August 13, 2024 Newsletter
July is the first month since COVID that the growth rate of requests for food assistance has dropped off. In July, we averaged 296 requests per week vs. 295 in June, a 0.1% increase. The average number of bags of food per request has continued to increase slightly from 4.3 in May to 4.5 in June and 4.7 in July while the number of people per household has remained constant at 2.4 during those 3 months. The increase in bags is due to the amount of fresh, seasonally available produce that Nourishing the North Shore provides each week.
One of the benefits of the new addition is that we now have the room to accept large food donations. Last Monday, during our weekly planning meeting, a semi-trailer pulled into the parking lot with 17 pallets of fresh produce that they wanted to donate. Our energetic volunteers jumped into action and unloaded as much produce as they could fit into our new walk-in refrigerator. Fresh cucumbers, lettuce, mixed salad greens, cauliflowers, etc. The walk-in refrigerator was filled from floor to ceiling with almost 60 boxes of produce. There was literally no room to get into the refrigerator without pulling a cart of produce out of the aisle in the refrigerator.
There was far more produce than we could use so we called meal programs in the area to come and take what they could use. After filling our refrigerator, there were still 15 pallets left on the truck. A phone call to the Salem Food Pantry, which operates a cross dock serving food pantries, confirmed that they were able to take the remainder of the produce so that nothing went to waste.
DONATIONS
Newbury Girl Scouts delivered cases of cookies to be given out to pantry guests. They helped weigh the cookies and stock them on pantry shelves. The Scouts will be returning in August to help paint the bagging tables donated by Tracy Cordie.
Jess, Liz and Alex from the ops team at the Institution for Savings (State St Branch) presented gas cards worth $1,500 to First Parish Newbury Food Pantry delivery drivers. These are some of the volunteers who deliver food to our guests each week using their own car and fuel. Dave Spellman who coordinates our drivers will distribute $50 cards to each driver.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Unfortunately our volunteer-of-the-month Andrew Simpson was not available for a photo op, but we did not want to let that get in the way of giving him a shout out. This is the back of his car one recent week that as you can see is filled to the brim with grocery deliveries that he makes to our guests on most Friday's. He is a super star, and we can't wait until he's able to return to duty.
FUNDRAISERS
Essex Ensemble Concert at Maudslay on August 25.
Don't Forget to Get your tickets now!
Kendall Bowie, School Food Pantry Manager (L) and Jane Merrow, Food Pantry Director (R).
Women in Action Huddle's Fundraiser
A big thank you to the Women in Action Huddle! During the month of July they sponsored a fund raiser for the school food pantries opened by the First Parish Newbury Food Pantry in five area schools in the past two years. School pantries will open in two additional schools in September. The Women in Action Huddle raised $1000 that will be put to good use in supplying the school food pantries as students start the new school year.
Cruise Night in Newbury, August 16
Come see us at the 19th annual Byfield Car Show in Newbury on August 16 from 4pm until dusk. We'll have food stand selling beverages and food, and holding a 50/50 raffle to benefit the pantry.
Hope to see you there!
Our Loretta fundraiser will be on Wednesday, August 14th. Starting at 5 pm, Loretta will donate part of the proceeds to the Pantry. Plan on dinner out (take out or eat in). You'll see a lot of familiar faces as the community turns out to support our work. We suggest that you make reservations in advance.
Food Donations
We accept food donations every Thursday from 9:30 am -1 pm. If you are not able to drop off at that time, please contact us at info@newburyfoodpantry.org or call 978-358-1077 to arrange another time.
Our most requested items include Coffee, Tea, Flour, Sugar, Baking Mixes, Cereals, Pasta Sides, Jello and Pudding Mixes, Jelly, Broths, Soups, and Toilet Paper.
Volunteers needed!
As our work has expanded to help more neighbors in our community, our need for volunteers has increased. We have teams of people working six days a week and could use your help, especially on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Jobs include calling our guests to take their orders, organizing orders in preparation for Friday, doubling paper bags used for packing orders, accepting food donations, unloading trucks, bagging groceries, loading cars, delivering food orders, stocking shelves, and more.
Important Note:
We are looking for volunteers who are bi-lingual in Spanish and/or Portuguese as we are seeing an influx of guests where English is not their first language.
Here is what our volunteers are saying:
"It’s a real pleasure to work in concert with such friendly, organized people. I loved the fast pace and the way the hours raced by."
"Such an awesome organization. So glad to be a part of this community effort."
"I really enjoy volunteering with you and everyone else at the pantry. It's such important work for the community and everyone is so welcoming and kind."
Come join us! Email Barbara at info@newburyfoodpantry.org to let her know you are interested.