December News from SSKP

Latest News - December 2024

Dear Friends,

A few weeks ago, as I stood before our wider community at an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, I got choked up to the point I couldn’t get a word out. This was a new experience as a wave of emotion fell on my heart and tears filled my eyes. Before me sat colleagues, friends, and neighbors. As I started to share about the SSKP Community Thanksgiving Meal it dawned on me that our community meal sites exist to ensure people like me have a place to not be alone.

As a widow I was preparing to spend Thanksgiving alone for the first time in my life when suddenly I saw myself connected to our mission in a new way. I am incredibly proud to be connected to this vital organization. Because of SSKP, I had somewhere to be on Thanksgiving Day!

There are countless reasons guests visit SSKP’s Community Meals; loneliness, limited resources, shelter from the cold, and a place to belong are just a few. The 8 weekly Community Meals are just part of our program for we also have 5 pantries sharing groceries weekly with neighbors in need (more than 1.6 million pounds shared so far this year), and a program that provides food directly to kids.

Donations to SSKP have been dropping annually since the height of the pandemic. While this is not altogether surprising, I hoped this year things would level off. Need remains very high. In fact, we are on track to share 40% more food than prior to the pandemic and giving is running 9% behind 2023 (and 50% down YTD from 2020). We are working diligently to find savings wherever possible while also ensuring neighbors have access to nutritious food. Your support makes a difference in the lives of our neighbors, family, and friends.

Please consider giving an extra gift to support SSKP this year as we strive together to ensure neighbors have access to food and fellowship.

With a grateful heart,

Amy

SSKP's Thanksgiving Dinner

Our hearts are full of gratitude for all who came together for our annual Thanksgiving Dinner at Grace Episcopal Church.

On the day before a team from Essex Financial Services spent many hours prepping special dishes, and the next day even more SSKP volunteers and staff gathered to make sure every guest felt welcome and all could share in fellowship and a delicious Thanksgiving meal!

Give to the Risk Strategies Challenge

Many of our neighbors continue to struggle with food insecurity and rely of SSKP's food pantries and meals. That's why this year the Risk Strategies Challenge set a goal to raise $200,000 to benefit SSKP. Risk Strategies is challenging local businesses, community members, and shoreline friends to come together to help support those in need.

Seven generous Partner Sponsors have provided matching funds: BrandTech Scientific, Essex Financial, Carter Gowrie, L.C. Doane Company, Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale, Sound Rigging, and Tower Labs.

Together, these sponsors provide $100,000 in funds which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by your donation to help our neighbors.

Click here to donate, choose "Risk Strategies Challenge", and help us reach our goal!

Westbrook Foundation Supports SSKP

In November SSKP received a very generous grant of $25,000 from the Westbrook Foundation. As local communities, including Westbrook, continue to struggle to provide for their basic needs, we are so thankful for this funding.

This grant funding will purchase food such as eggs and fresh produce for our pantries to distribute to those in need. We are so grateful for the continued support of the Westbrook Foundation!

Food Drives Make a Difference

In the past few weeks so many organizations and community members - known and unknown – have organized food drives for SSKP. We are so thankful that our community cares! Here are just some of these generous organizations:

Essex Savings Bank is holding a food drive until Dec. 12th.

Grossman Chevrolet Nissan's "Cram A Van" food drive continues until Dec. 13th.

The Lillie B Haynes Elementary School in Niantic donated pies to SSKP from their Lyman Orchard Pie Fundraiser.

The Foundation School collected food and funds in memory of Brodie Brigham.

St. Ann's Episcopal Church in Old Lyme collected food for SSKP at their Community Thanksgiving Service.

Westbrook Congregational Church collected over 500 pounds of of food during their November food drive.

The Vox Church of Clinton made up 160 bags of Thanksgiving items including a pound of coffee in each bag and 100 large turkeys.

St. Mark's R. C. Church in Westbrook organized a "Turkey Tree" providing funds for 80 turkeys, 120 turkey breasts, 324 lbs. of butter and 306 half gallons of milk for the SSKP Westbrook Pantry.

Ivoryton Illuminations included a “Stuff the Cruiser” food drive organized by the Essex Police on Dec. 7th.

To everyone who supports a food drive for SSKP or gives non-perishable food at our local drop-off bins, thank you. Every item of donated food makes a difference!

SSKP Holiday Dinner

The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries' annual Holiday Dinner will be served at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 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.

Please 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.