12 Days of Joy from Family to Family
Thanks to your generosity, we distributed 616 gift bags donated by supporters from 30 different towns!
These thoughtful gifts brightened the season for all the clients we serve through our onsite and mobile food distributions. Additionally, we were able to extend our reach to more than 50 families living in emergency shelters.
We are already looking forward to the 2025 Gift Bag Program!
We are very excited to announce our the return of one of our most popular programs: our Family-to-Family Holiday Drive!
We again invite you to create a holiday gift bag of 12 different items for either a local family and/or a senior who may be struggling this year. Past donors have said:
- “Our family is excited to help out this year and we hope our participation will become a new holiday tradition.”
- “This is a great way for people to contribute. Thank you for letting us help.”
- “Thank you for the opportunity to share my good fortune.”
- “Love this project – looking forward to it!”
- “Thanks for this opportunity. It makes our Christmas a happier one.”
- “Thank you! This is the most meaningful activity my family does during the holidays!”
You will be provided with a list of suggested items to fill the gift bag. We will send reminders and other information on each day from the 1st through 12th of December. Reminders will show up in your email inbox and will be posted here and on social media. Please make sure all gift items remain without gift wrap; this will allow us to more easily give the bag to an appropriate individual or family.
Gift bags will be collected in Concord (40 Beharrell Street) on Friday, December 13th from 4-6pm and in Maynard (33 Main Street) on Saturday, December 14 from 10am-1pm. Clients will receive gift bags with the final food distribution of 2024.
Thank you for considering this opportunity to make the holidays more meaningful not only for the families who rely on Open Table, but for your family, too!
If you have any questions about this program, please contact the coordinator, Julie, at [email protected]
Did you know? Federal food assistance programs such as SNAP are critically important to those who struggle to feed their families, but for most of them, it’s not nearly enough. Food pantries like Open Table are used to fill the gaps.
Did you know? When grocery prices rise, all foods are not affected equally. The cost of nutrient rich foods increases more than nutritionally poor foods, making it even harder for our clients to maintain a healthy diet.
Did you know? The rates of anxiety and depression are much higher in those who experience food insecurity, approximately double that of the general population. Time spent playing together as a family, or working on a puzzle or craft, can be an important part of combating stress.
Did you know? Assistance programs like SNAP can help our clients acquire basic foodstuffs, but it won’t cover other essentials, such as soap, paper products and cleaning supplies. Due to generous community donations, Open Table is often able to provide some of these items. The gift card will help purchase more of these necessities.
Did you know? Cooking or baking together contributes to stronger relationships at home and in groups. Children also learn time management, team skills, following directions, and problem solving through this activity.
Did you know? When families experience food insecurity, they often search for the cheapest food they can find, foods that are usually high in calories, but low in nutritional value. Our clients rely on us for the fresh and healthy foods they wouldn’t otherwise be able to eat.
Did you know? Open Table distributed almost 900,000 pounds of food last year. This represents an increase of 22% over the year before. Learn more…
Did you know? People who experience food insecurity are forced to make difficult choices. According to a Greater Boston Food Bank study, these families often have to decide whether to pay the utility bill or buy food in a given month. Rarely is money left over for the little niceties in life. Learn more…
Did you know? In the past year, Open Table continued to see a rise in the use of its services. There was a 32% increase in visits to the food pantry and a 56% increase in the number of people served. Learn more…
Did you know? Cooking oil is always one of our most-requested items. For many of our clients, olive oil in particular, is an unaffordable luxury. This gift will enable them to cook more healthful meals for themselves and their families.
Did you know? We aren’t just seeing more people at Open Table, we are also seeing an increase in the number of visits. Across Massachusetts, people are experiencing food insecurity more frequently.
Did you know? When families have only limited resources for food, nutrition suffers. For some, the grocery budget won’t stretch far enough to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. For others, particularly the oldest members of our community, transportation is a barrier. Poor nutrition leads directly to health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
