As we enter the heart of the winter season, everything seems to slow down.  A Place To Turn saw our busiest holiday season ever. We served over 3,800 people in December, a 70% increase from last year.

Faced with a packed waiting room, we rolled up our sleeves and did what we always do- offered healthy food, diapers and personal care items with dignity, respect and a smile.  The joy in the building was evident among staff, volunteers, donors and families.  The donors who dropped off extras, like toys, coats, turkeys and hams provided unexpected surprises for families.  Once again, the community around A Place To Turn came together to make sure every family had enough food and a little extra for the holidays.

As I sit here typing with a cup of coffee and scone while soup simmers my kitchen, I am reminded that a slower pace doesn’t mean less urgency.  Everyone deserves good food all year long.  And the need doesn’t go away when the holiday lights come down.  School snacks still have to be packed, and dinner on the table every night. 

Winter in New England also brings the challenge of finding fresh foods.  Many farms are closed for the season, making produce harder to come by and more expensive.  But as with any challenge, it brings a chance to discover something new.  The Farmer’s Market at the pantry is a testament to winter’s bounty.  It is overflowing with beets, potatoes, winter squash, greens, onions, oranges, apples, and carrots.   Like winter, these ingredients force us to move slower.  They take a little more time and creativity to prepare than summer’s tomatoes and zucchini, but the end result is well worth the effort.

Like winter vegetables, we know that meeting the growing community need for food assistance will also take a little creativity and time, but it is also well worth the effort.  I am grateful for everyone in our community who is partnering with us to meet the challenges ahead.  Without you, there would be a lot more empty plates on tables throughout our community.

As you slow down for the winter, I hope you find joy in slow cooked comfort foods and winter’s bounty.