GEORGETOWN — Our Neighbors’ Table supporters and staff braved the rain to celebrate the local non profit and discuss the challenges facing the organization and its partners at their annual breakfast Wednesday.
Local leaders, donors and more gathered at Black Swan Country Club to support the Amesbury-based organization that provides fresh food and meals to members of 12 communities who are in need.
Multiple awards were presented at the event including 2025 Community Champions and the Super Star Kids Award.
Bonnie Schultz, executive director of the Among Friends Meal Program at St. Paul’s Church in Newburyport and the Boston-based non profit, Project Bread were recognized as the 2025 Community Champions for their work in the community.
The Super Star Kids Award was presented to the principal of the Edward G. Molin Upper Elementary School in Newburyport on behalf of her fourth and fifth grade students for their work to raise $15,000 for ONT.
The breakfast also included a panel of individuals involved in local organizations working to combat food insecurity including ONT, Project Bread and the Greater Boston Food Bank.
Panelist Christina Peretti with Greater Boston Food Bank expressed concern about the government shutdown’s impact on food providers during the discussion.
Peretti said she was concerned about how the shutdown would affect the food bank’s system, especially with the busy holiday season just around the corner.
“I will just start with the obvious, that everything is unstable. It’s changing constantly. But, that said, GBFB and our network are incredibly sturdy. So, top of mind today is we’re really concerned about if the shutdown persists and SNAP benefits don’t continue until November. If all of those folks came to the emergency food system, we expect that the system will need 56 million more meals a month. That’s four times what the system is distributing in one month,” she said.
Peretti said if the shutdown does continue, organizations like GBFB will require community support, and urged attendees to give back.
“So, we can all do something, whether it’s a food drive, a funds drive, raising awareness, volunteering, everybody can do something to help out,” she said.
Attendees did just that, with numerous people pledging thousands of dollars at the breakfast alone.
Greg Ezell, interim executive director of ONT said it was emotional to see community members support the non profit without hesitation.
“It’s honestly emotional being able to see that the community in your face really cares about your mission. It’s hard to explain, it truly is. To know that as we wrap our hands around our guests, that the community will wrap their hands around us is very powerful,” he said.
Ezell stepped into the role of interim executive director in early October following the departure of former executive director, Lyndsey Haight.
Haight, who served as executive director for more than 15 years, informed the organization’s board of her intention to step down in January. However, the board then told Haight in September that her services were no longer needed. Haight’s last day was Sept. 29.
The search for a permanent executive director is ongoing.