November News from SSKP

Latest News - November 2024

Dear Friends,

In southern New England colorful leaves are floating to the earth. Red, yellow, orange, and brown leaves cover the ground. One thing I love about autumn in New England is how the beauty of the season is accessible to all. Autumn is all around whether we go for a hike, jump in a pile of leaves, feel the crunch of the leaves beneath our feet, or notice just one tree transforming out of our window.

Every week, in every season of the year, the Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP) offers food & fellowship throughout our region. My heart is grateful for our guests, they are the reason we do what we do! Together, we strive to ensure neighbors have access to food and fellowship. Nourishment and connection. It is within community that we recognize that we ourselves belong.

I am grateful for you. Thank you for being my neighbor.

With gratitude,

Amy

With your help the following SSKP Programs operate weekly year-round:

5 grocery pantries
8 community meal sites
1 backpack pantry that supplies food for children

Annual Risk Strategies Challenge

This year's Risk Strategies Challenge (formerly the Gowrie Challenge) has 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 our neighbors in need. Our Partner Sponsors have once again donated generous matching funds: BrandTech Scientific, Carter Gowrie, Essex Financial, L.C. Doane Company, Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale, Sound Rigging, and Tower Labs. With $100,000 available in matching funds, your gift will be doubled dollar-for-dollar to help our neighbors.

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

Thankful for Food Drives & Donations

Many local organizations and businesses have recently organized food drives or donated food to SSKP. Every item of donated food makes a difference! Here are some of the ways people are helping.

The Election Day food drive in Old Saybrook is happening today with collections at the Middle School and the High School.
Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek's High Holiday Food Drive raised 1,356 lbs. of food for SSKP.
The Westbrook Elks Lodge #1784 PER Food Drive collected 467 lbs. and over $1,000.
The Madison Lutheran Church recently collected 806 lbs. of food and $400.
Several Old Saybrook neighborhoods collected food on Halloween night.
Recently Wells Fargo Financial Advisors held a food drive for SSKP.
In October Coffee’s Country Market of Old Lyme donated over 900 pounds of food.
600 lbs. of strawberries were donated by Carbonella & Desarbo Inc.
The First Baptist Church in Essex held a special food drive for the installation of Reverend Amy Hollis.
Lyme Art Association held a food drive for SSKP as part of their Pumpkin Day.

We are so thankful to our generous community!

Pantry Wish List

SSKP's Pantries are in need of the following items. Can you help?

Most Needed Items

Peanut Butter

Canned Corn

Canned Vegetables

Soup

Pasta

Pasta Sauce

Tuna

Rice

Shelf Stable Boxed Milk

Click here for donation drop-off times and locations.

SSKP Thanksgiving Meal

The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries' annual Thanksgiving Dinner will be served inside at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 28th, at Grace Episcopal Church, 336 Main St. in Old Saybrook.

Come join us as we gather to count our blessings together. 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.