Table Talk, Fall 2022

Need is on the Rise Again

In 2016, eight years after the last economic recession, local food insecurity was still on the rise. In 2020, we suffered an unprecedented global health and economic crisis and the rippling effect is still on our door step. Government programs created a critical safety net for people who lost their jobs or wages as a result of the shutdown. As a result of those programs, ONT actually saw a reduction in reliance on our markets and meals in 2021. This was replaced by increased requests for SNAP applications and wider access to school meals and Meals on Wheels. However, the tide is shifting in 2022. In the first six months of 2022, we’ve already registered more new people than we did in the second half of 2020. Food at no cost from ONT has become more necessary than it was in 2020 for children, working individuals, seniors, and retirees to keep their households afloat.

Lyndsey Haight
Executive Director

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ANNUAL BREAKFAST
SAVE THE DATE- Tuesday, Oct. 25

Presented by:

Join us for ONT's Annual Breakfast
​at Blue Ocean Event Center in Salisbury, MA!
​Tickets and Sponsorships are now available. See you there!

Buy Your Tickets Here!

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Volunteer Spotlight- Steve Blanchette

Steve Blanchette, a Georgetown native now living and running his business in Newburyport, has been a cornerstone of our Wednesday Meal since getting involved just before the pandemic hit in 2020. His goal was to get involved in the community and teach his sons about giving back. He believes in “teaching the kids that not everything is about us all of the time. We are in a position to help and it's important that we do.” Steve believes in treating every guest as though they are dining at a 5-star restaurant. 
Read more about Steve Blanchette Here

​The ONT Market and Meal Sponsor & Serve opportunities offer a unique chance for group volunteer service with a financial commitment. When the “serve” portion of the program was interrupted in 2020, Steve decided to continue his sponsorship and make frequent donations to the Wednesday Meal. When asked about why he wanted to continue his involvement in the program, Steve said, “We weren’t sure where the world was going to be headed at the time and we did not want to leave our ONT community hanging." Steve and his family have returned to serve in 2022 and encourage participating in Sponsor & Serve to support both the volunteers and guests. Click this link to learn more about Sponsor and Serve!

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Darling Consulting volunteers after their Market Sponsorship.

Sponsor and Serve Details

Wednesday Meal: 2 - 4 sponsor volunteers help package up to-go meals and pass them out the guests. Available Wednesdays from 3pm - 5pm.
Amesbury Market: 4-6 sponsor volunteers help pack the customized grocery orders for guests. Available Thursdays - Saturdays for 2.5 to 4 hour shifts, timing based on the day.
Sponsorship Cost: starting at $500
Next Steps: Interested in scheduling your meal or market sponsorship date? visit https://www.ourneighborstable.org/group-opportunities.html to learn more or to get your preferred date booked. 

Bring on Summer! Grocery Program is a Lifeline

​Household expenses are up, school meals ended with the school year and children and their families are needing ONT more than they did a year ago. Since June, ONT has already provided more than 75,835 pounds of groceries to 301 families through our Summer Lunch Program! ONT is serving 44% more children compared to Summer 2021. Breakfasts, lunches, and nutritious snacks available in our online Market have already saved parents thousands of dollars on groceries! Families in our region who aren't current guests can register with ONT anytime on our website or call 978-388-1907 to start shopping weekly. 

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News & Events

Welcome to our New Staff! 
​ONT has recently welcomed a few new members to the team since January: Dan Brinkman, Office Operations Manager; Joanne Barnes, Director of Finance/HR; Nic Popoli, Warehouse Assistant; Brendan Burke, Associate Director of Supply Chain & Logistics; and Ben Quintal, Community Engagement Coordinator. They each play an important role in ONT’s mission to achieve food security in our region and we are so grateful to have them on the team! We’re still  growing. If you’d like to join our team, visit ourneighborstable.org/jobopportunities.

ONT Ambassadors Hit the Streets
With safety guidelines in place, ONT is excited to be back out in the community hosting tables at our favorite events! Thanks to those who came to learn more about ONT at the Amesbury Block Party, the Amesbury, Newburyport and Salisbury Farmers’ Markets, Yankee Homecoming, and the Car Show! See you at the next event!

​​Local Leaders Deepen their Efforts
Through ONT’s Food Security Advisory Group, our local superintendents, mayors, councils on aging and health providers have made food access a priority across the region. This leadership helped mobilize every sector at the outset of COVID. This year, leaders are ensuring their teams are informed and
equipped to recognize and respond to food insecurity.