SALISBURY — Joined by over 100 supporters on a sunny and warm Thursday morning, Our Neighbors’ Table leaders officially cut the ribbon on its Seacoast Regional Food Hub on Bridge Road.
Guests began arriving just before 9 a.m. many congregating under a large blue tent while others stood behind it. Among those in attendance were Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester; state Rep. Dawne Shand, D-Newburyport; state Rep. Adrianne Ramos, D-North Andover, Salisbury selectmen, Salisbury Town Manager Neil Harrington and Newburyport Mayor Sean Reardon.
ONT opened the 24,000-square-foot food market and storage facility last June for preliminary use with over a million pounds of food having already passed through it. It includes 7,000-square feet of dry storage as well as 3,000 square feet of cold storage.
The hub serves the 25 food access organizations partnered in the Lower Merrimack Valley Food Coalition.
Among those to speak during the celebration was Greater Boston Food Bank Chief Operating Officer Cheryl Schondek.
“We are honored to stand alongside Our Neighbors’ Table and so many of our partners to celebrate this milestone of the Seacoast Food Hub,” Schondek said.
She said they recently committed to expanding their relationship with ONT through the hub.
“We are now committed to distributing tractor trailer truckloads of food every week, over 12 truckloads a month to support those in need in this neighborhood,” Schondek said.
Also speaking was Nourishing the North Shore Executive Director Tany Blasko who said being a part of the Lower Merrimack Valley Food Coalition has been “a game-changer.”
“To be able to access this hub, and the facility and the resources here, especially the refrigeration and the freezer space, has really allowed our organization to expand our capacity, especially in the heat of the summer,” Blasko said.
She said it has also made their operations efficient by reducing the need to drive to local food pantries and soup kitchens.
“Our partners can pick up that fresh, local produce here at the hub when they’re already picking up their order from the Greater Boston Food Bank,” Blasko said.
One of the last to address the crowd was ONT Executive Director Lyndsey Haight who began by thanking everyone who has supported the cause over the years.
“I see a lot of your faces in the crowd today, those of you who, 15 years ago, entrusted me with this mission and with your vision, that none of our neighbors should ever go without,” Haight said.
She spoke about the impact the hub has had as it has slowly gotten up and running over the last 12 months.
“We have already served over 6,800 people through our grocery stores here at Our Neighbors’ Table, 30% more than in 2020,” Haight said.
Haight took time to thank elected officials who helped with the project, including those who could not attend such as state Sen. Barry Finegold, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove.
“Every single one of our elected officials has been a committed advocate for food security,” Haight said.
Tarr took to the mic just before the ribbon was cut to provide ONT with a citation.
“Be it known that we extend our congratulations to Our Neighbors’ Table in recognition of providing food security to residents in the Lower Merrimack Valley with the establishment of the Seacoast Regional Food Hub in Salisbury,” Tarr said. “Be it further known that the House and Senate extend our best wishes for continued success, and that this citation be duly signed by our appropriate presiding officers and attested to by our respective clerks.”
After Haight cut away the ribbon, everyone began to head inside for free roaming tours of the building, with staff stationed throughout to answer questions.