Saturday, November 12, 2022
Nourish
Kate Constantine
The Seacoast is a special community. After serving the Greater Boston area for a year doing food rescue for local nonprofits, I wanted to return home to help the community I love so much. Working for Gather has allowed me to do just that, but it has also taught me so much I never knew about my neighbors. Food insecurity is something that is impossible to see. Especially in an area that is as affluent as ours. That only means our neighbors need our support more. Food is the foundation that our life and our culture is built around. Nourishment provides hope.
The dignified shopping experience that Gather provides through our pantry market on West Rd in Portsmouth and several farmers market style mobile markets throughout the week—serving Kittery, Rochester, Seabrook, and Somersworth—breaks down much of the stigma that comes with being food insecure. Our “members” come to shop and are greeted with grace and select from a wide variety of fresh produce, bread, dry goods, and unique prepared meals made by our partners at UNH and our Cooking 4 Community program. Whereas other food access programs across the nations don’t provide folks with the power of choice; therefore, solving temporary solutions to hunger but not empowering individuals to make their own nutritional decisions.
During my time at Gather, shoppers have expressed to me how coming to Gather lifts a weight off their shoulders. Recently, we have seen record numbers of new members: many of whom have told me they would never have imagined coming to a food pantry, needing to ask for help. With international inflation, rising food and gas prices: many individuals are having to choose between heating their homes and putting food in their fridge. For our unhoused members, we are seeing extreme summers and winters which makes safely storing food almost impossible. At Gather, we provide them with alternative options: meaning we are always looking for powdered milk and eggs, and ready to eat soup with easy to open tabs. We also have been making insulated backpacks for them to prepare them for winter: razors, socks, gloves, hats, nutritional snacks.
With rates of food insecurity nationwide rising, it can be extremely disheartening, but we have the opportunity at Gather to directly impact our community and change the lives of our neighbors with grace and hope.
FOOD DRIVE FOR GATHER @ SJC
Nov. 13 & 20
Gather is experiencing higher demand than ever at their community food pantry this season, and winter is right around the corner. Please consider helping with donations of pantry items and self-care products. There will be bins available to drop donations at St. John's on Sundays Nov. 13 & 20.
FALL 2022 WISH LIST:
Condiments (ketchup, relish, mustard)
Ready-to-serve soup
Side dishes (Pasta-roni, Hamburger Helper)
Canned meat (tuna, chicken)
Oil, flour & sugar
Coffee & tea
Pasta & pasta sauce
Personal Care Items: Shampoo/Conditioner, bar soap, toothpaste
Home Items: Toilet paper, dish soap, sponges, laundry detergent
Monetary donations gratefully accepted. Checks made out to GATHER.