The Women’s Exchange of Old Lyme presented a donation of $1,000 to The Shoreline Soup Kitchens & Pantries (SSKP) to purchase food for distribution to those in need along the Connecticut shoreline.  The donation was presented at SSKP’s Old Lyme Pantry to manager Marie Farrell. This pantry, located at the First Congregational Church in Old Lyme, distributed enough food for over 273,000 meals in 2013.

The Women’s Exchange began over 180 years ago, offering craftswomen across America a place to sell their handmade goods, to bring in extra income. Over the years, many of the artists who sold their crafts at Women’s Exchanges did so to help put food on their families’ table. Today only 19 remain, and one of these is a shop in Old Lyme called The Lyme Tree continues this. With this donation SSKP will be able to provide enough food for 2,380 meals for local families struggling with poverty and food insecurity.

“We are so grateful for the support of the Women’s Exchange of Old Lyme,” said Patty Dowling, executive director of SSKP. “Because of their tradition of charity and opportunity, we are able to make a place at the table for those in our community who are in need.”

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