NEAT (Neighbors Eating All Together), a passionate group of citizens who started serving community meals in spring 2017 in the downstairs hall of St. John’s Church in Arlington, continued its service on Thanksgiving despite the pandemic.
The effort brought people together to create a welcoming space and nourishment, serving a meal open to all Arlington citizens in need of either food, company or both. Before suspending operations, NEAT had served 27 community meals.
On Thanksgiving Day, the group finally had the chance again to offer nourishment to those in need.
How it happened: Learning that the Council on Aging (CoA) traditionally delivered meals to housebound elders on Thanksgiving Day, NEAT offered to help. CoA was thrilled to bring us into the fold.
NEAT often works with local woman- and minority-owned caterer Something Savory to prepare meals.
The business designs NEAT’s menus based partly on the availability of rescued food from Arlington’s own Food Link.
Owners Jodi Auerbach and chef John Levins were happy to come on board for this project, and were able to increase the distribution from the traditional 100 delivered Thanksgiving meals to 143. The recipients were delighted, saying it was “high quality and wonderful,” that the cranberry sauce was some of “the best people had ever had” and that the gravy was “perfect.” The cards that the kids made were “really wonderful and thoughtful.”
NEAT is so grateful to Arlington EATS and the Retired Men’s Club of Arlington for their generous financial support of this innovative collaboration, and also to Thompson kindergartners for the cheerful cards that were included with every meal.
Maxima Gift Center sent puzzles to accompany the meals as well. Sixty CoA volunteers and drivers stood at the ready in the traffic circle in front of 27 Maple St. on Thanksgiving morning when the food arrived.
Something Savory’s prepackaged meals included freshly roasted turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash and sweet potato and fresh vegetables, as well as homemade gravy and cranberry sauce. Adding to this bountiful meal were rolls from Food Link, packaged in festive paper sacks as well as desserts and drinks from the COA, the cards from the kids, the puzzles from Maxima and flowers from Food Link.
It was a joyous morning indeed, and even the rain couldn’t wipe the smiles from the faces of everyone who had the chance to take part! NEAT is so very very grateful to have had the chance to do this, and we hope to find more opportunities to bring food and a smile at the door to folks again soon.
NEAT is a 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, check out our website , or follow us on Facebook.
The donations address is NEAT Dinners, Box 43, Arlington, MA 02476. For questions, email info at neighborseatingalltogether.org.
This news feature written by Victoria Ford was published Friday, Dec. 11, 2020.
