Family-to-Family Holiday Drive Returns

Open Table Family-to-Family Holiday Drive Returns

An opportunity to give back to our community and brighten the holiday season

Concord and Maynard, MA (November 8, 2022) – Open Table, the MetroWest charity dedicated to fighting hunger and building healthy communities, today announced that the Open Table Family-to-Family Gift Bag Drive is back for the fourth year in a row. The program offers community members the opportunity to create special holiday gift bags for either a local family and/or a senior who are clients of Open Table.

Open Table provides participants with a list of suggested items to fill a gift bag, then sends daily reminders and other information each of the first 12 days of December. Items must be unwrapped as this allows Open Table to determine an appropriate recipient for each bag.

Families can use the following suggestions to create a gift bag for a family or a senior:

Day 1:  Movie Night Snack (popcorn, pretzels, or chips)
Day 2:  Special Breakfast  (pancake mix and syrup or scone/muffin mix)
Day 3:  Fun activity (puzzle or board game for family or cards/game/book for senior)
Day 4:  $25 Pharmacy or Visa gift card (please place in a marked envelope)
Day 5:  Favorite baking mix (brownies, cookies, cake) and cooking oil as needed
Day 6:  Moisturizer or hand cream for cold weather
Day 7:  Hot chocolate mix, coffee or tea
Day 8:  Festive kitchen towel
Day 9:  Favorite store-bought holiday sweets
Day 10: Olive oil (plastic or metal container, no glass please)
Day 11:  Favorite spread for toast (jams, jellies, nut butters)
Day 12:  Dried fruits and/or nuts

All items must be placed in one reusable bag, such as the large T.J. Maxx bag. Gift bags will be collected at 33 Main Street in Maynard on Friday, December 15, 2-6 pm and at 40 Beharrell Street in Concord on Saturday, December 16, 10 am-1 pm. Clients will receive gift bags with the final food distribution of 2023. Please note, Open Table is unable to accept home-baked goodies for the gift bags.  

“This is a wonderful opportunity to make the holidays a bit brighter not only for the families who rely on Open Table, but for those who donate as well,” said Alexandra DePalo, executive director, Open Table. “For many members of the community this program is a meaningful part of their holiday season, and we are so grateful for that!”

If you have any questions about this program, please contact the coordinator, Carolyn, at ccoffin@opentable.org

Sign up to make a gift bag at:  opentable.org/family-to-family

About Open Table

Open Table is a 501(c)(3) established in 1989. Its mission is to address hunger in the local community by providing healthy food in a welcoming environment while respecting the dignity and diversity of those served. For more information, visit: https://www.opentable.org/

Media Contact
Joan Geoghegan
978-371-3921
joangeo@comcast.net