Letter from the Executive Director
As I wrap up my first year as Executive Director at Gather, I’m reflecting on the past year and all the work we have done together (staff, board, volunteers, partners, and supporters) to build food security on the Greater Seacoast, and it is impressive.
Over the past year, we distributed over 1.5 million pounds of food to meet the needs of a growing number of members, 25% more than in the preceding 12 months. Between the impact of inflation and the end of pandemic era benefits, folks in our community have felt the squeeze, particularly the seniors we serve. It’s been a hard year for people living with food insecurity and we are so grateful to everyone who pitches in to help us do this work.
We’ve had a record number of volunteers this year –between 250 and 300 each month, giving over 2,000 hours of their time. It’s been my absolute pleasure to meet so many of you and to hear your passion for the work. We are lucky enough to have folks willing to give their time to pick up food from stores that donate it, stock the pantry and help members find what they need, unload trucks and set up at mobile markets, make delicious meals with our Cooking 4 Community program, brighten the days of students at Gather Café at Great Bay Community College, and so much more.
We have volunteers sharing their skills to launch our new website, take professional headshots of our staff and board, set up our new Salesforce database, provide pro bono legal advice, and think through how to make our operations more efficient. Our volunteers have so much to offer, and we can’t thank you enough.
Beyond our wonderful volunteers giving their time and talent, I’ve been blown away by the level of generosity on the Seacoast. We are blessed to have so many people who prioritize sharing what they can with those in need of their support. Every donation from $25 to $25,000 makes a difference and so many of you have stepped up to make that difference – feeding children, families, seniors, veterans, our unhoused population, and so many others. You’ve provided hope and nourishment. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this community.
Thank you all for what you do to make this possible. To say we couldn’t do it without you all would be a big understatement!