December News from SSKP

Latest News - December 2025

Dear Friends,

November 2025 saw its share of challenges and overwhelming kindness. With changes to SNAP and a pause to benefits we knew the need for basic need supports would increase. And with your help we navigated this together! Thank you!

The journey is together!

As the cold winter weather arrives, I am extremely grateful for the SSKP Community Meals that can be found throughout our region. These nine hot meals each week share much more than food. The host sites and volunteers provide a warm, safe, and welcoming environment for each of our guests.

“Community:” what does this mean for you? For me community means that every single person belongs. The SSKP Community Meals are served free of charge with no registration process. The tables are set and all are welcome. Guests, neighbors, friends, family, volunteers, you, and me are welcome at the table.

In this season that is filled with joy and for many, filled with complications, please know that I and we are grateful that you are part of our community! You belong!

There is an SSKP Community Meal every day. You can come for food, fellowship, warmth, and/or community.

Thank you for being you!

With a grateful heart,

Amy

Celebrating SSKP's Thanksgiving

We are so thankful for everyone who joined us for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Grace Episcopal Church!

Once again our friends from Essex Financial Services visited the kitchen earlier in the week, prepping for the special meal. Then on Thanksgiving many more SSKP volunteers and staff gathered to make sure everything went smoothly and guests felt welcome.

Guests and volunteers sat together and dined on roasted turkey with gravy, stuffing, yams with pecan glaze, corn casserole, mashed potatoes, a vegetarian bean and lentil dish, cornbread and fresh rolls, with apple pie and pumpkin pie for dessert. Everyone enjoyed a performance by talented musicians, with one attendee commenting “the live band was wonderful!”

We were truly blessed by all who came to share food and fellowship, and by the all the volunteers and SSKP staff who worked together to make the celebration a warm and memorable holiday!

Give to the Matching Challenge for SSKP!

The 2025 Matching Challenge for SSKP is going strong – presented this year by Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale, the beloved shoreline restaurant, and Carter Gowrie, the original founder of the Challenge. They have joined forces to raise $250,000 for SSKP and need your help!

The Matching Challenge, which runs from November 1 through December 31, is also supported by Partner Sponsors who have once again donated generous matching funds: Sound Rigging, BrandTech Scientific, Essex Financial, L.C. Doane Company, Risk Strategies, and Tower Labs.

With these matching funds, your gift will be doubled dollar-for-dollar to help our neighbors, so please give generously!

Click here to donate, and choose "Matching Challenge for SSKP". (On a mobile device, also click "View Desktop Version".)

Thank you!!

Our Community Cares

Many local organizations are helping SSKP right now – many with food drives and holiday funds raisers - supporting our mission in ways large and small, and every act of kindness has a real impact!

We are truly thankful for:

Vox Church of Clinton

St. Mark Roman Catholic Church

Ivoryton Village Alliance

Holidays on the Heights

Project Courage

Valley Shore YMCA

Will Evans' concert at The Kate

Essex Library

Clinton Volunteer Fire Department

John Winthrop Middle School

Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek

Westbrook Congregational Church

CRAHD in Old Saybrook

Westbrook Elks Lodge #1784

Essex Fire Engine Co. #1

Families Helping Families

Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce

Essex Financial Services

RJ Julia Bookstore in Madison

Middlesex Cardiology

Water Technologies

Clinton Police Youth Group

Clinton Rotary Club

Old Saybrook Rotary Club

Essex Rotary Club

Niantic Rotary Club

Essex Police Department

Liberty Bank

Clinton Police Department

St. Agnes Church in Niantic

Knights of Columbus in Niantic

St. John's Catholic School

Daisy Ingraham Elementary School

and so many others.

Our wonderful community really cares, and SSKP is grateful!

SSKP Holiday Dinner

The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries' annual Holiday Dinner will be served at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 25th, at Grace Episcopal Church, 336 Main St. in Old Saybrook.

Come join us! All are welcome to attend; there is no charge and no reservation is required.

Support SSKP's Annual Appeal

We are grateful to all those who have already made a gift to our Annual Appeal. Your donations will help us give food to local families in need throughout the year. If you haven't made your gift yet, please take a moment to click the button below.