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, Fall 2020

11/20/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
A healthy staff. Passionate volunteers. A community committed to keeping everyone fed – even in a pandemic. YOU. My family. And the few minutes of serenity I can find here and there. These are all things I’m thankful for this holiday season.

Since my last note to you in August, we’ve registered 303 new guests, including 74 children and 63 seniors, to our grocery programs. Every one of them have been welcomed without question, shop for their groceries online, and have been able to put 15,000 meals on their tables. Including turkeys and all the Thanksgiving fixings.
​
The holidays are a time for us to give thanks and celebrate with our loved ones. Holidays can also be a time of sorrow and loneliness, particularly this year. Over the last two months, we’ve been highlighting the Unity in our Community, and there’s no better time to keep this at the forefront of our minds than during the holidays. On social media, we’re sharing holiday traditions that we can share virtually or that remind us of our friends and family while we’re apart. I invite you to share yours with us! Simple things like a good ol’ fashion phone call, dropping off a side dish, or a handwritten card go a long way to let your neighbors know you care. If you’re inclined, you could even consider a virtual Friendsgiving [replace with “holiday party” if it will send after Thanksgiving] using ONT’s online virtual food drive page. Like everything else, the 2020 holidays will be different this year. But one thing remains – the strong commUNITY that bonds us.
 
Stay safe, be well, and spread joy,
Lyndsey Haight
Executive Director

Annual Breakfast Celebrates Unity in Community

Picture
​This year, while we could not gather in-person for the Annual Breakfast, it was more critical than ever for ONT to share how we are meeting the unprecedented need across the region. ONT's Annual Breakfast was broadcast live from the Market at the Jardis-Taylor Center on October 20. This Breakfast's theme was “Unity in Community” in honor of the extraordinary efforts of so many to ensure our neighbors have food on their tables. Despite the virtual nature, the spirit of ONT was alive and well as viewers saw that universal food access is possible, even in a pandemic, when a community comes together. Thanks to a $10,000 challenge from presenting sponsor Institution for Savings, a record breaking $80,000 was raised! The recording of the broadcast is available if you'd like to view the inspiring morning.​
Read More about the Annual Breakfast

News & Events

Picture
The holiday season is upon us! Thanksgiving groceries are being distributed through the 24th and Christmas groceries will be distributed December 15 - 22. Our Wednesday Meal looks different this year, but Santa may still make a safe surprise appearance! Click here for all the details, important dates and holiday closures information.
Picture
​Thank you to Newburyport's Functional Coatings for surprising ONT with a $50,000 donation last month! The company recognized the critical need in the community and wanted to offer meaningful support to their neighbors. Thank you for thinking of ONT to make an incredible impact! You are an example of Unity in Community.
Picture
​Help ONT spread the spirit of community this holiday season! Write a holiday greeting to a neighbor and we will include it with their holiday groceries in December. Our hope is to have a neighbor's holiday wish shared with each of the over 1,000 households we will serve in December. Let's celebrate the season by uniting togther!
Picture
Picture

Volunteer Spotlight - Kathy Berman

Picture
Kathy Berman had been part of the ONT community as a donor for years. A Certified Public Accountant, Kathy says she had always planned to do “hands-on volunteering somewhere” when she retired. Once she cut back her work hours to part time, she decided to join ONT’s volunteer team and donate her time as well. These days you can find Kathy in our non-perishables stocking room on Saturdays, filling guests’ orders. When Kathy saw how things worked behind the scenes at ONT, she felt good about her decision to be a regular member of the volunteer crew and a donor.  “What amazes me about here is that the guests have a choice in food,” Kathy says. “It makes me proud. I’m proud of this place.”  Read more about Kathy in this month's Volunteer Spotlight ››

0 Comments

Table Talk, Summer 2020

9/4/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Meeting the Need Head-On
Lyndsey Haight, Executive Director

While COVID-19 has not directly affected the physical health of most residents in our region, the economic and emotional toll has been astounding. The average unemployment rate for our 12 cities and towns over April, May and June 2020 tops 14%, compared to 2.45% one year ago. Even at the height of the recession, local unemployment average for the region in 2010 was only 7.5%.
Families who were gainfully employed only 6 months ago now rely on stimulus checks, SNAP and programs like Our Neighbors’ Table. With your support, ONT has been able to meet the need head-on and has proudly supported our partners in school districts and councils on aging across the region in working creatively and collaboratively to get food to people every day. From January 1 to July 31, ONT’s grocery programs distributed 845,000 pounds of wholesome foods to 4214 people across the region (up 11% and 24% respectively over last year).
How can we keep up with this increase of demand? Because our community is committed to ensuring everyone’s basic needs are met, even in a global crisis. You are each proving the “Unity” in Community. In just the first 90 days following the shutdown, more than 900 new donors reached out to support ONT’s work. Collectively, as local businesses were struggling, individuals in every community stepped forward and contributed a record $300,000 to keep food on the table for ONT’s guests.
“Uncertainty” seems to be the guiding principle for the near future. But there are 2 things I know for certain: 1) As this crisis continues, need for food assistance will continue to increase; and 2) ONT and its supporters will be here to respond. September is Hunger Action Month. I ask you to continue your resolve, reach out to friends and neighbors who need help, support our efforts by raising awareness, hosting virtual food drives, and, when you can, making a donation. We will continue to win this fight as we work in unity to keep our neighbors food-secure.

September is Hunger Action Month!

STAY CONNECTED
  • Join ONT’s email list
  • Follow ONT on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)
  • Watch a Hunger Action Month Facebook live
JOIN US
  • Register for virtual Volunteer Orientation by filling out a Volunteer Application
  • Purchase a ticket to the Annual Breakfast broadcast
  • Make a donation
  • Become a Breakfast Club member with a recurring donation
BRING YOUR FRIENDS
  • Start a virtual food drive
  • Host a virtual Table to Table event

Join us for the Annual Breakfast Broadcast!

Picture

Summer Lunch Program

For the last 10 years, ONT has worked to ensure that our region’s families continue to have access to nutritious foods even when school breaks for the summer. Never has the reliance on school meals been more apparent than it has been this year in the wake of COVID-19. Through June, all of the school districts in our area worked creatively to keep meals available to school children. But then what? ONT’s Summer Lunch Program continues to provide great breakfast, lunch and snack groceries to keep families’ kitchens stocked. To-date, ONT has already put more than 256,000 meals on the table for 1,062 children, including almost 46,000 meals just since July 1. Families are shopping through our online markets each week, picking out fresh fruits, cereal, snacks, and fixings for sandwiches. ONT is on track to save these families a total of $150,000 in food costs this summer!
Picture

First-Time Guest Quote

"We never imagined we would be in a position to need your help. My husband got laid off [shortly before COVID with no severance]. We have yet to receive an unemployment check. [All of his] interviews [were put on hold indefinitely] the week this craziness hit. We are finding paying our mortgage and COBRA at the same time is killing us. When we were told you could help it was like a gift from God. I have always admired your organization. I admire it on a whole new level now. Thank you for all you do, and continue to do, to help us and all in the communities you serve, especially during this crazy time. We are truly looking at this as the beginning of a relationship with ONT that we will pay back when we are able." 
--ONT First-time Guest  ​
Picture
​Not getting our emails? We might not have your current email on file. Sign-up for our email list today and don't miss any ONT news!

Volunteer Spotlight

Picture
Eve Lee was not familiar with Our Neighbors’ Table when she was invited by a friend to attend ONT’s Annual Breakfast in October of 2016. “I saw all of the amazing things happening at this impactful organization and the amazing people that were involved and I was hooked,” Eve said of her first breakfast experience. She started volunteering in the Market a couple of Saturdays a month, which accommodated her travel schedule for her job in marketing at a medical device company. Soon Eve found herself on the fundraising committee, where she chaired and created ONT’s Fill ‘Em Up Fest.  After joining the board in 2018, she started her term as board chair in June of this year. But her weekly volunteering in the Market remains a priority for her. Read more about Eve in this month's Volunteer Spotlight!

0 Comments

Volunteer Spotlight - Heather McPeake

5/20/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
​When Heather McPeake sat in ONT’s community room for volunteer orientation in the summer of 2018, she never imagined she would be in the same room; packing grocery orders in a face mask.  Heather and her daughter came to ONT because she wanted to give back her community and do something meaningful with her teenage daughter.  The two enjoyed volunteering together stocking shelves in the Market.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Heather found herself working from her home in Amesbury 4 days a week for a law firm. “I hadn’t volunteered for awhile and I was feeling like I wanted to do something help during the crisis,” Heather said. And help she is! Heather has answered the call and is helping in 2 crucial areas of ONT’s program operations.  On Wednesdays, she helps pre-pack the dry goods for the Newburyport pick-up orders. Heather she loves the organization of checking off the packing list and making sure the guest gets everything they ordered.
Heather is also part of our remote support team, helping guest with their customized grocery orders over the phone if they don’t have internet access to place their order. “I love talking to the guests on the phone,” she said. “Everyone is so nice, you can tell how appreciative they are for ONT.” Despite the programmatic changes, Heather says that the ONT atmosphere is still the same. She loves the team spirit and working side by side (from a safe distance!) with her neighbors to help each other.
Heather and her husband have called Amesbury home for 15 years. When not at ONT, she loves to cook, do yoga and go for nature walks with her 15-year-old daughter. If you see her out walking her yorkie, Elsie, be sure to wave hello!

0 Comments

Table Talk, Winter 2020

2/13/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Thank you for making food security a priority in 2019, for elevating food insecurity as a real issue in our community and for putting the investments in to address this fixable problem. Thank you for making it possible for us to serve more than 4,500 of your neighbors, providing them with fresh, wholesome foods when and where they need it. The year ahead holds ambitious goals to spread food security across our region and I hope you’ll stick with us.
 
The USDA defines Food Security as consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle. Our work, to-date, has been laser-focused on:
1. Enough food. ONT’s approach leaves behind the traditional food pantry model and replaces it with the traditional grocery store model – you come in weekly, you pick out the foods you like to and can eat, and you get as much of it as you need to feed your family. In 2019, ONT distributed 1.38 million pounds of food, two-thirds of which were high quality produce, meats, fish, and dairy.
 2. Food to support a healthy lifestyle. Walk into any ONT market and you will immediately notice that fresh fruits and vegetables take center-stage. Guests shopping in our markets have long told us that they want to eat more fresh foods, but they simply can’t afford it. ONT is proud to partner with more than 2 dozen local growers and community gardens to bring fresh produce to our markets. Our partnership with the Greater Boston Food Bank and local food rescue partners have ensured that every shopper has year-round access to these foods. Foods they need and want to live an active, healthy lifestyle. 

Now, 2020 will be the year we focus on tying it all together with the most important factor that separates temporary relief of hunger from true food security: Consistency.
 
Access to food today means you’re not hungry now. Reliable, consistent access to enough, quality food every day means you are food secure. From expanding our community markets, to providing tools to our pediatricians and educators to connect people to food, to shuttles from the Salisbury and Groveland Councils on Aging to the Amesbury market, we’re breaking down barriers so people can have access to food every day.
 
As we work together toward the goal of a food secure region, can you help us build consistency? This year, we are seeking to build our Breakfast Club, those giving across 12-months a year, ensuring our resources are ready and available whenever our neighbors need us. Last year, the Breakfast Club grew to nearly 100 members. Our goal this year is to get to at least 150. Is this the year you can build food security into your everyday life?
 
We’re ready to make the promise of food security. As I personally celebrate a decade here at ONT, I’m looking forward to the possibilities our future holds.
 
Wishing you a happy, healthy and food secure 2020,
Lyndsey Haight
Executive Director

Get your kids involved with ONT's mission! 

Picture
​Did you know you can volunteer at the ONT Market with your children? ONT’s WEE Can Help! program provides a wonderful opportunity for children ages 4-10 to come in for a Market Stocking shift! WEE Can Help! volunteers perform the important task of restocking our shelves after the Market has closed on Wednesdays from 4-5pm. This is a great chance for parents to teach their children about giving back to their community in a kid-friendly space. Find out more information here! 
If you’re looking for an opportunity that is suitable for both individuals and groups, consider Fill ‘Em Up Bags! The goal for each person participating in Fill ‘Em Up Bags is to raise $30, which provides dinner to a child for a whole month! Each participant decorates their Fill ‘Em Up Bag, then ask friends and family to help fill the bag. Learn more about how your child can make a difference! 
If you have any questions about family opportunities, please email Melanie or call her (978) 388-1907 x21. ​

Volunteer Spotlight - Rose Cole

Picture
Meet Rose Cole, a volunteer who wears many different hats at Our Neighbors’ Table. Rose heard about Our Neighbors’ Table through word of mouth, and first got involved in 2015 when ONT was headquartered out of the Main Street Congregational Church. Now, Rose volunteers every Thursday at the Newburyport Market, as well as every Friday doing check-in for the Amesbury Market, and Rose serves on the Volunteer Appreciation Committee. Rose says one of her favorite things about ONT is the camaraderie among volunteers, “When there’s a volunteer who has something going on in their life-- others help out. It feels really good to be a part of that.”
Rose was key in helping to start ONT’s Newburyport Market in 2018. ONT’s Mobile Market Manager Tracy Kane says, “It took a lot to get the Newburyport Market off the ground, and more importantly to show new guests coming to it that they were welcomed and safe. Rose was extremely helpful and patient while we got all that going, helping to demonstrate ONT’s core values.” Read more about Rose in this month's Volunteer Spotlight! 

News & Events

The community's collective hard work continues to reach more neighbors, including more seniors and more children, than ever before. Our Annual Report will be out next month with more  highlights, but in the meantime here are some key 2019 figures: 
Picture
​Save the Dates!
Planning your 2020 calendar? Be sure to pencil in these ONT events so you don't miss them! ​
Fill Your Neighbor's Plate - March 2020
​ONT's annual restaurant campaign returns! Add a virtual meal to your bill at participating local restaurants. Stay tuned for more info about our 2020 restaurant partners
Picture
Annual Breakfast - October 20, 2020
Picture
Planned Giving
​Did you know ONT accepts planned gifts from wills, trusts, IRA or retirement plans? There are so many ways to plan to make a significant and lasting impact on food security in your community. We would love to welcome you into ONT's Legacy Society!
Fighting Hunger Grill Master's Challenge & Brew Party - June 2020
Picture
Sponsor & Serve
Looking for a great team-building experience? Sponsor & Serve an ONT Meal or at the ONT Market!
Contact Lesley today for more information. Don't wait! The calendar is filling up fast. 
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Table Talk, Fall 2019: Feeding the Future

11/14/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.
​
Gratefully,
Lyndsey Haight
Executive Director

ONT Now a SNAP Outreach Partner

Picture
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

Picture
​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.
Picture

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

Picture
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! 

Picture
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.
Picture
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.
Picture
Picture
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!
Picture
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! 

Picture

Thank you to our 2019 Great Neighbors!

Picture
0 Comments

Table Talk, Spring 2019

5/15/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
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. 
Picture
Picture

Over 5,000 neighbor's plates filled - thank you! 

Picture
 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

Picture
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

Picture
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! 
Picture
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.
Picture
Picture
​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!

Picture
​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

Picture
Fill 'Em Up Fest - Saturday, September 7
Picture
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! 
Picture
0 Comments

Cummings Foundation awards ONT 10-year grant!

5/15/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
​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. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Table Talk, Winter 2019

2/14/2019

0 Comments

 
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

Picture
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!
​
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

Picture
​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

Picture
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.
​
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

Picture
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

Picture
​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
​

Stay tuned for our Annual Report coming out this spring with more details about our 2018 impact. 
Picture
0 Comments

Table Talk, Fall 2018: Food Security Starts With You

11/16/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
 ​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

Picture
​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

Picture
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! 

Picture

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.
Picture

Upcoming at ONT

Picture
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!
​

Check out the full list of holiday events and hours here!
Picture
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

Picture

Thinking about your charitable giving this time of year?

Picture
Picture
Picture
​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! 

Picture
0 Comments

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

1/26/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
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...
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

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.
Picture
​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. 
Picture
​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!
Picture
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!
Picture
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!

Picture
Picture
Picture
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!
0 Comments
<<Previous

    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