above: Neighbor to Neighbor fund development manager Mary Louise Morgan and Executive Director K. Brent Hill with Greenwich Police officers from the Silver Shield Association who held a Thanksgiving food drive
Today Neighbor to Neighbor (NtN) remains as committed to its mission of supporting our underserved communities as it did at its founding, in 1975. “The achievement of Neighbor to Neighbor reaching 50 years of service is a testament to the consistent and impactful support we receive from the community at large,” says Executive Director K. Brent Hill. “Individuals, schools, the business community, our partnering social services organizations and the Town of Greenwich have each had a role in our journey. Every can of food, every dollar donated, each food drive held and every hour volunteered makes a tangible difference. It truly takes a village to run Neighbor, as we feed not just stomachs, but hearts and spirits, too.”
The organization was born by concerned individuals who began collecting gently used clothing in the basement of Christ Church. The volunteers soon expanded to gathering linens, housewares and canned food. And when the housing crisis hit in 1984, Greenwich town officials asked the organization to add weekly food distribution to its existing services.
Volunteers quickly got to work packing bags of food for clients of the Human Services Department. In 2005, NtN opened its food pantry, the first of its kind in the state. It gave clients the opportunity to shop for their families’ specific needs, utilizing a points system based on the number of people in the household and FDA healthy food guidelines.
In 2022 the Cohen Family Center for Neighbor to Neighbor opened on the Christ Church campus. Here the organization offers food and other assistance. In addition, clients can access personal care and household essentials on a monthly basis.
Board President Karen Royce reflects on the momentous anniversary. “Neighbor to Neighbor has been central in my life for about 25 years. We started as a grassroots organization. Our mission remains simple, basic and critical in the lives of too many in our community. Providing nutritious food weekly is ambitious, and we’ve done it since the town asked. Since 2022 we’ve operated from the Cohen Family Center for Neighbor to Neighbor. Having our own building where clients enter the front door means everything to me.”
The numbers speak for themselves. Last year NtN served over 825 families—2,297 individuals—with 300,000-plus pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables. Nearly 850 students were provided with backpacks and school supplies. Seasonally, families receive holiday-meal supplies, and a summer supplement program supports children who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch during the school year to ensure no child goes hungry.
“Our staff is witness to the fact that hunger doesn’t discriminate. It touches families, seniors, and individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds,” says Hill.
You can help ensure NtN continues its mission by donating needed items, offering financial support and by attending the anniversary celebration on April 24 (see sidebar). Often in demand are diapers, canned meat, personal care items, paper products and food staples like peanut butter and jelly.
“While we’ve made strides in addressing hunger, our work is far from over,” says Hill. “We’re committed to creating a future where everyone has access to the food, household essentials and personal care items they need to thrive.”
50 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
Join the Party!
Thursday, April 24
Hyatt Regency, Old Greenwich
5:30 P.M.
Cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres
Followed by:
A conversation with chef, restaurateur, author and activist Marcus Samuelsson.
The esteemed chef behind award-winning restaurants such as Red Rooster Harlem, Samuelsson is the youngest person ever to receive a three-star review from the New York. Times and has won eight James Beard Foundation Awards. Fans of the Food Network will know him from his roles on Top Chef, Iron Chef and Chopped, as well as his James Beard Award-winning series No Passport Required.
Tickets start at $300, and premium seating and VIP opportunities are available. For more information visit ntngreenwich.org.