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June 2022 Update

As a volunteer of Aunt Dot’s Place, you have already shown your passion for our community. Volunteers are the heart of Aunt Dot’s Place and without you, we would not be able to provide nourishing food to our neighbors in need. Thank you for all you do. 

Currently, Aunt Dot’s Place Board of Directors has a vacancy we are seeking to fill. If you’re interested in a stellar opportunity to continue to support and shape Aunt Dot’s Place please let us know by emailing AuntDotsPlace@gmail.com. Meetings are on the 1st Wednesday of the month from 7 pm-8:30 pm.

If you’re not quite ready to take the plunge to join the Board just yet, consider joining us at future meetings (1st Wednesday of the month from 7 pm-8:30 pm). At our annual meeting in January, we will also have additional vacancies. Please consider volunteering your time and becoming more involved, we would greatly appreciate your leadership and expertise. 

Please see below a list of important updates we would like to share: 

Wonderful Month of Giving: This past month was an incredible month of giving. We received a $5,000 donation from Mark BBQ, and $50,000 from the Hoehl Family Foundation. These funds will ensure we are able to continue to serve our community members in need. 

National Night Out: The Essex Police Department will be hosting National Night Out at Essex High School (2 Educational Drive), on August 2 from 5 pm-7 pm. They will be conducting a food drive for Aunt Dot’s Place and anyone that makes a donation will receive a raffle ticket for some wonderful prizes. Aunt Dot’s Place will also have a table, so please be sure to stop by and say, “Hi” to your fellow volunteers, Sue Miyamoto and Kathy Kenney, who will be overseeing the table. 

In-Person Shopping: *FRIENDLY REMINDER* Starting in August we will begin in-person shopping again. We will allow only 2 clients at a time into Aunt Dot’s Place to conduct shopping. Clients will shop with a Customer Service Representative. Both the client and Customer Service Representative must wear a mask at all times. 

While 2 clients are shopping, another client will be “on deck” waiting to shop. While they are waiting, we will have a Customer Service Representative conduct an annual review of the client’s paperwork. 

We look forward to having our clients back inside as it allows for them to pick the items they want, and for us to build relationships with them. We ask for patience during this time of transition, for some of our clients, this may be the first time they have ever come inside the building. And for some of our volunteers, it may be the first time they have shopped with a client. 

Mask Update: *SAME AS LAST MONTH* Masks must continue to be worn during open shop hours (Tuesday 6 pm-7:30 pm, Thursday 9 am-11 am, and Saturday 10 am-12 pm). If you are at Aunt Dot’s Place for other purposes other than open shop hours, masks are optional as we are not confined to the smaller areas and move more freely throughout the facility while stocking/sorting/labeling. 

Thank you to the following organizations who hosted a food drive or donated meals!

  • Essex Alliance Church: 964 lbs
  • Inn at Essex: 17 lbs
  • Mark B.B.Q.: 185 lbs          
  • Nest Bakery: 7 lbs
  • Price Chopper Donation Bin: 565 lbs          
  • Ascension Lutheran: 10 lbs
  • Essex United Methodist Church: 24 lbs
  • Poorhouse Pies: 50 lbs
  • Unknown/Anonymous Donations: 561 lbs
    •  Donations Total: 2,383 lbs

With generous financial support, we were able to purchase a total of $7,727 of food totaling 5,379 pounds.

Additionally, we would like to thank the following local stores for their continued donations: Bimbo Bread, Costco, Hannaford, Pepperidge Farm, Trader Joe’s, and West Meadow Bakery.

Thank you again for all you do. As a community, we can ignite the power to nourish our neighbors in need. 

With Gratitude,

Carissa A. Gump, OLY, MPA
Aunt Dot’s Place, Board President