Executive Director’s Report
We have watched in horror as one disaster after another has uprooted and destroyed the lives of people around the world—Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi and Louisiana, Hurricane Stan in Guatemala and El Salvador, Hurricane Wilma in Mexico, Cuba and Florida, and an earthquake in Pakistan. These events were devastating and horrifying, and exposed all Americans to a level of poverty that had never been visible before. It was unimaginable that the poverty rate in New Orleans is 23%—one of the poorest cities in the country. But now we have seen it with our own eyes—and we are moved.
Poverty is pervasive in this country, but it is so easy to ignore when it hides in cities that we never visit, places that we never see and neighborhoods that are far off the tourist maps. It is too often easy to ignore poverty in our own neighborhoods.
- Today in Massachusetts, 630,000 people (9.8% of the population) live below the poverty level.
- Almost a quarter of the population of Lawrence lives below the poverty level, including 32% of the children under 18
- Many are the working poor—people working at low-wage jobs, who can not earn enough to feed their families.
- 40% of children living in the city of Lawrence do not have enough to eat.
- Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital have found that childhood hunger is linked to poor health and medical problems, including asthma and failure to thrive.
- Increasingly obesity is a growing problem in poor families as they consume inexpensive junk food, and have limited access to good quality nourishing food.
This is the grim reality within which we do our work. We have seen a 5% increase in the clients we serve, including a 1% increase in elders served. There is so much need. Our clients are hungry and poor, and their resources are stretched to the breaking point—heating bills, higher gasoline costs, and unemployment put additional demands on already strained budgets.
Just when I wondered where I would find the food, time, resources and volunteers to provide food for out families, an angel appeared with just what we needed:
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We received 233,575 pounds of food in 2005 up 6% from 2006—most significantly from our 9 corporate donors including the addition of Colombo Yogurt, Mack’s Apples and Panera Bread and others;
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Our 24 partner churches who provide food month after month—a total of 44,965 pounds;
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The child from Christ Church that asked his uncle to give his Christmas present to NIN after I spoke to his Sunday School class;
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Our amazing Pantry volunteers—35 dedicated people who serve our guests EVERY WEEK;
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11 Schools including Merrimack College who held food drives for NIN—8,898 pounds of food;
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An amazing 17,170 pounds of food from the Post Office food drive, assisted by volunteers from South Church Youth Group, Boy Scouts and always willing Board members;
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I am particularly moved by 2 food donors who bring food to the warehouse every week!!
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Lillian Montalto who lent us a truck for the PO food drive, Thanksgiving and Christmas;
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The Methuen Band Parents Association who lent us a truck to transport Thanksgiving food…and their driver who took off the morning from work to help;
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The man in the check-out line who handed me $20 to help pay for food for our clients;
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Cub Scouts, Andover High GLAM students, Methuen and Andover Girl Scouts, and South Church Day of Service volunteers who packed hundreds of bags of groceries;
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Students from Lawrence High School ROTC, Methuen High School, Community Day Charter School and South Church Youth that worked at the Holiday food distributions—lugging boxes of food off the trucks, our to cars, and occasionally to a guest’s home, and stayed to clean the hall when we were done;
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Bob and Dick…and their new partner Roseann…who pick up and deliver clothing every week to Community Daycare, Daybreak Shelter, Sunbridge Nursing Home and St. Anne’s Home—and Carolyn and Ellis Gill who sort and pack clothes donated by Walmart;
Since 1983 we have distributed over 4 million pounds of food to families in need. We currently provide food to over 300 families, including 1,100 individuals, per week at eight distribution sites strategically located throughout Lawrence and Methuen. Last year, we provided over 15,000 bags of groceries to our client families—over 233,000 pounds of food. 45% of those served were children under the age of 18.
The Infants in Need program has served families with infants and young children since 2001. This program serves at-risk families and youth in Greater Lawrence by providing food, diapers, formula, clothing and other necessities for infants and children. The need for diapers and formula continues to increase. Last year Neighbors In Need distributed 22,000 diapers and 500 cans of formula—serving nearly 150 families per month through the Infants Program.
The elderly represent an under served population in Greater Lawrence and one where we are experiencing an increasing demand. We are currently serving 20 elderly, shut-in residents of Rita Hall in addition to the elderly clients who regularly receive assistance from our Pantry (Currently, about 9% of our clients are elderly and 13% are single adults living alone.) We are exploring ways to reach more homebound elderly by expanding our mobile pantry program, and considering pantry locations that are strategically focused on elders living in poverty.
Last year the Holiday Food Program provided meals for 411 families (1435 individuals) at Thanksgiving and meals for 253 families (830 individuals) at Christmas. The meals fed 2,265 people. Over 40% of those served were children, 15% were seniors. All of the Thanksgiving meal boxes were provided by our donors—members of our churches, schools, local businesses and the Mayor’s office as part of the Lawrencians Giving Back food drive. 36 schools, churches, companies and friends organized meal and food drives—collecting over 10,000 pounds of food!
Last year our network of donor churches, schools, civic groups, local businesses and individuals donated over 101,000 pounds of food—43% of the food distributed by Neighbors In Need in 2005. Neighbors In Need works closely with over 30 area churches and the Greater Lawrence Council of Churches who donate food, funding and volunteer hours in the Pantries and throughout the organization. In 2005 we received donated food from Shaw’s, Tripoli Bakery, Azzi’s Bakery, and Colombo Yogurt. The Essex County Corrections Alternative Center Farm, Mack’s Apple Orchards, Pleasant Valley Gardens and local gardeners have provided fresh produce in the past year. In addition, Pike School, Phillips Academy, Merrimack College, public schools in Lawrence, Andover, Methuen, North Andover, the Post Office, Boy Scouts, corporations, and civic organizations have food drives to support our mission. The Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) administered by the Department of Education and the USDA provide an additional 33% of food distributed by Neighbors In Need. We also purchase 24% of our food including dairy, fresh produce, non-perishable food and meat, using grants from FEMA—Emergency Food and Shelter Program and Project Bread which are designated for the purchase of food.
Neighbors In Need works cooperatively with Lazarus House, Daybreak Shelter, Bread and Roses, the Salvation Army, Food for the World Pantry, sharing resources, food, clothing and inspiration. We coordinate with the Salvation Army and Lazarus House especially during Holiday meals programs to ensure that together we feed the greatest number of families. We receive donations of clothing and toys from Walmart in North Reading, which we distribute free of charge to our pantry guests, residents of the Daybreak Shelter, Sunbridge Nursing Homes, Head Start, St Ann’s Home, the Department of Corrections Alternative Center and the Community Daycare Center. This year, we plan to convene a Hunger Round Table which would formalize these relationships, bringing together all of the food providers, including community organizations that provide shelter, meals programs, and other food programs to meet regularly. It is our hope that by working together more closely, we can more effectively reach those in need, and coordinate our efforts, including shared resources, avoiding duplication of effort and improving services for all.
Neighbors In Need collaborates with most area social service agencies to ensure that our clients are getting the help they need including the Department of Social Services, the Department of Transitional Assistance, WIC, and many other community service groups. Catholic Charities, the Department of Public Health, Early Intervention, Arlington Neighborhood Association, and many other agencies regularly refer their clients to Neighbors In Need for emergency food and infant assistance.
I am particularly grateful to our Board of Directors who are actively involved with the work of NIN. Last year the Board engaged in a Strategic Planning process to evaluate our mission and program operations, and identify potential new areas of growth. As part of implementing the Strategic Plan, we plan to formalize our relationship with community organizations by creating the collaborative Hunger Round Table. We have expanded our database, and improve our communications with clients.
The problems of hunger are daunting, but with the help of our board, staff, community partners and donors, we continue to serve the poor and hungry of Greater Lawrence—one family at a time.
Thank you and many blessings
Linda Zimmerman