NEWBURY — The Newbury Town Day’s cookbook, “The Community Cooks,” has made a substantial contribution to the Newbury Food Pantry, with co-chairs recently presenting a generous $2,000 check to support the pantry’s vital mission. The Newbury Food Pantry is an entirely volunteer-driven organization that extends weekly assistance to 550 to 600 residents across Newbury and neighboring communities, including Newburyport, Salisbury, West Newbury, Rowley, Ipswich, and Georgetown.
This $2,000 donation represents the proceeds from the sale of “The Community Cooks” cookbook to date, but it is not the sole source of support. Various activities at the Newbury Town Day event, which took place on August 26, also contributed to raising funds for the food pantry. The Wolfe Club, for instance, sold hamburgers and hot dogs generously donated by the Butchery during the event, generating $600 for the pantry. Additionally, the Almost Celebrity Dunk Tank Auction raised an admirable $560.
Jane Merrow, Director of the First Parish Newbury Food Pantry, expressed gratitude for the timely donation, stating, “This donation could not have come at a better time. Provisions from the Greater Boston Food Bank have been seriously cut back, so we have had to purchase meat, eggs, milk, and dry goods to make up for the shortfall.”
Initially launched nearly eight years ago at First Parish Church on High Road in Newbury, the Newbury Food Pantry began as a volunteer-led effort to distribute donated food, personal care items, and household supplies from the church sanctuary. However, the pandemic’s onset in 2020 led to a rapid expansion in recipients, from 150 people weekly to nearly 300 individuals almost overnight.
In response to the increased demand, the food pantry underwent a transformation, constructing its own standalone facility behind the church, which officially opened its doors in April 2022. This facility now serves as the heart of its operations, where over 200 dedicated volunteers weekly unload groceries, stock shelves, and provide essential goods to those in need.
More than 50% of the pantry’s offerings are delivered each week by volunteers, who fulfill specific item requests made through an online ordering system. Approximately 25 volunteers also engage in personal phone outreach to about 150 individuals weekly who may not have computer access, ensuring no one in the community goes without assistance.
“The Community Cooks” cookbook, affiliated with Newbury Town Day, features over 200 recipes contributed by community members. It also includes anecdotes and recipes drawn from historic church and community cookbooks preserved in museum and library archives. Copies of the cookbook are still available for $15 at various local outlets, including the Main Street Mini Mart in Byfield, Colby Farm, Jabberwocky Books, the Museum of Old Newbury, and Tendercrop Farm.
