LOWER CAPE OUTREACH COUNCIL FALL 2022
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Happy Fall!
Now that we are all settling back into our routines and spending our Sunday afternoons watching football rather than beach days, I am excited to tell you all about what is coming up for LCOC as we enter the giving season! This is our busiest time of year as we are preparing for all our holiday programs. Over the next few months, we will be managing Operation Warm, our free coat and sneaker distribution, our Thanksgiving
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Turkey Distribution, the kick off of our Gifts of Hope Fundraising Campaign, the Chatham Turkey Trot 5K and of course, Santa Stop, our holiday toy distribution for families in need.
Many of these programs are not only supported by our generous donors, but also through our partnerships with other local non-profits, local businesses, churches and foundations. This issue of Reach Out! we would like to highlight some of our local partners who help make our mission a reality. We are truly honored to have their support. We also want to let you know about some upcoming events which will be hosted locally and will benefit LCOC so you can be sure to attend!
As we gear up for these programs, we are also looking for volunteers. LCOC would not be the organization it is today without our dedicated volunteers. We need volunteers for all of our holiday programs, but are particularly interested in anyone who would like to help out at the Chatham Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. As many of you know this will be the first year hosting this event and we need your help to make it a success. If you are interested in volunteering for any of our programs, please don’t hesitate to stop by the office or contact Karen Ross, Director of Operations, at [email protected].
Cheers to the upcoming season!
Best,
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Katie Wibby, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
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Growing Demand in Food Pantries |
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As we enter the giving season, we want to highlight one of the largest demands for our services this year. Food insecurity in Massachusetts is on the rise and unfortunately the Lower and Outer Cape have not been exempt from this growing crisis. Typically, in the summer months, LCOC experiences a reduction in demand for our services, but this year it was just the opposite. Since January, we have seen a steady increase in the number of clients visiting our food pantries. We believe this ever-increasing demand is due to the expiration of COVID assistance programs, the housing crisis, the rising cost of food and gasoline and inflation. Given all of these challenges, our neighbors in need are relying on our food pantries more than ever. In August, we saw an average increase of 60% in the number of households utilizing our 9 emergency food pantries when compared to January 2022. Not only are we seeing more families accessing this resource, but the families are visiting our pantries more frequently. As we move into the colder months, we only expect this demand to continue to rise. We are seeking out additional funding sources to cover this demand, but we would also appreciate any financial support from our generous community to keep food on the tables of residents in need.
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Thanksgiving Turkey Drive |
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In addition to the growing demand for our pantries, we have also been experiencing food shortages from the Greater Boston Food Bank, where we source a large portion of the food for our pantries. In years past, we have been able to purchase Thanksgiving Turkeys from the food bank at drastically reduced prices, but this year they have not been available. Therefore, LCOC is starting a Thanksgiving Turkey Drive this year. We are accepting Turkey Donations at our headquarters in Orleans. Please drop by anytime we are open if you would like to donate. We appreciate your support! |
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Sock-tober
We are so excited to be a part of ‘Sock-tober!’. Harwich Elementary School PTO has generously chosen Lower Cape Outreach Council as one of the recipients of their ‘Sock-tober drive’ . In an effort to keep Cape Codders warm throughout the winter, they will be collecting new socks for babies, children and adults from October 3rd – 31st in the Harwich Elementary school main lobby.
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Trash Bash is Nauset Disposal’s annual fundraiser for non-profits. Described as ‘the biggest and best trashy party you’ve ever attended’, it is always a great community event. Dinner is generously donated by several local restaurants and there is music from Cape Cod artists too. Beer and wine are also donated by local businesses, and there is a raffle with plenty of prizes to win. 100% of all the proceeds generated will go to |
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very worthy organizations including Lower Cape Outreach Council. Buy tickets here and support your local community. You might even see Rachel and Katie, who will be volunteering at the event! Find more info here: https://trashbash.nausetdisposal.com/
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In 2022, after 16 years of managing the race, the Chatham Turkey Trot Committee decided to retire and hand management of the race over to Lower Cape Outreach Council.
LCOC is honored to continue this successful event and raise money for our Cape Cod neighbors! The race is back in person this year and for the first time it will be timed!
Thank you so much to Linda Redding, Mary Parsons, Bob Redding, Jennifer Watson, Jon Watson, Susan Carroll, Jen Avery and George Avery for their incredible work over the last 16 years!
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If you would like to be a sponsor or volunteer for the Turkey Trot, please email us at [email protected]
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Brewster Baptist Church Holiday Fair |
Each year, the Brewster Baptist Church picks three nonprofits to benefit from their annual Holiday Fair and this year LCOC has been chosen along with HAC and A Baby Center. Leading up to the event on November 5th at the BBC, there is a silent online auction from October 7th – 16th. Its great way to do your holiday shopping and help your neighbors in need.
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Details about both events can be found here:
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We are so thankful to our partnerships in the community! We want to take the time to highlight our recent supporters! |
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Nauset Newcomers
In September, Nauset Newcomers very kindly donated $3000 dollars to LCOC for our collaboration with Operation Warm. This initiative provides those in need with warm coats and shoes for the winter. Thank you for your generous donation to the Cape Cod community.
Orleans/Eastham Elks
Lodge #2572
Thank you to the Orleans / Eastham Elks Lodge #2572 for their very generous donation of $2000. Our CEO Katie Wibby is pictured with their Exalted Ruler Peter Desandis, and member Karen Jacobs who applied for this grant. Thank you! We are beyond grateful for your contribution, with each donation we can help struggling Cape Codders.
Windmill Weekend –
Eastham Food Pantry
Windmill Weekend is an annual Eastham festival now in its 45th year! Our Eastham pantry volunteers, managed by Joan Lockhart, were there representing the pantry. Volunteers and board members staffed the booth throughout the day! Thank you to Norma Brockman, Alison Fields and Susan Walsh, as well as Rich Trimble who helped set it up and take it down. The team managed to raise $615.29 in cash donations! Thank you!
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The Captain’s Golf Course 18-Hole Women’s Association
We are so thankful to the Captain’s Golf Course 18-Hole Women’s Association who collected toys at their annual golf tournament to support our Santa Stop event which will be held December 6th-10th at Odd Fellows Hall. This generous donation will help make Christmas special for many local children!
The Coop Foundation
We are extremely grateful to the Coop Foundation, who have awarded us a grant of $5,000 to be used for emergency food assistance. LCOC is proud to partner with the Foundation to help meet this great need on the Lower and Outer Cape.
Cape Cod Healthcare
Thank you so much to Cape Cod Healthcare for their grant of $1000 to support our food pantries. We are extremely grateful.
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