Press Release: Family to Family Returns

Open Table Family-to-Family Holiday Drive Returns

An opportunity to give back to our community and brighten the holiday season

Concord and Maynard, MA (November 15, 2024) – Open Table, the MetroWest charity dedicated to fighting hunger and building healthy communities, announced that the Open Table Family-to-Family Gift Bag Drive is back for the fifth year in a row. The program offers community members the opportunity to create special holiday gift bags for a local family and/or a senior who are clients of Open Table.

Open Table provides participants with a list of suggested items to fill a gift bag, then sends daily reminders and other information on each of the first 12 days of December. Items must be unwrapped as this allows Open Table to determine an appropriate recipient for each bag. 

Families can use the following suggestions to create a gift bag for a family or a senior: 

Day 1:  Movie night snack (popcorn, pretzels or chips)

Day 2:  Travel mug or tumbler

Day 3:  Fun activity: games, puzzles, puzzle books, cards, art supplies, craft kits

Day 4:  $25 chain grocery store or pharmacy gift card, or a Visa gift card (please place in a marked envelope and include the store gift receipt)

Day 5:  Favorite baking mix for holiday baking (cookies, brownies, etc.). No need to provide other ingredients 

Day 6:  Nice moisturizer or hand cream for cold weather

Day 7:  Hot chocolate mix, coffee or tea

Day 8:  Festive kitchen tea towel or napkins

Day 9:  Favorite store-bought holiday sweets

Day 10:  Olive oil (24 oz or less size)

Day 11:  Spread for toast (jellies, jams, nut butters)

Day 12:  Dried fruit and/or nuts

Please place all items in a sturdy reusable bag. (We’ve found the ones at TJMaxx work well.) Total weight of each bag must not exceed 25lbs for the safety of both clients and volunteers moving them around. Also remember we cannot accept homemade baked goods or alcoholic items in the bags.

Completed gift bags may be dropped off curbside at Open Table’s Food Donation Center, 40 Beharrell Street, West Concord on Friday, December 13th between 4pm and 6pm. You can also drop off curbside at Open Table at 33 Main Street, Maynard, on Saturday, December 14th between 10am and 1pm. Open Table volunteers will be on hand to assist. 

“This is a wonderful opportunity to make the holidays a bit brighter not only for the families who rely on Open Table, but for those who donate as well,” said Alexandra DePalo, executive director, Open Table. “For many members of the community this program is a meaningful part of their holiday season, and we are so grateful for that!” 

If you have any questions about this program, please contact the coordinator, Julie, at  [email protected]

Sign up to make a gift bag at:  https://www.opentable.org/family-to-family/

The Open Table Family-to-Family Gift Bag Drive suggests items for donor families to collect and assemble into special holiday gift bags for clients of Open Table.

About Open Table

Open Table is a 501(c)(3) established in 1989. The organization works to address hunger in the local community by providing healthy food in a welcoming environment while respecting the dignity and diversity of those served. For more information, visit: https://www.opentable.org/

Media Contact

Joan Geoghegan
978-371-3921
[email protected]