Partner Spotlight: Food Link and NEAT Collaboration
As represented in our name, Food Link builds relationships with our partner agencies. Recently, our Admin Assistant Darcy interviewed former board member and long-time Food Link volunteer Ivan Basch on how Food Link supports Neighbors Eating All Together (NEAT). Keep reading to learn more about the numerous ways Food Link lives up to its name through our collaboration.
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Ivan’s Long Connection with Food Link
Image Description: A photo of Ivan speaking at a Food Link event. Behind him are stacks of banana boxes with labels of various Food Link recipient agencies.
Ivan has been with Food Link since the beginning. He served on the board for seven years and has volunteered for even longer. Passionate about addressing food insecurity, he currently volunteers for Lex Eat Together and sits on the board of both Boston Area Gleaners, and, of course, NEAT. Using his deep roots with Food Link, he ensures that Lex Eat Together’s and NEAT’s community meals have plenty of food to go around.
This is NEAT!
Image Description: NEAT’s logo which includes the acronym “NEAT” on the left in lower-close letters. The “N” is in green while the “EAT” are in white and surrounded by a green circle. The center of the logo is divided by a gray spoon and the right has the text “Neighbors Eating All Together” in gray.
NEAT is a volunteer-run organization based in Arlington that has a mission of “sharing a meal to help create community and combat social isolation.” The organization began as a joint effort by people from various faith backgrounds who wanted to serve regular meals to the community.
Ivan states, “[NEAT’s meals are] open to anybody. There's no financial requirement and we decided to do this monthly whenever we can.” By tackling social isolation through a community framework, NEAT strives to reduce the stigma around needing support. “Need isn't always easy to define,” Ivan notes. “It can sometimes be just needing to sit next to someone and talk to them or to have somebody serve you with a smile.”
NEAT’s meals are served at different locations in Arlington to allow every neighborhood an opportunity to come. The next meal is Jan 11th at Arlington High School 5-6:30pm, featuring Blue Ribbon BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches. No reservations required; Just show up. The meals are a collaborative effort between Chef Johnny from Something Savory Catering, Food Link board member Judi Bohn, and NEAT volunteers. Generally, NEAT serves bread and butter, a salad, coffee, tea, and fruit. The entrée of each meal changes depending on the availability of cooks, what ingredients the volunteers acquire, and whether cooking on-site is possible. A regular dinner serves roughly 100-150 people and guests can be heard speaking many different languages at each event. Ivan says, “We’re just thrilled to see the smiles of the people who show up.”
The Community Supporting the Community
Image Description: A photo of a volunteer posing by a cart filled with food donation boxes.
How is Food Link involved with NEAT? “Food Link is the centerpiece,” Ivan says. When he first joined NEAT, he was already heavily involved with Food Link. He used that connection to gather bread, dessert, meat, and other items for NEAT’s community meals.
Currently, when a meal comes up, he messages Food Link staff in advance with a list of the food he needs. Staff lookout for these items and set them aside. As a regular Food Link volunteer himself, Ivan will also look for meal inspiration on his shifts. “I see marinated artichoke in a can,” he says. “I'm going to set those aside because that's a fabulous part of the salad, right?”
Describing the benefits of collaborating with Food Link, Ivan states, “It's great that it saves us a tremendous amount of money, but it also is in the spirit of the NEAT dinners. The community is supporting the community.”
A Very NEAT Summer BBQ
Last August, NEAT and Food Link collaborated to prepare and serve NEAT’s annual BBQ dinner. This dinner serves over 400 guests and takes place outdoors.
Leading up the dinner, Ivan requested hot dogs from Food Link and coordinated with staff to store boxes in our freezer. As the BBQ’s date crept closer, staff and Ivan placed mustard, relish, ketchup, potato chips, and other BBQ necessities aside. “This is me working with the staff to say that hey, there's going to be a box in [the freezer] for a few weeks,” Ivan describes. “We appreciate being able to have things up on the top shelf.”
Food Link supported NEAT with day-of operations in addition to preparations. During the event, Food Link volunteers joined NEAT and other organizations in serving meals to guests.
Image Description: A Food Link volunteer stands next to a Wegmans staff person who is serving food to a BBQ guest.
A NEAT Future and Words of Encouragement for Other Organizations
When NEAT first began, the organizers ran the meals when they had the time and means to do so. Now, as the community meals have grown, the organizers are choosing the dates and locations a year in advance. “We’ve set eight dinners for twelve months,” Ivan says. “We're trying to get more disciplined, rigorous, and repeatable.”
I asked Ivan if he had advice for other organizations looking to collaborate with Food Link. He answers, “Food Link is responsive to recipient agencies instead of requiring agencies to fit into a rigid program. You get to work with great staff and volunteers and take advantage of the amazing resource that is rescued food.”
Image Description: A group of volunteers unpack corn donations in the hub.
Is your organization looking to partner with Food Link, too? Learn more about our program and apply to become one of our community distribution partners! Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media to be the first to know about all things Food Link.