October 27, 2025 newsletter

 

A beautiful good morning to everyone, following an equally beautiful weekend!

I want to start this letter off by sharing a sentiment with you that my Pastor shared yesterday. She was remarking on churches and organizations that claim, “We welcome everyone!” She said that if we were really honest, we would rephrase that to, “We try really hard to welcome everyone. Come help us do even better.”

That really struck me: no one can be all things to all people, no matter how much they try. But all of us together can do a much better job of it. That's why an organization like Stone Soup Kitchen, which is made from all of the talents and donations by all of the people who choose to be part of the soup, always needs more people to come and be a part of things. What should you do if you want to get involved? Email back! We really appreciate all of our volunteers and donors, and we'd love to have even more people participate in supporting our communities. I've included a picture of our Coffee Bar from Saturday morning. Most of what we do is FUN, as well as being something that our community badly needs!

We had a very busy Saturday at the food pantry, and we believe that this is just the beginning. Many people mentioned how their EBT cards (SNAP) were empty, and as we all know, they will not be refilled until such a time as the federal government reopens. The USDA has a $6 billion contingency fund that it will not be allowed to tap for this purpose. If you feel strongly about this...the shutdown, the lack of negotiations, sitting on available funds...maybe you would like to join me in making some phone calls and writing some letters.

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One Small Thing
Our friend Brian told us about his habit of carrying things for people. Anytime he sees someone that he thinks might struggle, or is struggling with a heavy or awkward burden, Brian takes it upon himself to carry it for them. (Not just at work, either. I know for a fact that he does this all the time!)

Keep sending in those “small things”...they inspire others more than you might think!
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If you can shop for us this week, there are a few items that we are getting low on: spaghetti sauce, boxed instant potatoes, 18 oz containers of oatmeal, and 6-pack snack crackers (peanut butter or cheese). For the safety of your car's tires, please consider dropping donations off at Ayer Shop 'n Save instead of the pantry. The parking lot on Cambridge is full of nails from construction. You could also park down off Newton Street and walk up to the 2nd blue door if you want to stop by and see us on Wednesday (from 10 to noon). If you drop off at the grocery store, please leave us a little note so we can thank you!

I love you all, and appreciate you more than you will ever know! Together, you help to keep people in our communities fed, and you also help to keep them feeling encouraged and free from despair. This is a tough time for many people. Come and help us make it easier on them  💕

Health + peace ~
Cyndi