‘Tis the singing, signing season

Art show, book signing and reception with a special guest for The Family Pantry. We hope you can join us in a toast to this most worthy organization. Mrs. Claus will be on hand to greet kids of all ages from 4:00 to 6:00 and American Idol finalist Natalia Bonfini will perform from 5:00 to 7:00. Wine, nibbles and a chance to meet the artists will add to the festivities.

Hunger on Cape Cod and the Family Pantry
Many find the depth of food insecurity on Cape Cod hard to believe. When you look at the cost of living vs. the lack of lucrative employment opportunities, one must acknowledge the need. Two thirds of the clients who come to The Family Pantry have at least one person in the household working; often there are two people employed.

The Family Pantry is a non-profit, non-denominational organization with over 650 volunteers and a small, paid staff. In 2022, the organization distributed over 130,000 bags of groceries and 35 tons of gently used clothing. The Family Pantry partners with the Greater Boston Food Bank to support the 28 pantries/soup kitchens on the Cape and Islands.

Families/Individuals are welcome to return to the Pantry every 10 days for food and clothing. The Family Pantry is a choice pantry which means each client selects the products they want. A large selection of healthy foods including cheese, eggs, fresh produce as well as the canned and packaged food products are offered.

Perhaps the star of the weekend, Mrs. Claus (Bev Fuller) has been spreading good, old-fashioned cheer for two decades. While little ones can be afraid of Santa Claus, it’s heartwarming to see how they brighten up around his grandmotherly wife.

Author Dr. Michael Pregot has spent over a half of a century in the field of education. He has served as a Modern Language teacher, high school principal, school superintendent, professor of education and University Director of an Educational Leadership Department.

Now a researcher and chronicler, he will be signing Slavery and Abolitionism on Cape Cod and Sea Captains of Cape Cod, each an opportunity to explore the intriguing people that came before us on this land.

From the era of the Puritans right through to the end of the Revolutionary War, Boston was a central hub for the slave trade. Slaves were brought on board ships from the African coast with regularity, often mastered by Cape Cod Sea captains. The number of slaves per household was much smaller in the Northeast as compared to the South, yet a larger labor force was desired.

Cape Cod has long been a focal point of our country’s maritime activities from the very beginning of the pre-colonial period, through our wars with England, into the great age of sail, right into our current preoccupation with protecting the right whale and announcing shark alerts. Sea captains from every town have distinguished themselves by opening new harbors for trade, participating in naval excursions, and demonstrating a pragmatic genius with their nautical skills.

Moving to fiction. . .

Jeannette de Beauvoir is an award-winning author of historical and mystery fiction as well as of poetry, whose work has appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies. She is a member of the Authors Guild, the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Historical Novels Society. She’s is an admired theatre critic and host of an arts program on WOMR, a Pacifica Radio affiliate.

Provincetown is the setting for a series of mysteries solved by protagonist Sydney Riley. Her reluctant hobby, however, has become murder. With help from best friend Mirela and boyfriend Ali, she solves the crimes with a self-deprecating sense of humor.
The mystery is a part of the book, but learning about the people, the landmarks, the culture, and also important social issues makes her books wonderful (and just like Ms. Leon does with Venice). One is transported to Commercial Street or the Stop & Shop, even the Methodist Thrift Store when reading her books.

For more information on The Family Pantry visit https://www.thefamilypantry.com
For more information on the benefit, and/or additional images, please contact Helen Addison at helen@addisonart.com or 508.255.6200.