Holiday Greetings from AIO Food and Energy Assistance
Joe Ryan, Executive Director of AIO has issued the following season’s greetings to the community:
As a new year approaches, I want to thank all who have contributed so generously to AIO this year—volunteers, clients, donors, and community members—you are the true power behind AIO. Thank you.
Over the past year, AIO has grown in many ways. While the increasing numbers tell part of the story, the intangibles genuinely reflect what is happening throughout our organization. The spirit of community is more incredible than I could have ever dreamed. The energy of joy, caring, and love that radiates from our new home is palpable. We have forged new partnerships and collaborations with friends in both the non-profit and for-profit communities, with the shared goal of improving the quality of life for everyone.
And, best of all, it’s working!
A few highlights…
We continue to reach more families as awareness grows of the warm and welcoming experience we provide, the quality of food found in our market, and the ease of enrollment we have created. In November and December alone, we have had over 2,000 family visits to our food pantry, providing food for more than 5,000 individuals.
Our Energy Assistance Program provides early-season fuel assistance for over 300 households, already distributing close to $90,000 in funds thus far in this heating season. The AIO Energy Assistance Program is funded entirely by private donations and contributions from local municipalities.
The Weekend Meals Program has grown significantly - we are now distributing close to 500 weekend meal packs per week, which include two breakfasts, two lunches, one dinner, snacks, and healthy snacks.
The Diaper Program distributed over 24,000 diapers during nearly 800 family visits, providing financial and health assistance.
We are proud of the significant impact we are making in our community. The success of our programs is all thanks to you, our volunteers, and our donors. We are most grateful for your past support, and we hope you will continue your help with a year-end donation.
We send warm wishes for happy holidays and a bright new year from the AIO Food & Energy Assistance family to yours. We look forward to more collaboration, connection, and impact opportunities in the year ahead.
With gratitude,
Joe Ryan, Executive Director