do it! I appreciate ONT being a part of my village.”
These sentiments keep the ONT mission moving forward, guided by our values: Service with Dignity, Community, Respect, Quality, and Confidentiality. After 27 years, our ripple continues to spread. You may have heard our recent good news. We received a 10-year investment from the Cummings Foundation, putting $500,000 toward creating a food-secure region by 2029. Next week, we’ll compete with 7 other leading organizations for United Way’s Venture Fund to build city-wide change to ensure every Newburyport child AND parent is food-secure. These investments are important. But, the truth is, we can’t do any of this without the resolve of our local neighbors and businesses.
You’ve likely already received a letter from me in your mailbox and, over the next month, you’ll see more emails in your inbox than usual. We are in the throws of our Spring appeal as we head into the busiest season at ONT: Summer. Traditionally, we have all thought of Thanksgiving and Christmas as the time to reach out to our neighbors in need. But, today, families struggle every single day. And, every day, ONT is here for them, thanks to your generous spirit. To those of you joining the Breakfast Club  – thank you for ensuring our children and our seniors start every day right. To those digging deep for an extra gift in the Spring, to those who give their time and their voices – thank you for standing in solidarity with your neighbors to say “No one goes hungry on our watch.”
Gratefully,
Lyndsey Haight
Executive Director

A Food Secure Region by 2029

​ONT was thrilled to be awarded a $500,000, 10 year sustaining grant from the Cummings Foundation! This investment of $50,000 a year for the next decade will help create a food secure region. Read more about this exciting investment. 
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Over 5,000 neighbor's plates filled - thank you! 

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 Thank you to all of our restaurant partners for their support of the 2019 Fill Your Neighbor's Plate campaign! Thanks to all of the patrons who donated a virtual meal and to all of the restaurant teams for expanding awareness of hunger in our community. Over 5,000 plates were filled for our neighbors - thank you! ​​



Volunteer Spotlight - Steve and Gary

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If you spend any time in the ONT Warehouse, you’ll be pleased to encounter the “dynamic duo” of Steve Ventola and Gary Arsenault. Both got involved in the ONT warehouse for their first shift and Steve jokes that “now they won’t let us out.” Their service in the warehouse, including picking up donations from food rescue partners, unloading food from our trucks, and stocking the warehouse shelves is crucial to our grocery program operations. "I love that I get to keep busy, give back something to the community, and get a positive feeling every day,” Gary, an Amesbury resident, says about volunteering with ONT. Steve, who like Gary is retired, said “I’ve been very blessed in my life and I want to repay that in some small way.” Read more about the dynamic duo in this month’s Volunteer Spotlight!

News & Events

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Fighting Hunger Grill Master's Challenge & Brew Party - Sunday, June 9
Kickoff the summer with local brews and delicious food from Big Rig BBQ at Brewery Silvaticus! Compete for the Grill Master's Trophy or enjoy live music and good times at the Brew Party. Tickets are limited, get yours today! 
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Ultimate Sports Raffle 
Boston sports fans won't want to miss this opportunity to win 1 of 4 sets of amazing tickets, including 1st or 3rd row Pats tickets! Ultimate Sports Raffle tickets are $50 each or 3 for $100. Only 250 tickets will be sold, buy yours today before they sell out! Winners will be pulled on June 9, do not need to be present to win.
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​Each month will now feature a Kids Night at the Wednesday Community Meal! Special activities for kids will be available in accordance with a new theme each month. May 15 is Lego Night! Stay tuned for more info on next month - don't miss this great opportunity for families!
​ONT has been approved for 2 AmeriCorps VISTA members to join us for a year of full-time volunteer service. The Food Resource Advocate and the Community Engagement Coordinator will be an integral part of the ONT team. Visit the AmeriCorps website for more information or contact Alice if you have any questions. 

Fill Em Up Bags returns for kids!

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​Speaking of families, ONT's Fill Em Up Bags returns this spring as a way for kids to help their peers struggling with hunger. Kids will decorate their Fill Em Up Bag, then ask friends and family to help fill the bag. The goal is to collect $25, which provide breakfast and lunch to a child for a whole month! This a wonderful opportunity to instill the value of giving back and helping others in your children. Read more about Fill Em Up Bags here. 

Save the Date

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Fill 'Em Up Fest - Saturday, September 7
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Annual Breakfast - Tuesday, October 22

Thank you to our 2019 Great Neighbors! 

​These Great Neighbors are making a big impact on hunger. Join their ranks and become a Great Neighbor today! 
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Cummings Foundation awards ONT 10-year grant!

5/15/2019

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​Our Neighbors’ Table is thrilled to be one of the local nonprofits sharing in Cummings Foundation’s $25 million grant program in 2019. We are honored to have been awarded a $500,000 Sustaining Grant, to be disbursed in $50,000 increments over 10 years.
 
In 2018, ONT declared Amesbury a Food-Secure City. Through years of building awareness of need, normalizing asking for help, and establishing a flexible, community-based network of food resources, ONT has been able to create and sustain universal access to nutritious food for all Amesbury residents. This 10-year partnership with Cummings will enable ONT to replicate this model across the other 11 towns we serve, reaching over 6,000 individuals each year throughout the second half of the grant term and ensuring food security in our region.
 
“To be able to project a vision for 10 years out was kind of cool,” said Lyndsey Haight, Executive Director. “When we thought out that far, we realized that by 2029, every one of our communities could be food secure. This grant will allow us to have the resources upfront so we can respond quickly and address needs as they are given to us by the community.”
 
Lori Townsend, Program Director, and Alice Tonry, Development Associate, represented the nonprofit at a May 2 awards night at TradeCenter 128 in Woburn with the other sustaining grant awardees. There the Foundation shared the following feedback from the Sustaining Grants Selection Committee about ONT.
 
“The staff and volunteers at Our Neighbors’ Table are knowledgeable and passionate about food insecurity and have an innovative approach to help families and individuals. Its strategic approach is impressive, and its model is replicable. It’s at the forefront of reducing stigma that prevents people from seeking and accepting food assistance. The staff is passionate about their mission, results driven, and willing to think outside the box to reach the people who need them the most. We left the site visit sufficiently wowed.”
 
The Sustaining Grants initiative builds on Cummings Foundation’s $100K for 100 program. First offered in 2012, $100K for 100 annually awards $10 million through multi-year grants of $100,000 each to 100 nonprofits that are based in and primarily serve Essex, Middlesex, and Suffolk counties. Grant recipients that received their final grant disbursements in 2018 were automatically considered for $15 million in Sustaining Grants.
 
 “We introduced Sustaining Grants to help alleviate the constant burden of fundraising so nonprofit professionals can spend more of their limited time and resources on actually providing services,” said Christina Berthelsen, grants manager at Cummings Foundation.
 
Cummings Foundation has awarded nearly $250 million to date in Greater Boston alone. Funds are generated through commercial properties that are owned by, and operated for the sole benefit of, Cummings Foundation. All of its buildings are managed pro bono by Woburn commercial real estate firm Cummings Properties.
 
Sustaining Grants winners were selected primarily by a 33-member volunteer committee, which included former state legislators, CEOs of local companies, and a retired justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, among many others. Committee members met with each nonprofit twice to learn how the $100K for 100 funds helped to advance its mission, and how it might put a 10-year grant to use.
 
“We are grateful to the Sustaining Grants Selection Committee, Bill & Joyce Cummings and the Cummings Foundation for this investment in service with dignity and food security,” Haight said.
 
About Our Neighbors’ Table
Hunger comes in many forms. Our Neighbors' Table's innovative approach to food assistance is aimed at providing flexible, personalized programs to individuals and families living in northeastern Essex County. Guests of Our Neighbors' Table have access to fresh, wholesome food and dignified experiences when and where they need it. ONT’s services include a weekly meal, a weekly market, four community-based mobile markets, a home delivery program, 24/7 emergency food assistance, a summer lunch program for children and their families, and three holiday grocery programs. The ONT grocery programs provided groceries, fresh foods, and toiletries to more than 4,100 individuals in 2018. Every summer, we provide breakfast, lunch and snacks to 1,000 children; each holiday season, we distribute special groceries and turkeys to more than 900 families.
 
About Cummings Foundation
Woburn-based Cummings Foundation, Inc. was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings and has grown to be one of the three largest private foundations in New England. The Foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including New Horizons retirement communities in Marlborough and Woburn. Its largest single commitment to date has been to Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org. 

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Table Talk, Winter 2019

2/14/2019

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2019 is up and running! Checkout our complete list of 2019 events and mark your calendar.I am fired up! Why, you ask? Well, it’s because of YOU! When you see your neighbors struggling, you act! When you know someone who’s plate is empty, you mobilize to fill it. Whether it’s your time or your donations, you are committed to making sure your neighbors are taken care of and that inspires me every day.
It’s not just me, you’re inspiring others to join in the fight to put food on the table for all of our neighbors. Last year, more than 800 of our neighbors signed up to volunteer or made a donation for the first time. That’s 800 more people who are now aware of food insecurity in our community and 800 more people who, like you, are ready to make a difference. Knowing that so many of our fellow community members agree that NO ONE should go hungry in our backyard is what tells me that creating a food secure region is a goal within our reach
No one of us can eliminate hunger on our own, but, boy, we are powerful together.
Last year, we launched new programs and partnerships across the region - from bussing for seniors in Groveland to shop for groceries at our Amesbury market, to creative strategies to help Newburyport teachers, nurses and school administrators better reach their struggling families, to our new Market in Newburyport. As a result, we put food on the table for more than 4,000 of the 6,000 neighbors who were worrying about where they’d get their next meal.
I hope you’re as fired us as I am for the year ahead. And, if you are, I want to hear you! Keep me going, keep our team going, and share with me what is energizing you. Please, will you take a minute and share your inspiration with us? Tell us why you invest in ONT. Tell us what it means to put food on the table for your neighbors. Tell us what will keep you fired up!
Let’s make 2019 an even stronger year and reach 5,000 neighbors! 

Lyndsey Haight
Executive Director

​P.S. Checkout our complete list of 2019 events and mark your calendars! 

Group Opportunities to Sponsor and Serve

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Looking for a  way to give back as a group – either a group of friends, family, neighbors or colleagues?  ONT's Market and Meal Sponsorships offer the unique opportunity for group volunteer service.

Wednesday Meal Sponsorship:

Each week, ONT welcomes 150 guests to dine at our weekly Wednesday Meal. The chef prepared 3 course meal is open to any one in any community. Sponsors commit to a $500 financial contribution and bring a group of 8 volunteers to serve the meal. Dates are available on a first-come first-serve basis and are booking up fast!
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Market Sponsorship:
Over 450 households shop for their groceries each week at the ONT Market. Sponsors commit a minimum of $800 and may send a team of up to 5 volunteers to work a shift in the market, assisting guests with their weekly shopping. Market shifts are available Wednesday—Saturday.
Email Lyndsey or call her at 978-388-1907 x11 if you’re interested in either opportunity. Our Meal sponsor dates are booking up fast already!

ONT to Host National Service Member

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​We'll be growing our team in 2019! ONT has been approved to host an AmeriCorps *VISTA member for a year, starting in the summer of 2019. The AmeriCorps is a national service program (a domestic version of the Peace Corps) and members volunteer at an organization full-time for a year to build capacity. We know the AmeriCorps is a great thing, both Alice (Volunteer Coordinator) and Lesley (Development Manager) are AmeriCorps alums! ONT's AmeriCorps *VISTA member will serve as a “Community Engagement Coordinator,” focusing on building organizational relationships and participation with volunteers and community groups.  Stay tuned – we will be releasing more information and a job posting for this position soon.

Volunteer Spotlight -
​Rita Comtois

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As a licensed psychologist, Rita’s life was consumed by work and school. But she believes in the importance of giving back and always knew she would volunteer in her retirement when she had more time. Rita was aware of ONT from living in Amesbury, but she says she was naive about what it actually entailed. She said soon realized that ONT wasn't just about food, it was about community. She started helping with the computer on Fridays, then added Saturdays, then Thursday and then Wednesdays.
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Now a fixture in the Market & Warehouse 4 days a week, Rita enjoys enjoys interacting with the guests and seeing them grow more comfortable with the volunteers each week. “I fully believe that any of us is only a few steps away from needing ONT’s services,” Rita says. “I respect that.” Read more about Rita in this month’s Volunteer Spotlight!

Fill Your Neighbors' Plate

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Coming in April! You will be able to add a virtual meal to your bill at participating local restaurants. Stay tuned for more info about our restaurant partners.

Service Enterprise Initiative

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​We're thrilled to announce that ONT has been chosen to participate in the Massachusetts Service Allliance's Service Enterprise Initiative (SEI) certification! This nationally validated training and certification model will help ONT to strategically strengthen our capacity to utilize volunteers and their skills to advance our mission. The SEI includes comprehensive research-based assessment, training, consulting and certification. Please excuse a few absences from ONT staff as part of the training process. We believe every staff member needs to be involved to make sure we have an exemplary volunteer program at all levels of the organization. We are excited to have the opportunity to better our volunteer practices and look forward to reporting on our progress this spring.

2018 Impact

We finished another year of record-breaking numbers at ONT! We served more people than ever before. Here's a quick snapshot:
4,100 Neighbors
1,000 Children
695 Seniors
684 NEW Households
1,054,483 Meals
120,000 pounds of fresh fruits & veggies
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Stay tuned for our Annual Report coming out this spring with more details about our 2018 impact. 
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Table Talk, Fall 2018: Food Security Starts With You

11/16/2018

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 ​As I write to you, the Amesbury Market is bustling with shoppers picking out their turkeys and bagging up their squash and potatoes and all the other essentials that they’ll prepare for a Thanksgiving feast with their family and friends. Volunteers are cheerfully meeting and greeting and holiday spirit is alive and present!
Now is always a busy time of year, this year being no different. In fact, when we opened our doors yesterday, we had already pre-registered 900 households for Thanksgiving and Christmas groceries (100 more than we served last year) and more are registering each day. But thanks to the more than 100 volunteers working this week and the continued support of a community always ready to rise to the challenge, every guest at our door will leave with arms full of groceries for the week and all the fixings needed for a holiday to be thankful for.
It may feel like magic, but the truth is happy Thanksgivings start with YOU. For all this, for your support, I extend my heartfelt thanks and share sincere gratitude on behalf of the Board and staff, and most importantly our guests. If you’ve made your gift this year, know that your generosity is already at work. And if you’re thinking about what or how much to give this holiday season, know your donation not only puts meals on your neighbor’s table today, it wraps her in a community that feeds her hope for tomorrow.
 
We wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving.
 
Warm Wishes,
Lyndsey Haight
​Executive Director

ONT Comes to Newburyport

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​ONT is excited to officially announce the opening of a weekly market in Newburyport. The program opened in June thanks to a partnership with Community Service of Newburyport and is currently serving residents of Newburyport, Newbury and West Newbury every Thursday, 11:00am – 2:00pm. After years of partnering on referring local residents to each agency’s services, CSN’s move to their new location at St. Paul’s Church in 2018 was the catalyst to bring ONT and CSN’s strengths and resources under one roof. The soft opening in June allowed both organizations to get settled in and work out any challenges. CSN officially welcomed the community at their ribbon-cutting on October 22nd, and both organizations are now looking forward to getting the word out. Read more about what impact ONT is making in Newburyport.

ONT Annual Breakfast Celebrates Impact

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This year's Annual Breakfast was an inspiring morning celebrating the collective impact of the community joining together to create food security. Dr. Gail Fayre of Anna Jacques Hospital, volunteer Bob Murciak and board member Kellyn Nahas bravely shared their own stories with the group. (pictured here right to left with emcee Dana Marshall)
Read more about the breakfast and 2018 impact. #whatsyourstory

The Holidays Have Arrived at ONT! 

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Volunteer Spotlight - Emily White

If you ask Emily White why she volunteers, she’ll tell you that she likes to be “part of a local solution.” Emily volunteers in the ONT office and organizes home grocery delivery bags every week. “It’s my favorite day of the week,” she says about her Wednesdays with ONT. A mom of 4, Emily has brought her children to volunteer with her at ONT to teach them to give back to their community.

​Emily told us that she enjoyed the fulfillment of volunteering when she began last fall, but it has grown into something greater as she realized how special the Our Neighbors’ Table community is. Read more about Emily in this month's Volunteer Spotlight!
The holidays are a special time and ONT is thrilled to once again help guests celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas in their own home with groceries from ONT. This week, volunteers are helping over 900 households get their Thanksgiving groceries at our Markets. In addition to specialty holiday fixings, each individual or family gets the choice of a turkey or super chicken and a $10 local supermarket gift card to purchase additional special items ONT might not have on hand.
Next month, the market will be filled with holiday groceries again for special hours December 11th- 15th. 
​To help with holiday distribution as a volunteer or to sign up for holiday groceries, please call our office, 978-388-1907.
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Upcoming at ONT

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Dinner with Santa
​Santa is making his annual visit to the Wednesday Meal on Dec. 12! Join us for pictures with Santa, carolers and lots of holiday cheer! 
Holiday Schedule
The ONT Office, the Market and the Wednesday Meal are all open normal hours on Wednesday, November 21. The Meal will be pork tenderloin, roasted potatoes, fresh vegetable and soup of the day. The ONT Office and all programs will be closed Thursday - Sunday for the Thanksgiving Holiday (Nov. 22 - 25).


We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving with their loved ones!
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Check out the full list of holiday events and hours here!
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Community Food Drives
Nov. 17: You have 2 choices for donating food to ONT on Saturday!
  • Scouting for Food: You can leave your food at your house for the Scouts to pick up.
  • Fill A Cruiser: Donate food at Stop & Shop in partnership with the Amesbury, Salisbury & West Newbury Police. 
  • The Georgetown Police will also be collecting food at Crosby's Marketplace on Nov. 17. ​
Nov. 22: Booster Food Drive at Amesbury v. Newburyport football game

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Thinking about your charitable giving this time of year?

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​Not sure what to get that friend who has everything? Need a hostess gift? Give the gift of food security through a donation in their honor to ONT! When you donate online, your email donation receipt includes a card at the bottom that you can print and give for the holidays or for your special occasion. ONT will also send a notification letter if you provide the persons's name and address in the designated fields. 
​Ask if your company offers a matching gift program. Many companies do as a benefit to their employees and will match your generosity to ONT. If you need assistance, please reach out to Lesley. 
Thinking about your year-end gift? According to IRS regulations, it must be postmarked by Dec. 31 in order to count for your 2018 taxes, regardless of the date on the check. Or you can donate online before 11:59pm! 


Thank you to our 2018 Great Neighbors! 

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Table Talk, January 2018: New Hope for a New Year

1/26/2018

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2017: 1 Million Meals, More than 3,400 Neighbors Served!
What a year! And it didn't just happen by chance. More than 600 volunteers dedicated more than 28,000 hours of service and thousands of you contributed more than $840,000 in funds and $558,000 in food and toiletries to ensure our doors opened every day and our neighbors were welcomed and served all year long.
Thank you to every single one of YOU! We have high hopes for the year ahead and the potential to serve even more neighbors in 2018. Watch for our official 2017 annual report that will publish in early March. In the meantime, stay involved, come visit us, and help us spread the word about food insecurity in our community.                                                                                                                                    Lyndsey Haight
                                                          Executive Director
You've made a real difference for these neighbors...
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WEE Can Help!!!
ONT is a place where the whole family can get involved. Now, ONT offers some special opportunities for some of our youngest supporters. WEE Can Help! is a volunteer program for children aged 5-7 years. We have bi-weekly shifts reserved just for this eager age group to help us stock our market along with their parents, grandparents, or their favorite adult.
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​Adults are required to complete a volunteer orientation prior to registering for a volunteer shift. Complete your volunteer application and get started today!
How Can You Get Involved in 2018?
Every week, we register new neighbors and families who come to us for help. We expect to serve more than 3,500 people this year. But we can't do it without YOU. 
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​Join the Run Out Hunger Team!
Do you love Our Neighbors’ Table? Have you made fitness part of your new year’s resolution? Now you can combine the two and really make a difference for your neighbors. ONT is partnering with Green Stride again this year to host ONT’s Run Out Hunger Team at the Earth Rock Run and the Newburyport Half Marathons. We are so excited to announce Studio 5 is also joining our team! Boston marathon veteran Jess Bailey and Studio 5 owner Lindsay Zappala are lending their training expertise to get you across the finish line! Join us today!
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Become a Sustaining Donor!
More than 400 households shop in our Market and ore than 100 guests come to eat at our Wednesday Meal each week! Don't wait until next December, set up your monthly or quarterly installments and know you're taking care of your neighbors today!
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Volunteer!
Contributing nearly 600 hours of service EVERY WEEK, volunteers are the backbone of ONT’s programs.
Become a sustaining donor! Whether you are 1 person or a group, whether you can give 3 hours a year or 3 hours a month, WE WANT YOU! Complete your volunteer application now!

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Help us Raise Awareness!
The first step in solving a problem is becoming aware that the problem exists. Hunger in our community is still a hidden problem. People struggling to put food on their tables still hide in shame. Even when it’s a close friend or neighbor, many of us are still unaware of how many people are fighting hunger in our schools, our churches, our local businesses. But YOU can help change that! Spread the word and help people understand that even one simple act can make a difference.
  • Host a food drive – not only are you collecting valuable food donations for us to give to neighbors in need, you are also raising awareness of the issue among your friends, co-workers, parish members.
  • Sponsor a Wednesday Meal, Market Day, or our special events – There’s no better way to get friends, employees, or even customers, to experience first-hand the impact of your involvement. 
Check our 2018 calendar and be sure to follow us on facebook, twitter and instagram!
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Table Talk, Fall 2017 #platefull #grateful Edition

11/15/2017

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From our table to yours,
​we send you our thanks and wish you holiday cheer!
​#platefull#grateful

Filling Their Holidays with Joy

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​Our Neighbors’ Table is proud to once again provide holiday food to local families during the season of giving. Over 600 families are counting on ONT to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday meals with their loved ones.
​This week, more than 200 volunteers will lend a hand, make home deliveries, and welcome guests to the market to "shop" for their Thanksgiving turkeys and fixings. To help make their table extra special and personal, every guest will also receive a $10 gift card to a local grocery store.
Next month, Christmas cheer is abound! The market will be filled with holiday groceries and will be open for special holiday hours from December 12th - 16th. Santa comes to the Wednesday Meal for dinner, pictures and Christmas carols on December 13!

​For volunteer opportunities or to sign up for holiday groceries, please call our office, 978-388-1907. And just a reminder, ONT will be closed November 23-26 and December 24-January 1 to give our volunteers and staff a well-deserved rest!


Filing One Million Plates this Year! 

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​This year’s annual breakfast was a celebration of the incredible growth in service thanks to the support of our community. In 2016, Our Neighbors’ Table provided 550,000 meals to nearly 3,000 local residents. This year we will fill one million plates for our neighbors in need – already reaching our projections for 2020. Read more about the breakfast and 2017 impact.


Every $1 Fills 1 More Plate

​As a member of the ONT community, you believe that everyone in our community should have access to food. And you believe that ONT can make this possible and fight hunger in our community. As you reflect on all you are thankful for this holiday season, know that Our Neighbors’ Table is grateful for the support we receive from the community. We could not fill 1 million plates without you, as every $1 donated fills one more plate. Can we count on your gift to keep those plates full? On behalf of those we serve, thank you for giving the gift of food security. #platefull #grateful
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​“Everyone at Our Neighbors’ Table makes me feel normal when I come here. No one makes you feel bad for needing help.”


Full Bellies for All Children

​Our Summer Lunch Program kept 388 children fed during the summer months. Through our new partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Merrimack Valley, outreach through local schools and expanded programs in our market, 140 families who had never been to ONT before found their way to our doors and to the help they need to keep their kids healthy and growing all year-round.
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Heart-Filled Service

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​ONT is thankful for all of the volunteers give 550 of service a week to make our programs possible. We couldn’t serve our guests without our wonderful volunteers! The magic of the Wednesday meal takes many volunteers and two days to prepare the delicious and nutritious 3 course dinner for our weekly 150 guests. Our latest Volunteer Spotlight highlights the dedicated Wednesday morning prep group! 

Generosity fills the air this holiday season!

Local police, schools, churches and neighborhoods are hosting various events to keep plates filled through the holidays. Check out the complete list of ONT-supporting events!

How many plates can you fill?

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Table Talk, Summer 2017

7/12/2017

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Summer Time: A time of fun for ALL!

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Now in its seventh year, ONT’s Summer Lunch Program is bigger than ever with 300 children already enrolled and a second distribution site added! The 8-week program, running July 5-August 26, provides extra groceries for healthy breakfast, lunch and snacks to families with school-aged children. This year we expanded our program to include a distribution site at the Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Merrimack Valley in Salisbury. SLP helps cover the gap left when kids are no longer receiving free- or reduced lunch through their schools. We’re saving each family nearly $150 per month per child! To sign up for the Summer Lunch Program, call 978-388-1907. ONT is currently competing for $10,000 through KIND snacks’ KIND Causes. Vote for ONT today!

​The Spoon Platoon is marching hunger out of our community

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ONT’s programs are funded primarily through donations from local individuals, businesses and foundations. As need in our region continues to grow, their continued generosity will ensure we never have to turn anyone away. Our Neighbors’ Table recognizes those donors who are really leading the charge through our Spoon Platoon program, which was officially inaugurated on June 13th with the installation of a beautiful living sculpture created by local artists Ryan Kelley and Stephen Martin. Engraved spoons commemorate families, neighborhood groups, local businesses, and individuals who have made food security in our community a philanthropic priority, supporting the construction of The Jardis-Taylor Center for Our Neighbors’ Table as well as our day-to-day programs. YOU can join the Spoon Platoon today!

​ONT named one of 100K for 100!

ONT kicked off the summer with some incredible news. Through a competitive process, ONT was awarded $100,000 from the Cummings Foundation 100K for 100 program to support the growth of our grocery programs. The funds, disbursed over 2017 and 2018, will help ONT keep up with the growing number of guests utilizing the weekly market at the Jardis-Taylor Center and expand our mobile market and home delivery programs across the region.
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L-R: Lori Townsend, Program Director; Joyce Cummings; Lyndsey Haight, Executive Director at the 100K for 100 awards reception on June 8

Volunteer Spotlight: Will Mauch

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ONT’s programs don’t run without our volunteers. Each week, people from 8-88 pitch in more than 550 hours of service to unload trucks, stock shelves, chop vegetables, mop floors, answer the phones, serve dinner, and help guests shop in the market. This quarter’s spotlight focuses on Will Mauch, a 20-year-old Amesbury resident who works behind the scenes restocking the Our Neighbors’ Table market. Will started volunteering with ONT when he was in high school, and continues to return on his college breaks. This year, he even recruited a friend!

ONT: Nonprofit of the Year, Newburyport Chamber of Commerce

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ONT Board members Jane Albert, Frank Childs, Ginny Eramo and Greg Jardis receive Nonprofit of the Year from NCC's Grace Connolly and David Strand at the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner.

Enter to win premium tickets to Pats, Sox or Bruins!

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How can YOU help???

Your support opens the door for new guests every day. Every $1=1 more meal on the table!
Save the Date: September 9
FILL EM UP FEST! Food truck festival on Newburyport's waterfront! Tickets and details coming later this month.

Check out our full calendar of events!

Become an event sponsor and let everyone know it's important to you to fight hunger!

Sign up to volunteer!

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Table Talk, Spring 2017

4/20/2017

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​2017 marks 25 years of providing nourishing food with kindness and dignity!

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New Release: 2016 Annual Report

In 2016, ONT provided nearly 550,000 meals to almost 3,000 people across the region - a record for the organization. Last year also marked the opening of the Jardis-Taylor Center and officially changing the face of "food pantries". None of this would be possible without the hard work and generosity of the community. Read more about all that YOU have helped achieve in the 2016 Annual Report.

2017 ONT Anniversary Fund Goal: $250,000!

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We've kicked it off with a good start! So far we've raised over $30,000 toward our annual fund goal of $250,000. Local diners raised $10,000 through the Fill Your Neighbors' Plate campaign featured at 17 local restaurants! And more than 20 hosts opened their homes and raised more than $17,000 in the Table to Table campaign! This adds to the dollars raised through the Meet-up with Terry O'Reilly and the various events and drives organized by all of YOU!
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There's much to celebrate as we look over the last 25 years, the nearly 10,000 people who have received food from our programs, the estimated 5 million meals provided, and the hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours served. But the truth of the matter is, 2017 will mark a pivotal change in the growth of Our Neighbors' Table. The new market at the Jardis-Taylor Center means more people can access food here and that ONT can leverage its capacity to help communities across our service region ensure all of their members are food secure. For 25 years, every year has broken the record of meals and people set the year before. And this year will be no different. With your help - and ONLY with your help - every single person who comes to our door will be welcomed and will receive the food they need. For our 25th anniversary, we need to raise $250,000 to help us provide the anticipated 800,000 meals needed in our community. Make your anniversary gift today!

Meet the newest members of the ONT team!

​2017 Anti-Hunger Policy Conference in DC

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Alice Tonry (left) and Betsy Melanson (right) are the newest members of the ONT staff, building the organization's development team. Betsy fills the new position of Development Manager, helping ONT to meet its annual fundraising goals and activities. Alice will be managing our volunteer program as well as our grants and foundations activities. Both bring a wealth of nonprofit experience and lots of enthusiasm. Say "Hello!" the next time you're at ONT.
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ONT Mobile Market Manager Tracy Kane attended the FRAC 2017 Anti-Hunger Policy Conference with our partners from the North Shore Hunger Network.

Read more about the weekend and Tracy's visit with our MA delegation on The Hill.

Check out the full calendar of events for 2017!

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Table Talk - Fall 2016

11/17/2016

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ONT Executive Director receives the Partner of the Year award on behalf of ONT. Pictured with GBFB CEO Catherine D'Amato and Chairman Woody Bradford
ONT named 2016 Community Partner of the Year
ONT was named 2016 Community Partner of the Year by The Greater Boston Food Bank at GBFB's Partner Appreciation Reception on October 28th. This is an incredible honor. ONT is one of nearly 600 member agencies providing food assistance across eastern Massachusetts. We could not do our work without GBFB! Read the full article.
The Season for Giving!
As Thanksgiving approaches, our guests can celebrate knowing they'll have turkeys and all the fixings to enjoy the holiday with their loved ones. ONT will provide Thanksgiving and Christmas groceries for 600 families this year!
But hunger knows no season. We rely on donations from the community in order to make sure our guests can have the food they need year-round. Every $1 you give equals 1 more meal on the table. Make your gift today!
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We give thanks for our wonderful volunteers!
​For this Volunteer Spotlight, we highlight our Volunteer Appreciation Committee who helps us give thanks year-round. Our programs don't run without volunteers. And, thanks to this dedicated group, we strive to keep your volunteer experience the best we can!

Starve Hunger. Feed Hope.

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That was the theme of this year's annual breakfast and it's the theme that will carry us through the celebration of our 25th anniversary here at ONT! The last year has been a busy one at ONT - providing 525,000 meals to people in need, opening the new Jardis-Taylor Center - but the real story are the tomorrows we are filling with HOPE. John is going through cancer treatment, but he can keep food on the table for his family while he's out of work. Mike and Kara's children are fed, healthy and happy even when Mike's overtime still doesn't cover their monthly costs. Justin is an amazing ambassador for ONT 20 years after his family was homeless and dined at ONT every Wednesday.
YOU are bringing hope to thousands of people in our community. Inspired by our 2016 Community Champions - Cathy Gaudet, Dee Morse, and Main Street Congregational Church - together we will Starve Hunger and Feed Hope!
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Our Neighbors' Table
P.O. Box 592
Amesbury, MA 01913

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