Family-to-Family
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Shopping for and filling Family-to-Family gift bags is something parents tell us that they enjoy doing with their children. Why not make it an occasion to talk with your kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews about hunger in our communities and how hard it would be to worry about getting enough healthy food to eat? It’s a good way to help them build empathy towards others.

The Concord Public Library has put together a list of children’s books that might be a useful resource for you as you have such conversations.

Here’s a conversation for the dinner table tonight: Imagine you have $1,200 to cover all your family’s expenses this month. Here’s what you must pay:

• Rent: $800
• Electric bill: $120
• Groceries for the month: $300 (that’s if you buy mostly basic foods) 

You’ve already reached $1,220, which is $20 more than you have. But now a few more things come up:

• Your child needs $15 for a field trip. 
• The doctor says you should come in for an appointment — $25 copay.
• You’d really like to buy a small $10 holiday gift for someone you love.

What would you do?
Would you skip the field trip? Delay the doctor’s visit? Buy cheaper groceries that might not be as healthy? Let the electric bill go unpaid and risk a shutoff notice? Skip the holiday gift? Families without enough resources for the basics are making these choices every day. That’s one reason the Family-to-Family gift bags are so meaningful and why you tell us it’s one of your favorite opportunities to help. 

At Open Table, we use the term “food insecurity” often—but it’s not the same as simply being hungry. Food insecurity means that a household does not always have reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food. It doesn’t always look like skipping meals; sometimes it’s running out of groceries before payday, choosing cheaper but less nutritious foods, or worrying each week about whether food will last.

Many families work hard yet still struggle to cover essential expenses like rent, utilities, or medical bills—leaving less money for healthy meals. Often people need Open Table’s help just temporarily — to get them through a rough time. Typically, a first time client uses our services for only 4-6 months. And we don’t make them prove their financial need; clients appreciate our respect for their dignity. After all, difficulties such as a job loss or health crisis could befall any of us.

Most of us hope to make a positive difference in the lives of others. By taking part in the Family-to-Family Gift Bag Program, you’re making a direct, meaningful impact on a family right here in your community.

Open Table shares that same commitment. We strive every day to reduce hunger and increase access to healthy food. Curious how we’re doing? Take a look at our latest Impact Highlights. You’ll see clear, concrete numbers that show exactly what your support helps us accomplish.

Here’s a fun idea: ask your family to guess the numbers in each category before you reveal the real ones. Were they surprised? 

You may have seen recent news about cuts to SNAP—but what is SNAP, and why does it matter so much to Open Table and the people we serve?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—formerly known as food stamps—is a federal program that helps low-income households buy food. Many Open Table clients rely on SNAP benefits in addition to visiting Open Table. But rising grocery prices, steep housing costs, and the need for specialized diets mean that even with SNAP, families often can’t meet their basic needs.

When SNAP benefits are reduced, we feel the impact immediately. More households turn to us for help, increasing pressure on our resources. Your support—through programs like Family-to-Family—helps ensure we can meet those needs, especially during times of policy change or economic strain.

Sometimes the most powerful gifts are the simplest ones—a deck of cards, a crossword book, a jigsaw puzzle. For a senior who lives alone or spends long winter evenings indoors, these small items can bring pleasure, stimulation, and a sense of connection. For a family, it encourages time playing together (and off screens!)

Games and puzzles do more than pass the time. They keep minds active and often spark memories of shared moments with family and friends. A word search or a puzzle can be a daily challenge to look forward to. Even a simple game can become a reason to invite a neighbor over for company.

When you tuck a game or puzzle into your Family-to-Family gift bag, you’re not just giving entertainment—you might be giving the perfect thing that brightens a long winter day.

A bag of popcorn or pretzels might seem like a small thing, but it can help create something families experiencing hardship don’t always get enough of—time to relax and enjoy each other’s company. When money is tight, even simple pleasures like a shared movie night can feel out of reach. Parents are worrying about bills, meals, or work schedules instead of looking for the remote.

Your gift of movie night snacks offers permission to pause—to laugh together, to feel normal, to make a memory. Those moments of connection are as nourishing as the food itself, reminding families that joy and togetherness still belong at the table.

The items on our 12 Days of Giving list may seem like simple, everyday household supplies—but for many Open Table clients, they’re anything but ordinary. When families are stretching every dollar to cover rent and nutritious foods, essentials like cleaning products or personal care items may be completely out of reach.

Your gift bags help fill those gaps in a thoughtful, personal way. One client told us “This time of the year is so sad for me and when I got the Christmas treat bag it brought me some joy! Words cannot express how grateful I am!”

Thank you for choosing items that bring comfort, dignity, and joy to a neighbor this holiday season.

Ever wish you could hear directly from the people your support helps? Last spring we visited one of our clients, Denise, and asked her to share what Open Table has meant to her and her family.

We created a short video we think you and your family will appreciate. As you shop for your Family-to-Family gift bag items, you may find yourselves thinking of Denise and others like her who benefit from your generosity.

When a family is anxious about having enough food each day, that stress affects nearly every part of life. It becomes harder to find time for the fun moments that connect us to each other and our communities. Worry and limited resources can take a toll on both mental and physical health.

By donating a holiday gift bag filled with household basics and a few thoughtful treats, you acknowledge our shared humanity and help ease that daily burden.

Want to learn more about the wide-ranging effects of hunger? The Greater Boston Food Bank’s new report, The Cost of Hunger in Massachusetts, offers a powerful look at how food insecurity affects individuals and communities across the state.

Some costs don’t show up on a bill. When a family is stretched thin, they’re also paying with their time, their energy, and their peace of mind. A simple trip to the grocery store becomes a careful calculation. A child’s birthday sneaks up as a source of stress instead of celebration. Even the smallest unexpected expense—a broken zipper, a missed bus, a prescription refill—can feel overwhelming.

By donating a holiday bag, you help lift some of those invisible costs. You give someone the breathing room to focus on what really matters: moments of calm, connection, and dignity. It’s one small act that makes an outsized difference, and it starts with you.

For many of you, participating in the Family-to-Family Gift Bag Program has become a meaningful holiday tradition—and a fun way to involve children in helping others. If you’d like to make a difference throughout the year, you can learn more with the emails we send. We’ll keep you up to date on opportunities such as assembling Kids’ Bags, joining community events, participating in food drives, and contributing to future holiday programs.

While you’re at it, take a moment to explore the rest of our website. Did you know that we distributed over 900,000 pounds of food last year? Or that we partner with 13 local farms to get the fresh fruit and vegetables that are important for a healthy diet? There’s so much happening at Open Table, and we’d love for you to stay connected.