As the days become longer and warmer, I am filled with happy anticipation of more time outside, the start of baseball season and the first spring vegetables. We are talking to our farm partners about summer produce and getting ready to cheer on Chris Anna, who is running the Boston Marathon to support A Place To Turn. All these things mark the start of the new season.

Amidst all the joy, I am also very aware of recent shifts in federal policy and how that impacts our ability to provide fresh, healthy food to those in need in our community. The reality for many families is that, even with one or two working adults, there is not enough every month to pay for all their basic needs. This becomes even more challenging when benefits, like SNAP, that can make the difference between eating and going hungry, are reduced. It means more of our neighbors will be looking to A Place To Turn and other food pantries to fill their tables. We are doing all we can to meet an already increasing need and exploring more ways to collaborate with community partners to share resources and ideas in anticipation of the challenges ahead.

I walked out of my house last week to garlic scapes sprouting from the bulbs I planted last fall. Growing garlic is a leap of faith. You try to get the soil conditions right, find the right bulbs to plant and hope that after spending the entire winter underground, they emerge in the spring to eventually reach their full potential. In my house this means delicious garlic bread.

Preparing for the unknown challenges ahead requires similar calculated leaps of faith. We lay the groundwork so we can adapt as needed and trust that the garlic scapes will emerge eventually. Unlike my garlic plants, which are on their own underground all winter, none of us are alone in our commitment to alleviate hunger. This gives me more than hope. It gives me confidence that, with all of us working together, we will meet the moment and the emerging community food needs.

I hope you savor the small joys of spring and spend as much time as you can doing things you love. I also hope you join us in laying the foundation to meet the vast challenges ahead. It will take all of us working together. So, if you are not already connected to our work, reach out and partner with us to build a community where every table is full every day.