Dear Friends,

As a child I learned “The Magic Penny Song” which goes “Love is something if you give it away…You’ll end up having more.” Logic tells me that this isn’t true, and yet, it is profoundly true.

Kindness spreads like dandelion seeds. Closing my eyes right now I’m visualizing standing in a field of wildflowers, and as the wind blows seeds are scattered, allowing more flowers to bloom and flourish. Dandelions by creation are sharers. We too, by creation, are sharers!

This Saturday postal workers across the country will help carry the load of sharing food to neighbors in need. If your town, like mine, is participating you should receive a post card in your mailbox. To help all you need to do is leave unopened non-perishable items near your mailbox and our amazing postal carriers will get the food to organizations like the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries.

Our Spring Appeal continues, and I am grateful for every contribution that helps ensure our neighbors have access to food and fellowship. I am hopeful that we will reach our Spring Appeal goal, even though we are a tad below target. Every act of kindness makes a difference! Most giving to the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries occurs in the tail end of each year making our Spring Appeal incredibly important as we share food year-round.

My heart is filled with gratitude for SSKP volunteers, guests, host sites, donors, and everyone in our community. May love and kindness continue to flourish like the weeds in my garden.

Gratitude and blessings,

Amy

This year's Firehouse Food Drive was a community-wide success, thanks to so many local fire stations and generous supporters.

Fire departments from Old Saybrook, Essex, Westbrook, Deep River, Killingworth, Chester, Clinton, and North Madison collected 7,535 pounds of food and over $3,500 in donations!

Many community partners worked together to make this drive so successful. Area grocery stores, businesses, and restaurants provided drop-off locations prior to the event. Students organized special collections at their schools, and caring neighbors volunteered their time to help out. Special thanks to Max Sabrin of the Old Saybrook Fire Department, Gil Simmons, Chief Meteorologist for NEWS 8 WTNH, Lee Elci from 94.9 FM, and Shore Publishing/Harbor News for spreading the word throughout the shoreline.

We are truly thankful for the support our local fire departments and everyone who donated!