SKIP SCOOP

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2023

skipfood@gmail.com

508-487-8331

www.skipfood.org

20 Shank Painter Rd.

GRAY OR GREY?

Hello Friends!


It's such a gray (grey?) day today in Provincetown as I write this column. In my humble opinion, gray just doesn't deserve to be a color. Gray literally means "without color" because it is a composition of black and white! I'm sure many artists in town will challenge my stance as they mix gray tones to capture the beauty of a sky at dusk or the roiling sea. But what is so special about gray/grey that is merits two spellings?! I'm seeing red right now as we showcase our SKIP couples in honor of Valentine's Day. Let's sprinkle some green in here as chef Gina whips up something special to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day later in March! Wear your red and gold on March 10th as we celebrate Chinese New Year's a little late, since volunteer Chef Jackie was on vacation in January.


Have a colorful day everyone!


Donna

GUEST NEWS

ANNUAL SURVEY

Thank you all for taking the time to fill out our guest survey. We had a whopping 72 responses! SKIP gains great insight from this survey and we do act on your feedback. Check out the entire survey below.

SURVEY RESULTS

HELP THE PLANET - BYOBAG!

For those of you that prefer to take out your SKIP lunch, we encourage you to bring your own bag. This will help us save on paper products which have become quite costly, and reduce waste. Bagging must be done at the table after the service line. Thanks in advance & remember: BYOBag!!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

MARALYN WHEELER

Many of you will recognize Maralyn Wheeler from her many roles at PUMC; SKIP volunteer for 3 years, Thrift Shop volunteer, and the nurse who is available twice a month in the SKIP dining room. 


Maralyn was born in Grimsby on the east coast of England. She moved to London at age 16 and began working at a home for neglected kids. She then went to nanny school and came to the US in 1972 where she spent a year in Greenwich, CT, and a year in DC as a nanny. The DC family was friends with Tip O'Neill, who got her a permanent visa.


Having had enough of nannying for a while, Maralyn set off and hitchhiked throughout the US for a year, doing odd jobs along the way. She picked apples in Yakima, WA, picked plums in CA, and worked in a factory in TX putting peaches onto a conveyor belt. She married briefly and lived in Wyoming, where she worked on a cattle round up. She loved the experience and living in Wyoming, but the marriage didn't last.


Maralyn got a job at a "Home for Incurables", which was elder care. She did housekeeping, worked as a nurse's aid, and got her LPN (licensed practical nurse) at that time. She moved to Ithaca NY and went back to school for her RN (registered nurse).


In 1985, she got a job at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston and worked in the burn trauma ICU for 23 years. Maralyn met her wife Amy at a Fenway Health Center dance and they have been together 25 years. Maralyn & Amy bought a house in Provincetown in 2005, and moved here full time after Maralyn retired in 2010.


Maralyn’s favorite thing ever is traveling the country in the RV she bought last year. She will soon be off on a 6 week adventure, to who knows where?


Maralyn’s take on the best part of SKIP: "You can be yourself". And Maralyn, SKIP is glad to have you just as yourself! Thank you for your service. 

BOARD SPOTLIGHT

LIBBY CRESSEY

SKIP Board Director Libby Cressey came to SKIP through connections to the PUMC Thrift Shop. She was the co-manager of the shop with Betty Villari, one of SKIP's founders. Libby joined the board in 2018 and serves on the Human Resources, and Marketing & Merchandising Committees. 


Libby has been involved with feeding people for a long time, so SKIP is a natural place for her to be involved. She delivered Meals on Wheels in Gulfport, FL and also worked for a huge food pantry, called the St. Pete Free Clinic in Florida which served 50 to 60 clients per day. She also managed Meals on Wheels drivers in Lynn MA.  


Libby grew up north of Boston in Middleton, MA. She has done many things in her life. She had a career as a Manager for Verizon (formerly New England Telephone). But her favorite job ever was a gardening company she started on the North Shore called “Weekly Weeders.” Libby really enjoys gardening and states that "it was a great thing to do what you love as a job".


Libby met her wife, Helen, while working at the "Friday Night Supper Program" at Arlington St. Church in Boston. She is a self-described wretched cook but don't worry, her wife Helen, being a great cook, has saved the day for the past 32 years. Libby and Helen split their time between Provincetown and Florida before moving to Provincetown permanently in 2016.  


There are a number of things that Libby loves about Provincetown, like walking in Beech Forest, along with our community and the “Blue Bubble” in which we live. She continues to garden and likes to paint, just for herself and her family. Libby keeps busy with her adorable dachshund dog, Scarlet, and sharing Helen’s six grandchildren and one great grandchild. We are grateful to Libby for the time and energy she puts into SKIP.  

CHEERS TO COUPLES!

In the spirit of Valentine's Day and sharing the love, we would like to introduce you to several SKIP volunteers who volunteer together as couples. They have made a commitment to SKIP together and serve the organization in various ways. Cheers to all of our couples!!


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Thom and Chris

Pat and Penny

Steve and Frank

Andi and Brian

Sally and Molly

Mark and Leslie

Brad and Danny

Nancy and Karen

Roger and Ken

Donna and Jackie

PUZZLE ME THIS

PRINT PUZZLE

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2/27  12:00 - 1 PM   Health Screening with Nurse Lorraine

3/14  12:00 - 1 PM   Health Screening with Nurse Lorraine

3/10 12:30 - 1:30PM Chinese New Years Celebration

3/16 12:30 - 1:30PM St. Patrick's Day meal

3/27  12:00 - 1 PM   Health Screening with Nurse Lorraine

www.skipfood.org/events

EVENTS

SERVICES

FOOD ASSISTANCE

If you or someone you know has food insecurities, please refer to the list of available food resources. If you’re unable to receive food from these sources, feel free to contact SKIP by email, skipfood@gmail.com, or by phone at 508-487-8331. We will do our best to aid anyone in need of food assistance.

RESOURCES

HEALTH PROGRAM

The Program involves health monitoring by a registered nurse for any SKIP guest who wants it. A nurse will be on-site to check blood pressure, review medications and answer health-related questions. The program is completely confidential for every participant. Nurse Maralyn comes the second Tuesday and fourth Monday of each month during SKIP’s season. The nurse will be available from before lunch at 12:00pm until 1:00pm on those days. 


Nurse Lorraine will fill-in for Nurse Marilyn: Monday, February 27; Tuesday, March 14; and Monday, March 27. 



HOMELESS PREVENTION COUNCIL

The Homeless Prevention Council has office hours in Provincetown from 10 - 2 Tuesday & Thursday at the Provincetown United Methodist Church. For more information, please refer to their website. www.hpccapecod.org/provincetown-community-support



CROP SWAP

It is a program sponsored by the Ptown Health Department, the Ptown Public Library and SKIP. Crop Swap is Ptown’s source for fresh, uncut fruits and vegetables and is open year round. Anyone may donate fresh fruits and vegetables, and all are welcome to take what they need. All fruits and vegetables are free. Please bring your own bag.


Crop Swap is located in the Ptown Library, 356 Commercial Street, to the left as you enter the front doors. Hours are:

Mondays & Fridays: 10-4:30

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays: 10 - 7:30

Saturdays & Sundays: 1 - 4:30


There is a refrigerator for perishable items and shelves with bins for non-perishables, such as potatoes and squash. Be sure to take advantage of this valuable resource. 

SKIP BOARD MEMBERS

PHIL FRANCHINI, Chairperson

MARK BJORSTROM, Vice Chair, Treas.

DONNA REARDON, Editor

MARY ASHLEY, Asst. Editor

LIBBY CRESSEY

MARTHA FAGAN

PETER MAYE

ROGER SECOURS

ERIC CORDES

ROBERT SWEETMAN

SKIP STAFF

GINA LARKIN, Executive Chef| Paulo Salvador, Office Coordinator |

DIDIER CORALLO, Dishwasher/Utility Person |

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