A Groundbreaking Achievement!After three years of planning, we don’t need to imagine the Seacoast Regional Food Hub much longer. On Tuesday, August 8, we celebrated the groundbreaking at 114 Bridge Road, Salisbury, alongside more than 75 of our partners, from elected officials to food access partners to our devoted community of donors and volunteers. The physical groundbreaking took place the same week; contractors began the loading dock excavation, demolition inside the building and concrete abatement in the warehouse. The entire project is expected to take 6 months from start to finish, with hopes to open access to the warehouse prior to completion. Once complete, the food hub will have a major impact on food insecurity in 17 communities across the Lower Merrimack Valley by expanding storage capacity and creating more efficient food procurement and distribution. This project is only possible because of the community of support ONT has received over 31 years, allowing us to grow from a small food pantry inside a church to a regional food access agency that served more than 1 million meals last year. But our work is not done. This $7.8 million project has already raised $3 million from public funds and private donors, and we will continue to work closely with our partners to raise the rest. Want to learn more? Visit www.ourneighborstable.org/foodhub. What's in the Food Hub?Volunteer Spotlight: Anna Bradfield, NewburyportWhen Anna Bradfield moved to Newburyport to be closer to her grandchildren after her husband passed away in 2020, she was looking for friendship and a purpose. She found both at Our Neighbors’ Table. “The friendships and the people are most important to me,” Anna says. “There’s not a volunteer here that isn’t a nice person.” The former Dean of Education for Bridgewater State University from 2003-2017, she also enjoys being part of a team instead of being in charge. Anna has worked in almost every volunteer role at ONT, and tries to fill in where she’s needed. She started in the warehouse because she enjoyed the physical labor and was interested the logistics of the supply chain. At one point she was known as the food drive lady, because she was always willing to help unload and sort the donations. When the Market needed more help, she shifted her efforts there. She’s even handled the phones. “I enjoy the community here,” she says. “People need food. There is nothing bad about this work, and Our Neighbors’ Table is a great organization.” Know someone who would enjoy becoming part of our community? Tell them to volunteer! Hunger Action Month: Get involved today!Building a food secure community requires a community of support! For Hunger Action Month, we are launching our community mobilization effort to expand the network of support for regional food security so we can take full advantage of the Seacoast Regional Food Hub's expanded storage capacity. We need your help! Learn more here! GET INFORMED:
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