Helping Each Other So That We Can Help Our Community

ANNOUNCEMENT: B&R will be CLOSED 4/2; 4/9; 4/16; 4/23; 4/30. 

In an effort to always remain transparent, our team has chosen to release this letter to our patrons and supporters addressing why we will be closed on Tuesday’s during the month of April. We are collecting and distributing 56 times more food now than we were last year at this time.  In fact, we have collected and distributed 1.4 million pounds of food since July 1st, 2023.  We are doing all of this in the same space with the same number of employees.  Our new grocery store model has given our guests more autonomy and dignity over their nutrition choices and we always put the needs of our guests at the forefront of our services. 

As we work diligently to become the food hub of the Merrimack Valley, our team has never been given the opportunity to adjust to our "new normal” and acclimate into their new roles.  As a leader, I was to ensure we are providing our staff with the proper training and team building to perform at this new level. We are both a grocery store style emergency pantry serving 12,000 of your neighbors each month and also a community kitchen that is cooking and serving dinner five evenings a week for 250 community members per night. 

In partnership with Inspired Vibes, we will be closed all of the Tuesday’s in April to do some self introspection by learning about mindfulness. As we take this time to learn more about ourselves, we know it will be beneficial to the patrons we deeply care for.  We also plan to bring this workshop to our guests free of charge this Summer.  

With Respect & Love,

Jess

Jessica Gordon, MPsy

Executive Director