Whats Happening?

Abundant Table, Inc. is very blessed, and boasts one of the most spectacular volunteer teams. Without the efforts of these amazing people, Abundant Table would not be able to serve guests with outstanding kindness and compassion. It is an honor to present three Volunteer of the Year awards. These three individuals/families have gone above and beyond to serve Abundant Table, and we are so very indebted for their gift of time and talent. Congratulations and Thank you! Certificates and recognition will be given on an upcoming Wednesday/Friday.

Carol Demarais: Carol has been a faithful volunteer for many years. While Carol is often accompanied by her husband and sons, she alone has made a very meaningful and lasting impact on weekly Wednesday evening service. Carol volunteers once a month and picks up Panera the Tuesday night before her shift, bakes a homeade dessert, volunteers and makes a monthly monetary donation to benefit Abundant Table operational needs. Carol has also been responsible for the recruitment of other amazing Wednesday evening volunteers; individauls who have added greatly to our team. A steady-eddy, Carol is an organization's dream, always stepping up, offering to give all she can to better the greater cause. Carol is a guest favorite and server extraordinaire. Engaging and respectful, she has forged many meaningful relationships with our guests. Thank you, Carol. You are a true blessing to Abundant Table and we are so very grateful for all you do.

Ann Fellini: When thinking about the best possible qualities of a volunteer, Ann Fellini is exemplary. When Ann began volunteering with Abundant Tabe, it was as if she had been with us for years. The type of person who knows what to be done without being asked, Ann is a worker bee who willingly and happily does any task necessary to get the job done. Whether it be making drinks, wrapping pastry, plating food, serving meals, chatting with guests, driving guests home, making homemade desserts, doing panera runs or picking up the Chipotle food donations twice a week; there is no job Ann won't do. She has a wonderful rapport with the guests and exudes a gentle, self-effacng manner. Sadly, Ann's husband has been very ill this year and she has been his primary caregiver. Ann continued volunteering without fail during this difficult time and never let the stress and concern of her personal life affect her service. Thank you, Ann. We are all better for knowing you.

The Wolf Family: Sue, Adam and their wonderful brood of children, neighbors and friends have been affiliated with Abundant Table for 5 years. The Wolf's take the responsibility of "putting on a dinner" every six weeks; from soup to nuts. Shopping, cooking, serving and baking, the Wolfs give tirelessly in time and finance. Sue and her gang hit the road and deliver meals on a weekly basis to homebound guests, and have fostered meaningful relationships with certain guests providing special assistance making their daily life much more manageable. Sue and Adam have been Abundant Table board members and faithful supporters. It has been inspiring to watch as their leadership has motivated dozens of teens to serve their community and work to better a common cause. Thank you all for your amazing efforts on behalf of Abundant Table. We are most grateful!

Over fifty Abundant Table volunteers, supporters, friends and guests came together to participate in a 1.5 or 3 mile walk around Norwood Center on Saturday, June 18th. Money pledged went to support weekly operational food expenses. The afternoon was a huge success; nearly $2,000 was raised. Walkers enjoyed live music (thanks, Bart!) and a nice cookout (thanks, Maura!) after completing the route. Many thanks to all (both two and four legged) who came out on Saturday to support Abundant Table. We couldn't do what we do without you!

For the third consecutive year, congregants from Kol Tikvah (formerly Klal Yiserel) provided a Christmas Brunch on December 25, 2010. Spearheaded by Fran, the brunch was a bountiful spread of scrambled eggs, pancakes, bacon, toast and fresh fruit. We welcomed nearly 35 guests to the 11:00 am Christmas Day brunch. It was a wonderful way to start Christmas Day. For the second year, Abundant Table, Inc. partnered with HESSCO elder services and prepared/packaged 70 meals for homebound seniors. A wonderful team of eager and enthusiastic volunteers arrived at 9:00 am to begin bagging meals 'to-go'. The morning was filled wtih spirit and fun -- and a sincere thank you to all who gave of their time on Christmas morning to serve!

For the second year in a row, Harry Clow and the Walpole boy scouts served up an amazing meal this holiday season. Roast beef, potatoes and broccoil highlighted the menu, and entertainment was lively as the scouts led our guests in a carol sing. A girlscout troop also in Walpole made lovely holiday placemats for our Abundant Table guests, and came to help with set up in early December, sing a few carols and mingle with our early guests. Thank you both scouts and leaders for your commitment to service and Abundant Table. Your generosity is always so much appreciated. The guests adore seeing young people sharing their time and talent!

Abundant Table, Inc. had many things to be thankful for this holiday season. Many kind individuals and families within the community offered their time, talent and funds to make Christmas special for our Abundant Table guests. Pictured at the left, Sue Brooks of Norfolk and her group of Daisy Scouts made snowman luminary centerpieces for our tables. They were absolutley beautiful! In addition, she came to Abundant Table twice during the holiday season with her daughter Emma and neighbor Tori, to spend time with some of our younger guests; playing games, singing, dancing and laughing. Tom McClintock and the Masons purchased Christmas presents for some of the kids who join us on Wednesday and Friday night. Their kindness was much appreciated. Lastly, Renee Grady of Walpole (and her family), shopped specifically for one of our younger guesets and gave her "the best Christmas ever", and purchased eight $50 gift cards for Abundant Table regulars to enjoy to round out their Christmas shopping. Thank you Sue, Tom and Renee/Family for your wonderful generosity. Your kindness meant the absolute world to our guests this holiday season.

2011-06-092011-06-09On Wednesday December 2, Aislynn Rodeghiero was invited to the HESSCO Elder Services Annual Meeting at Christina's Event Room on Route 1 to accept the Agency Community Award on behalf of Abundant Table, Inc. For the second consecutive year, Abundant Table Inc. has parterned with HESSCO to deliver Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to their homebound seniors. In recognition for Abundant Table's efforts during the holidays, HESSCO graciously gave Abundant Table the Agency Community Award for 2010. HESSCO's mission is to make it easier for elders and their families to access a comprehensive system of health and supportive services. HESSCO services the towns of Canton, Dedham, Foxboro, Medfield, Millis, Norfolk, Norwood, Plainville, Sharon, Walpole, Westwood and Wrentham. For more information on HESSCO please call 781-784-4944 or view their website: www.hessco.org. Thank you so much to Jayne Davis for coordinating the holiday meal delivery at HESSCO.

Local Boy and Girl scout troops continue to give selfless and generously to Abundant Table. Last week a local girlscout troop from Walpole came to Abundant Table to help set up the dining room, wrap bread, organize the "to-go" items, and sang a few holiday carols for the earlycomers. In addition to this service, the girls created handmade placemats which were so beautifully designed. Each one had a special holiday decoration and was created with much love and care. We are everso grateful to the young people and leaders for their faithfulness and good work on behalf of Abundant Table. Thank you!!

For the fourth year in a row, Nancy Moloney and her team of amazing employees from Instron came together to cook our big Wednesday evening Thanksgiving dinner. Nancy and friends prepared a complete feast for our guests: 11 turkeys, 40 pounds of mashed potatoes, yams, squash, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, stuffing, pumpkin/apple pie and rolls! The Instron crew arrived on site at 9am and worked througout the day ensuring timely 5:30 dinner service. Thank you Nancy, Lesley and all other Instron employees for your amazing gift of time and talent to make Abundant Table Thanksgiving a smashing success. A few members of Nancy's team came and decorated the hall with beautiful representations of fall; pumpkins, leaves, electric candles, tablecloths, and thel like. The dining room looked absolutely breathtaking! Abundant Table welcomed 91 "sit down guests" and delivered 4 "meals on wheels" to some homebound friends. Thanksgiving is an annual highlight in the Abundant Table year, and we feel blessed to have been able to share the day with 94 individuals and families. What's more is that the annual Thanksgiving meal is also Abundant Table's organizatinal anniversary. Cogratulations to all volunteers, friends, donors and the like for 8 wonderful years of service to the community. I feel blessed to be a part of such a wonderful organization chock full of some of the finest volunteers! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, and thank you to everyone for what you do to make Abundant Table a great success.

For the second year in a row, Abundant Table partnered with Jayne Davis and HESSCO Elder Services to prepare 72 Thanksgiving Dinners for homebound seniors. Volunteers gathered early on Thanksgiving Day to warm the homemade turkey dinners, and pack brown paper bags with full Thanksgiving meals (with all the trimmings), rolls, bagels, breakfast snacks, pumpkin and apple pie, cake and some candy. We are very excited about our HESSCO partnership and are looking forward to working together again on Christmas Day. Thank you to Kathi, Linda, Kelleymarie, The Bryant Family, Maura, Laura, Aislynn, Anne, Bill, Aubrey, Jeanne and Kelly Glista from Patch for all your wonderful help!

For the second time, Christina Rossetti of NEADS, brought a handful of dogs and puppy raisers to Abundant Table to socialize with our Abundant Table guests. Christina took some time to inform the guests about the NEADS program. NEADS is a wonderful organization that trains promising puppies to work with individuals with emotional, social, physical and behavioral disabilities. Monday through Friday the puppies are trained by prisoners at Norfolk, Pondview and other local prisons; then on the weekends, kind individuals and families take the puppies from the prisons and socialize them in training classes, the home, outings, and daily life. Many of our Abundant Table guests love the oportunity to pet the darling puppies (Labrador Retrievers, Poodles, Labradoodles and German Shephards) and exchange a few moments of unconditioanl love. I am so glad we have been able to develop a relationship wtih Christina and look forward to her next visit. For more information about the NEADS program, please use the link below.

On Sunday, October 3rd members of the Abundant Table volunteer team came together for a Volunteer Appreciation banquet. It was a wonderful afternoon of celebration. Each attendee brought an appetizer and recipe which will be used to develop new meal ideas for the upcoming year. The cake, made by Paula at Icing on the Cake (Newton, MA), was absolutely beautifu and amazing. We honored each volunteer for their tireless donation of time and talent; because without their kind hearts and spirits, Abundnat Table would not be what it is today. Two awards were presented at the dinner: The President's Teen Volunteer of the Year and The President's Volunteer of the Year Award(s). The first annual Teen Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Emmarose Safran. Emmarose has been volunteering wtih her mom and brother for over a year. They are key staples to our Friday night volunteer team. Emmarose and her mom, Nancy regularly and faithfully offer to make desserts whenever they are on the schedule. Additionally, they participated in our Walk for a Cause and are overall supporters of Abundant Table. Most importantly, Emmarose is wonderful with the guests. She is incredibly outgoing and gregarious and does a phenomenal job serving the meals, ensuring that every guest feels appreciated and special. Kathi Ford was the recipient of the Volunteer of the Year award. Abundant Table volunteer since 2006, without Kathi, Abundant Table would cease to exist. Kathi attends every Wednesday and Friday night dinner, spearheads the shopping procedures, gives geusts rides as needed, picks up Whole Foods goodies, gleefully participates in any and all Abundant Table fundraising effort (Walk, Gillette, Tupperware, etc.), sits on our Board, and does countless other things that ensure smooth operation on Wednesday/Friday evenings and faithfully makes volunteer and guest alike feel comfortable and loved. Congratulations Emmarose and Kathi on your award, and thank you for your outstanding service to Abundnat Table. Here's to another great year of service together. Thank you to everyone for all they do for Abundnat Table. You are all a real blessing.

This spring and summer, Abundant Table has been blessed to receive fresh, organic vegetables. Students from Interfaith Action's Youth Leadership Program, under the direction of Jason Smith, have been harvesting a share of land at Sharon's Moose Hill CSA. Each week, the students provide Abundant Table with squash, basil, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, etc. We are so very thankful for the kindness of the students picking the produce and the willingness of the Interfaith team to transport the goods on Tuesday evenings. Additionally, Tracy Firth has been a godsend bringing us vegetables for our Friday evening meal. Her produce is TO DIE FOR, and our guests are so very appreciative for the wonderful, healthy treats. Thank you Tracy, Jason and Claudine. We are all so appreciative to you!!

During the summer-early fall of 2010, Abundant Table, Inc. board members and volunteers are parterning wtih Gillette stadium in a wonderful fundraising opportunity. Members of our Abundnat Table team will be serving concessions at Revolution and Patriot games as well as summer concerts at Gillette stadium, all to earn dollars for AT and promote Abunant Table to stadium passers by. While the work is rather intense and arduous, the camraderie and team fun makes up for it. I would like to publicly thank the members of our team who have so graciously offered their time to participate in these events: Maura & Tom McClintock, Richard Sebilian, Debbie Sievers, Kathi Ford, Linda Rapciak, Kelleymarie Barrows, Karen Ucuz, Emily Buffum, Kristen Cleary-Campbell, Alyssa Ellis, Mary Daltoin, Rose Barrows, Megan Albert, Heather Lydon, Alyssa McClintock . Thank you all for your kind service, and here's to concessions!!!

For the seventh consecutive year, Abundant Table had its annual picnic on June 16, 2010. This year, unlike years past, we had the picnic at our regular meeting spot; a perfect decision given the afternoon rain. Over 35 volunteers came together together to grill hot dogs and hamburgers and prepare homemade salads for our guests to enjoy. The buffet table was full of wonderful picnic goodies; pasta salad, potato salad, spinach salad, fruit bowls, and so much more. Karen Ucuz brought her signature picnic slush, and Caroline Pannes (as always) out-did herself making a plethora of wonderful goodies. All tolled, we had well over 100 people at the picnic and it was a wonderful way to kick off the summer months, and enjoy each other's company! Thank you to everyone who came, and special thanks to all of the volunteers who gave of their time to cook/bake and serve our appreciative guests. I can't wait for next year's picnic!!!

Our volunteers are the BEST! We are blessed to have many families and corporations on our team who generously and faithfully prepare meals for our guests. A few weeks back Laura McCarthy and her friends/neighbors prepared homemade lasagna, caesar salad and garlic bread; Bill Killion and the Dedham Knights of Columbus prepare a hearty dinner of ham/turkey, rice pilaf and green beans once a month; Sue & Adam Wolf (and friends/family) regularly prepare tacos, breakfast, hot dogs and the like all the while offering regular Abundant Table staff a Wednesday off; and last Friday, Kristen & Bryan Campbell (with their friends and family) made homemade mashed potatoes, vegetables, stuffed pork, house salad, and a healthy/sugar free cheesecake dessert. The guests love these "sepcial dinners" and we as an Abundnat Table team cannot be any more grateful to such kind people for sharing their time and talents with us. Similarly, employees at Instron continue to come and make meals for Abundant Table. Each dinner prepared is better than the last (if that is possible). They mix health with creativity, and come up with some truly exquisite menus. Thank you to everyone who goes above and beyond to make the dining experience for our guests so very special. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

On May 2, 2010, Abundant Table, Inc. had its first annual Walk for a Cause. Guests, volunteers, board members and friends alike met at the First Congregational Church for a leisurly walk in Norwood to fight suburban poverty. The 30+ participants together raised nearly $800 for Abundant Table. How amazing!! Thank you to everyone who participated in this great event, and for giving of your time to benefit Abundant Table. You are all the best!

On Wednesday evenings, we have resident DJ Matthew Parker spinning a myriad of tunes for our listening pleasure during the dinner hour. For the past few Fridays, our guests have enjoyed live dinner music and we are inviting bands, orchestras, chamber ensembles, etc. to come to perform at Abundant Table and fill the musical void. During the spring, we will be welcoming NEADS dogs and their handlers to Abundant Table for some canine loving. NEADS is a remarkable program that matches young dogs with prison inmates for rigorous training, so that the dogs learn the skills required to assist individuals with disabilities. The NEADS dogs will be coming to AT to socialize with our guests, practice their training skills and share loads of unconditional love and tail wags! Interested in performing/visiting? Please email: aislynn@abundant-table.org.

A few months ago, Aislynn Rodeghiero was nominated for the Boston Celtics "Hero Among Us Award". A complete surprise, Aislynn learned today that she has been selected for this award and will be honored at the Celtics/Pacers game on Tuesday, December 22nd. Aislynn will attend the game with three guests, be driven to the game in a limo, tour the Celtics locker room, meet a handful of the players, take photos on the legendary parquet floor and receive the Heroes Among Us award during the second quarter of play. Completely embarassed and humbled by this experience and individual honor, Aislynn is thrilled that this opportunity will generate profound awareness of Abundant Table and the problem of subrban poverty at large. Please check back in the coming weeks for photos of Aislynn's night at The Garden. Congratulations, Aislynn and Go Celtics!

Wednesday, November 25th marked Abundant Table, Inc.'s sixth year of service. It is with great glee and excitement that we venture into our seventh year. While this year specifically posed some difficult roadblocks and challenges, the adversity made us much stronger as an organization and we are so incredibly happy to be where we are today. Volunteer interest is up, donations are abundant, weekly attendance is exponentially growing, we are adding a second evening of service, our Wednesday and Friday volunteer team is full of amazingly compassionate individuals and morale has never been better. Thank you to everyone who has made the last six years meaningful, and here's to embarking on another wonderful year of togetherness, challenges, service and fun.

On December 25, 2009 Abundant Table will be hosting its Second Annual Christmas Brunch. Members of Congregational Klal have generousy and graciously offered their time and culinary genius to provide a delicious brunch for Abundnat Table guests. Brunch begins at 11:00 am on Christmas morning, and as on Wednesdays, will be served in Pingree Hall at the First Congregational Church in Norwood, MA. Guests are warmly invited and encouraged to bring friends to this bountiful feast. Should you like to volunteer at this event, bake holiday goodies or spread other Christmas cheer, please don't hesitate to send an email and we will be sure to get back to you shortly.

On Wednesday, November 25th, employees from Instron (located in Norwood on University Avenue) came to Abundant Table to create a Thanksgiving feast. Arriving at 8:30 in the morning, these folks worked tirelessly to cook a Thanksgiving dinner fit for a king: 11 turkeys, homemade mashed potatoes, stuffing, and mixed vegetables. In addition, plates were adorned with rolls, pumpkin bread, cranberry sauce and other such holiday trimmings. The Abundant Table team is indebtedly thankful for Nancy and her entire Instron team for their due diligence, hardwork and cheer. Not only did Instron provide meals for 85 regular Abundant Table Wednesday guests, they prepared food for 67 additional people (home-bound senior citizens through HESSCO elder services). Volunteers and friends gathered early on Thanksgiving morning to heat, package and bag 67 "to-go" Thanksgiving dinners for the seniors. The seniors were treated to three pieces of pie, homemade rolls/bread and a Thanksgiving spread like no other. Abundant Table has so very much to be thankful for this year, and with friends like the Instron team with giving hearts, our Thanksgiving holiday could not have been any better. Nancy has promised me: same time, same place next year!!

On December 2nd, members of the Fallon Community Health Care team presented Aislynn and Rob (Director of the Dedham Food Pantry) checks for $1,000. Abundant Table's mini-grant was specifically earmarked for development and start-up for the Friday evening dinners to begin January 1, 2010. Fallon's mission is similar to Abundant Table's in that it employs a holistic mission to ehnance and better the lives of those in need. Thank you, Fallon for your kind generosity!

On New Years Day (January 1, 2010), Abundant Table will begin weekly service on Friday evenings in addition to the regular Wednesday night meal. With our weekly numbers on the rise, and an abundant of eager volunteers hoping to join our team, the decision was made that Abundant Table grow to two evenings per week. An added weekly dinner will help our guests receive the physical nourishment they need, in addition to regular socialization and comraderie with others. If you available on Friday evenings and would like to join us on this new, exciting journey, please send us an email. In addition to weekly volunteers, we are also in need of pople to bake desserts, organize can drives, etc. We are thrilled to begin this adventure!!!

As a part of his final Eagle Scout service project, Troop 42 Boyscout Eric Smith organized an All-Norwood can/non-perishable drive for Abundant Table on Saturday, November 7, 2009. Known as "Yes 1 Can", Eric appealed to shoppers at Hanaford, Roche Bros., and Shaws. Eric raised over 2,000 pounds of cans/non-perishables for Abundant Table; an amount that far surpassed our expectations. Congratulations on a job well done, Eric! Thank you!

Abundant Table has partnered with HESSCO (Health and Social Services Consortium, Inc.), to provide Thanksgiving dinners to senior citizens unable to get out for the holiday. In addition to serving our near 100 individuals/families on Wednesday, November 25th; Abundant Table volunteers will be busy making extra turkey, mashed potatoes, squash, green beans, carrots, and pies for 50-60 local seniors. HESSCO volunteers will meet members of the Abundant Table team on Thanksgiving Day to distribute the meals to elderly shut ins. Abundant Table thanks HESSCO for this wonderful opportunity, and we look forward to continued collaboration!

Abundant Table has partnered with the Norwood Thrift Shop!! The Norwood Thrift Shop, located at 1194 Washington Street in South Norwood, is run by the Women's Community Committee. Under the leadership of Peggy Thorne, Jean Hubbard and Alice Cofsky, individuals and families in need are able to visit the amazing shop to find clothing, outerwear, shoes, blankets and other such items. Special individaul needs will be evaluated and assessed, and Abundant Table leadership will frequent the thrift shop once a month to gather clothing for certain guests in need of certain items, special sizes and the like. Peggy, Jean and Alice have also given Abundant Table clothing coupons, whereby certain individauls with particualr needs can shop at the thrift store free of charge. We are thrilled about this partnership!

Lauren Jaeger is a member of Congregation Klal in Sharon. After coming to the Abundant Table a number of months ago with her mom to perform a day of service, she decided to make a selfless difference. Lauren's Bat Mitzvah is a few weeks away, and she has asked friends and family to make a donation to Abundant Table. While many young people want to use monies generated from their Bat Mitzvah for clothing, electronics, books and the like; Lauren kindly took this opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others and GIVE. All of us at Abundant Table; board members, volunteers and guests alike, thank you Lauren for your unprescadented kindness. Please know that many lives will be bettered as a result of your selfless generosity and kindness.

On November 7, 2009, Abundant Table, Inc. will be parterning with Pizzaria Uno Chicago Bar & Grille in Dedham, MA. All day on November 7th, 20% of all food bills will go to the Abundant Table. In order to participate in this event, you need to present the waitstaff with a coupon. Coupons will be distributed to volunteers and friends on Wednesday nights. Should you want a handful to give out to neighbors/friends/etc. please ask. This is a simple way to make a lot of money for the Abundant Table. We look forward to seeing you at Uno in Dedham on November 7th!

On Sunday, September 13, thirty Abundant Table guests and friends journeyed to Fenway Park to watch the Red Sox/Tampa Bay game. Thanks to a generous donor, our group was treated to VIP luxurues: a tour of centerfield, receipt of commemorative Red Sox gloves, a private dinner buffet, Monster seats and the like. For many, this was their first time to Fenway Park; while others hadn't been in many years. This experience was in a word: PRICELESS, and was a perfect kick off to the new Abundant Table year! Please follow the link below to view photos from this event.

On Sunday, September 13, thanks to a wonderfully kind act of generosity from an A.T. supporter, 25 Abundant Table guests will be heading down to Yawkey Way to watch the Red Sox take on Tampa Bay. Each week, Abundant Table guests don Red Sox gear (hats, sweatshirts, tees, etc.) and talk about how 7:05 is their favorite time of day! Most of our guests have either never been to Fenway Park, or been as a small child. This outing will be a dream come true for many! In addition to attending the game, our guests will be transported in style, have the opportunity to participate in batting practice, and sit in a suite offering safety and a perfect view! Abundant Table, Inc. can not thank our kind donor enough for this amazing opportunity. We look forward to the 13th with eager anticipation and hope that our cheering will bring about a Red Sox victory! Let's Play Ball!!

Abundant Table, Inc. is getting geared up for Norwood Day, 2009. This year, Norwood Day will be held on Saturday, September 19th. As in years past, Abundant Table, Inc. will have a booth in the town center. This year, we will be raffling off wonderful items such as Red Sox tickets, dining gift cards, health and beauty opportunities and the like. In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to pick up a brochure and learn more about Abundant Table, Inc.'s meal-based service, sign up for volunteering or donate financially. Balloon animals, reusable shopping bags, pens and other exciting give-a-ways will be available! Mike Torrez, former Red Sox and Yankee World Series Champion will be signing autographs at the Abundant Table booth during the day.We encourage you to come out for a nice family day of fun! Special thanks to the businesses linked below for their generosity in donating raffle items.

Many thanks to the participants of the First Congregational Church's VBS, who raised $450 for the Abundant Table. Knowing that meal costs are approximately $50-$100/week, the VBS students and their families raised enough money to provide 4-6 meals to our Abundnat Table guests. The photo to the right is the visual display the VBS'ers used to show mow many meals could be purchased with the money raised. Linda and Aislynn were privileged to verbally thank the FCC VBS'ers last Thursday. We are so very appreciative for your thoughtfulness and kind generosity.

IT'S OFFICIAL!!! The Abundant Table has a new permanent home! Since April 8, 2009 The Abundant Table has been using Pingree Hall at The First Congregational Church to serve our weekly, Wednesday evening supper. When we needed a new home for Abundant Table, Josh Alexander and other members of the FCC leadership extended a temporary welcome of hospitality -- one that started during Holy week and sustained for a few months. This amazing act allowed the Abundant Table to continue serving dinners and provided a safe place for our 65-80 guests to come each week. Because of their kindness, the Abundant Table didn't miss a beat: if anything, we strengthed as an organization! On Sunday, June 14th the FCC leadership aggreed to open its doors permanently to the Abundant Table. We couldn't be anymore thrilled by this act of generosity and look forward to our new beginning, and the opportunity to create relationships with congregants and friends of this church! Already, members of the FCC congregation, including Rev. John Hamilton, have frequented our Wednesday evening dinner and have gone above and beyond to offer assistance and support. The Abundant Table team has been incredibly impressed by the FCC's acceptance, compassion, and sincere care shown towards our guests. We thank you.

Matthew Parker, one of our faithful Abundant Table guests, accompanied Linda, Aislynn and Kelleymarie to the Ronald McDonald House in Providence, RI on Saturday, June 13. For the last year, Parker, as well as other Abundant Table guests/volunteers, have been collecting "tab tops" off soda cans, soup cans and the like. Together, Abundant Table guests/volunteers and Meadowbrook School of Weston students collected 94.75 pounds of tab tops. The Ronald McDonald House recycles the tab tops (receiving 50 cents/pound) and uses the funds to purchase "extras" for the House. Last year, the House purchased books, cds, videos and othersuch entertainment-based items for guests to enjoy. Who stays at the Ronald McDonald House? Given the proximity of Hasbro Children's Hospital and Women and Infants in Providence, families who have children/relatives in the hospital are (depending on geographic location, financial need and medical need) offered housing so they are close to their loved ones. Our Saturday afternoon jaunt included a trip to Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast, a tour of the House and the annual "dumping" of the tab tops. Today, we filled an entire trash can with tab tops! Thanks to our Abundant Table friends and Meadowbrook School students for making a difference. Collecting tab tops is a very easy way to better the lives of others.

The new Abundant Table fall-winter 2009 schedule will be done within the next two weeks and sent out to volunteers by July 1, 2009. Our team is made up of amazing people who tirelessly give of their time to serve others. We are always looking for new people to join our team. Should you be interested, please follow the link below and take the first step to joining our team, meeting new people, and serving others in a very special way.

It's official!!! The Abundant Table is a Massachusetts recognized 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and has earned its federal tax exemption. This wonderful designation further legitimizes the Abundant Table as a sound, efficient, meaningful organization and makes it possible for the Abundant Table to apply for grants, increase local and federal fundraising efforts, collaborate with city-wide food providers, sustain meal service in Norwood and grow to other suburban communities and offer donors tax exemption benefits for their kind financial generosity. The Abundant Table team could not be any more thrilled by this news, and truly sees this as a necessary step to further fight suburban poverty in Norwood and beyond. Please follow the link below to see a list of our Board members.

The Abundant Table volunteer team is happy to report that our first annual Christmas Brunch was a wonderful success. Congregants from Temple Klal kindly gave of their time to prepare a Christmas breakfast (eggs, pancakes, bacon, etc.) that was enjoyed by many. Grilled cheese and tomato soup highlighted the New Years Eve menu and will be a traditional 12/31 meal given great popularity! Many thanks to those who graciously gave of their time to serve during the holiday season.

The Harvard Pilgrim Community Spirit 9/11 Mini-Grant Program was created in commemoration to those lost on September 11, 2001 through a special contribution to the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation. The Program provides Harvard Pilgrim employees with an opportunity to seek Harvard Pilgrim’s assistance in funding community activities that they regularly support through their own donations of time and/or money. Since its inception in September 2002, the Harvard Pilgrim Community Spirit 9/11 Mini-Grant Program has provided hundreds of organizations with financial support and in-kind contributions worth almost $400,000.

Second Grade students from Pine Hill Elementary School in Sherborn, under the instruction of Mrs. Tully, Mrs. Merriam, Mrs. Scobie and Mrs. Swierupski and the student's parents, made a plethora of cranberry loaves. Students were learning about the Wampanoag Indians, and had the opportunity to bake cranberry bread in correlation with the academic lesson. The students were kind enough to donate the loaves of cranberry bread to The Abundant Table. While some loaves have already been distributed, the majority of bread will be handed out at our Thanksgiving meal. These second grade students made a huge difference, and we are so grateful for their kindness.

On Saturday, November 15, Linda, Aislynn and Kelleymarie attended a hunger awareness event at Blessed Sacrament in Walpole, MA. Teens from this church were participating in a myriad of hunger-related activities, a 30 hour fast, and awareness activities. We were asked to speak about the Abundant Table - and delivered a 40 minute presentation about organizational growth, our mission, the guests, etc. The teens were very receptive to our message, and asked a number of wonderful questions after the presentation. As a result of the presentation, the Blessed Sacrament team presented us with a very generous check to continue Abundant Table service. We thank the Blessed Sacrament planning team for inviting us to their hunger awareness event, and for their kind generosity towards our mission.