March 31, 2025 newsletter

 

Sitting here at my desk to write this letter today, I glanced out the window and can't even see the house next door to us through the fog that's settled in our wooded back yard. Normally this time of year, still being part of “stick season,” it's easy to see our neighbors, but not today! It's slowly lifting as I sit here, but it strikes me that I have a choice:

Is it gloomy or beautiful? Which should I focus on?

I am not an unrelenting Pollyanna by any means (those who know me will attest to that), so I have found it necessary these days to grab onto any positive turn of events that I can in order to keep going. I am sorry to have to start with the “gloomy” news today so that we can then move on to the practical matter of what some of our supporters are doing about it. Hopefully you will find much of that to be very positive...and probably even beautiful 😊

Last week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) made a third cut to food that our food banks were expecting to receive. You can read about the first two cuts in last week's letter if you missed it. You may know that we visit the Merrimack Valley Food Bank each week to pick up many of the basic staples that we hand out at our pantry. They wrote to all of us last week:

For MVFB specifically, this means that we will no longer be receiving $208,323 worth of food deliveries, totaling 3,806 cases of food, that we had expected over the coming months. This includes cases of staples including chicken breasts, pork, and eggs - items we counted on to be able to provide essential proteins and high demand items to the food pantries and meals programs we serve.

Remember, this is on top of two other deep cuts by the USDA, which are affecting food banks, our non-profit farm partner (Boston Area Gleaners), local farmers, and schools.

The gloomy part of me wants to just throw up my hands and cry, but we have too many people who depend upon us for help to just give up. And then the hopeful part of me looks around at the beautiful things our supporters, donors, and volunteers do each month to help us keep moving food out the door and into our guests' homes. What is it that you're doing? Every month, you...

Buy some extra food and donate it
Donate money so we can buy what we need
Organize food drives or fundraisers
Make phone calls to your Senators, Representative, Governor, etc
Bake cookies
Put together holiday treats
Help to sort, pack, recycle, and serve
Pick up deliveries for us
Contact businesses you frequent or are employed at to see how they can help
Join protests (April 5 will be a big one)

It's too easy to get mired in the gloom when the hits just keep coming. But this is definitely not the time to quit. There are just too many people who need our help, and too many people who are devoted to serving them. Here's a beautiful example: On Saturday, Lin and her son Vinny organized a free hot cocoa and glitter tattoo stand at Ayer Shop 'n Save. Lin even managed to arrange for a visit from our local heroes at the Fire Station! People donated food and money as they chose, but there was no obligation in order to enjoy a cuppa and to have a look at the inside of a fire truck. Actions like these draw attention to the need, collect needed donations, and also give our community fun activities to lift the gloom. Look at those faces in the attached photos!

If you want to get involved in fundraising, food driving, or other forms of beautiful support, please just email me back...there are lots of ways you can help support our food insecure neighbors! And thank you to everyone who is already helping 💕

If you have food that you want to donate to us, we can take drop-offs at the pantry (through the gray door next to the parking lot on Cambridge Street) on Wednesdays from 10 to noon, Fridays from 4 to 5, and Saturdays only from 9 to 10. Please note that these are shorter hours than before, because of parking logistics. Please do not leave food at the door outside of these hours. The bin is always available at Shop n' Save if those times don't suit. Please leave a note in the bag with your name so we know whom to thank! We are located at 21 Washington Street, Suite C, Ayer MA 01432

I love you all, and I know we can get through this together.