Life happens. The Open Door can help! Tickets are available NOW for The Open Door Autumn Breakfast on WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 11 from 7:30 to 9:00 A.M. at the Beauport Hotel (55 Commercial Street, Gloucester MA). CLICK HERE to purchase tickets today. Limited spots available.
Each year, The Open Door Autumn Breakfast kicks off the holiday giving season and raises funds for Holiday Meal baskets (and beyond). Each basket provides local people with all the ingredients they will need to make a special meal, and Holiday Baskets are available for BOTH Thanksgiving and the winter holidays.
Autumn Breakfast also honors outstanding volunteers and community partners who have gone above and beyond to connect local people to good food. Learn more at FOODPANTRY.org
Each year, Hunger Action Month™ offers an opportunity for community to come together to address food insecurity in the cities and towns where we live, work, and play.
Hunger Action DAY will also be recognized on Friday, Sept. 15.
Locally, The Open Door has already seen a 28% increase in visits to its Food Pantries alone in 2023, and a 20% increase in people visiting its pantries. This means more people are getting their groceries from The Open Door, more often.
Want to help support local hunger-relief programs at The Open Door and raise hunger awareness this month? Learn more below about the opportunities available:
Donate to support programs of The Open Door at FOODPANTRY.org.
Volunteer with The Open Door! Packing groceries, delivering meals, sorting food or sorting donations at Second Glance, and corporate engagement opportunities are just a few of the many roles available to volunteers. Learn more at FOODPANTRY.org/volunteer.
Order a tasty “orange” treat at a local eatery. A handful of local restaurants have volunteered to help spread hunger awareness this month, including:
1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar will offer mango and blood orange sorbet, and a Naranja Nights cocktail. QR codes for donations will also be available, and patrons may also round up their bill to support hunger-relief programs of The Open Door this September.
Brother’s Brew (reopening Sept. 14)will offer a special Hunger Action Month™ donut.
Cake Ann will offer special Hunger Action Month™ cupcakes.
Duckworth’s Gloucester will provide a special Hunger Action Month™ menu item.
Holy Cow will offer a Hunger Action Month™ ice-cream flavor starting on Hunger Action Day Friday Sept. 15 through the rest of the month at its Gloucester location.
Seaport Grille will offer a pumpkin cheesecake and creamsicle margarita.QR codes for donations will also be available, and patrons may also round up their bill to support hunger-relief programs of The Open Door this September.
Turtle Alleywill offer chocolate bars with the word “LOVE” embossed on them, wrapped in cellophane with an orange ribbon.
Shop at a special, orange-themed shopping event at Second Glance, Thrift Store of The Open Door on Wednesday, Sept. 13. Proceeds at the store support hunger-relief programs of The Open Door.
Borrow a book from a special Hunger Action Month™ display at one of the following libraries: Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester, Manchester-by-the-Sea Public Library, T.O.H.P. Burnham Library in Essex, Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, and Boxford Town Library.
Wear orange. Join a handful of community groups who will be sporting orange this September to raise awareness, including the Gloucester City Council at their Tuesday, Sept. 12 meeting, Gloucester Police Department Community Impact Unit, CORE Peer Recovery & Resource Center, Beauport Hospitality Group staff, and Sudbay Automotive Group team members.
See Gloucester City Hall and the Beauport Hotel lit up with orange lights.
Commuters: keep an eye out on Rt. 128 for a special Hunger Action Month™ banner at Sudbay Automotive coming soon.
Mayor Greg Verga will issue a proclamation naming September Hunger Action Month™ on Hunger Action Day Friday, Sept. 15. The Gloucester City Council will also issue a proclamation at its Tuesday, Sept. 12 meeting.
Learn more about Hunger Action Month™ at FOODPANTRY.org and THANK YOU!
About Hunger Action MonthHunger Action Month™
Hunger Action Month™ is an annual, nationwide campaign by the Feeding America network to raise awareness and encourage action to reduce food insecurity.
Clean out your closet and donate seamlessly at the pop-up clothing drive this weekend at Second Glance!
THIS WEEKEND ONLY: no appointments will be needed to make a clothing ONLY donation during business hours.
WHEN: Saturday, July 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 23 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Second Glance, thrift store of The Open Door at 2 Pond Road, Gloucester MA
WHAT: Second Glance will be accepting donations of clean, gently worn, unripped clothing.
Men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing for all seasons will be accepted.
Donations at Second Glance help generate revenue for hunger-relief programs of The Open Door, which serves 1 in 6 Gloucester residents.
In 2022, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 8,486 people from 4,872 households through the distribution of 1.78 million pounds of food.
Donations of clothes at Second Glance also offer a more sustainable, environmentally friendlier way to give old threads a second life. In 2022, the store recycled more than 87 tons of materials.
From left: Summer Meals for Kids intern Vincenzo Videtta, intern Anna Riley, intern Julianna Francis, Summer Meals for Kids Coordinator Rayna Duffield, and intern Joey Wang.
Families who need a little extra help putting food on the table this summer look no further: The Open Door Summer Meals program is back, with walk-up locations opening next week!
Children and teens under age 18 are welcome to visit any of the participating sites during scheduled hours to receive free, nutritious meals through late August. The Open Door is proud to sponsor three federal Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sites this year. The Open Door will privately sponsor 10 additional free Summer Meals for Kids sites where meals will be offered to children and their families with flexibility and choice.
Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis, at the sites and times as follows:
Gloucester Walk-Up Locations:
The Open Door at 28 Emerson Avenue will serve meals Monday through Friday. Monday through Wednesday meals will be available from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and meals will be available Thursday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site.
Riverdale Park (Mobile location in the area of 69 Veterans’ Way) will have meals available from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site.
Willowood Gardens (Mobile location in the area of 40 Willowood Road) will have meals available from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site.
Pond View Village (Mobile location in the area of 23 Lepage Lane) will have meals available from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site.
Gloucester High School at 32 Leslie O Johnson Road will have meals available from 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 7 through August 8 at this site.
Field Days at Burnham’s Field with East Gloucester Community Church (in the field abutting Sargent, Burnham, and Pleasant Streets) will have meals available at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesdays from July 5 through Aug 23 EXCEPT for July 26.
Story Hour at Sawyer Free Library with Backyard Growers at the Garden Beds at 2 Dale Avenue, accessible through the Middle Street entrance will have meals available select Thursdays including June 29, July 13, July 27, August 3, August 10, and August 24 at 10:45 a.m.
Gloucester Enrolled Locations:
Summer Learning at West Parish at 10 Concord Street will have meals available for enrolled participants at 12:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through July 27 at this site.
Summer Program at West Parish at 10 Concord Street will have meals available for enrolled participants from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through August 3 at this site.
O’Maley Academy at 32 Cherry Street will have meals available for enrolled participants from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through August 3 at this site.
Camp Spindrift at 27 Atlantic Street will have meals available for participants from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate through August 25 at this site.
Ipswich Walk-Up Location:
Ipswich Community Food Pantry at 00 Southern Heights in Ipswich will have meals available from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 5 through August 25 at this site.
Ipswich Enrolled Location:
Winthrop Elementary School at 65 Central Street in Ipswich will have meals available for enrolled participants from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Summer Meals for Kids will operate from July 10 through August 10 at this site.
The Open Door Summer Meals for Kids program strives to accommodate all allergies and special diets, and to learn more about the program or inform staff of a dietary need, please call 978-283-6776 or email summermeals@foodpantry.org.
Meals may contain choking hazards for children under the age of four.
The Open Door Sumer Meals for Kids schedule will be updated as needed throughout the summer at FOODPANTRY.org/summermeals.
About the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)
The Open Door is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided, at a first come, first serve basis.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
Shop for vintage-style home décor, housewares, linen, art, furniture, jewelry, and clothing!
WHEN: Saturday June 10 and Sunday June 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: Second Glance, Thrift Store of The Open Door, at 2 Pond Road Gloucester MA 01930
WHAT: Don’t miss the vintage shopping event of the season!
Revenue at Second Glance supports the hunger-relief programs of The Open Door.
In 2022, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 8,486 people (4,872 households) through the distribution of 1.78 MILLION pounds of food. Learn more at FOODPANTRY.org
Make a donation this weekend without leaving home!
Residents of Gloucester, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport: please leave non-perishable, unexpired food donations in a bag by your mailbox this Saturday to be delivered by your local letter carrier to The Open Door!
PLEASE, NO GLASS!
MOST NEEED ITEMS:
Coffee
Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo, and salad dressings)
Cooking oil
Peanut butter
Tuna
IF you live outside the above communities, please contact your local post office to learn if they will be participating in the National Association of Letter Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive this year.
Thank you! Your support helps stock the shelves and connect local people to the food they need to thrive.
In 2022, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 8,486 people from 4,872 households through the distribution of 1.78 million pounds of food.
More information about The Open Door and its programs available at FOODPANTRY.org
ORDER tickets NOW for Empty Bowl Marketplace: there’s still time!
The Open Door Empty Bowl Marketplace has been reimagined with a new twist—a street fair-themed event at Cruiseport in Gloucester (6 Rowe Square, Gloucester MA) this Thursday, May 4, from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Step through the doors and into a dining room transformed into a colorful marketplace packed with this year’s bowls. Choose your favorite bowl and then head to the lower level to bid on auction bowls, get your picture taken, and pick up your dinner from the Farmers’ Truck. The bowl will go home as a reminder that somewhere, someone’s bowl is empty.
Each year, The Open Door Empty Bowl event raises funds for programs that keep local children fed over summer break, including Summer Meals for Kids, Mobile Market, and Food Pantries. The annual event is held in tandem with an online auction featuring one-of-a-kind, stunning bowls painted by local Cape Ann artists. To view and bid on this year’s online auction, click here.
“Anniversary Bowl” by Jeff Weaver is available for bid through The Open Door Empty Bowl 2023 online auction.
“Clamming” by Captain Sam Nigro is available for bid through The Open Door Empty Bowl 2023 online auction.
“Swan Platter” by Evelyn Stewart is available for bid through The Open Door Empty Bowl 2023 online auction.
In 2022, The Open Door helped stabilize the lives and health of 8,486 people from 4,872 households through the distribution of 1.78 million pounds of food. Learn more at FOODPANTRY.org
From left: Organizer Cathy McCarthy with volunteers Robin Surette and Eileen Kelley collect food donations at the Rocky Neck Polar Plunge on Sunday, Jan. 1. (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
The Rocky Neck Polar Plunge rang in the new year with a splash on Sunday, collecting 512 pounds of food and $1,740 in donations for The Open Door.
The annual tradition, coordinated since 2006 by Gloucester residents Cathy McCarthy and Jeff Surette with the help of a small group of volunteers, encourages locals to take a brisk dip in the water at Oakes Cove Beach on Rocky Neck to kick off the new year while simultaneously collecting food donations for The Open Door.
People gather for the 2023 Rocky Neck Polar Plunge at Oakes Cove Beach in Gloucester. (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
This year, McCarthy and Surette also partnered with Gloucester 400 to kick off the beginning of the new year and the City of Gloucester’s 400th anniversary.
“As January arrives promising winter weather and higher heating bills, the Rocky Neck Polar Plunge helps The Open Door start the year right by bringing community together to welcome the New Year and to fill our pantry shelves,” President and CEO Julie LaFontaine said. “Community doesn’t get any better than this. We are grateful to Cathy McCarthy and Jeff Surette for organizing this annual East Gloucester tradition and the Gloucester 400 for putting food security on the priority list for 2023.”
“We know that The Open Door is a need for many, and we want the community to know how important it is,” McCarthy said. “We need to help those that need it. It’s quite simple, isn’t it? It’s all about starting the new year off positively and having a little fun.”
Approximately 150 people attended the event, including Mayor Greg Verga. To commence the plunge, Rocky Neck resident George Sibley read a poem, an annual tradition at the event.
Mayor Greg Verga helps collect food donations for The Open Door at the Rocky Neck Polar Plunge on Sunday, Jan. 1. (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
Those who were unable to attend but wish to donate to The Open Door can do so at FOODPANTRY.org/donate.
From left: Jeff Surette and Cathy McCarthy at the 2023 Rocky Neck Polar Plunge. (Photo Courtesy of The Open Door)
About The Open Door
The mission of The Open Door is to alleviate the impact of hunger in our community. We use practical strategies to connect people to good food, to advocate on behalf of those in need, and to engage others in the work of building food security.
Founded in 1978, The Open Door is a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit and community food resource center for low-income residents of Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex, Ipswich, Hamilton, Boxford, Rowley, Topsfield, and Wenham.
The Open Door will hold a Mobile Market this November thanking Cape Ann veterans for their service, in honor of Veterans Day.
WHEN: Wednesday, November 16 from noon to 1 p.m.
WHERE: Cape Ann Veterans Services at 12 Emerson Avenue, Gloucester MA
WHAT: All those on Cape Ann who have served in the military are welcome to stop by The Open Door Thank You for Your Service Mobile Market. A selection of fresh, delicious fruit, vegetables, and eggs will be available for veterans to choose from.
A pet food drive organized by PAWsitive Pantry this weekend will collect cat and dog food to benefit The Open Door and Cape Ann Animal Aid.
Help us stock our shelves so that we have the food people need for their pets! Dogs and cats are part of the family, so lets make sure everyone gets the meals they need.
Donations will be accepted Sunday August 7 at the Shaws on Eastern Ave. in Gloucester from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cape Ann Community 