A CUP OF KINDNESS

On New Year’s Eve, Auld Lang Syne rang out, which literally translated, is “old long since.” The lyrics are by Scottish poet Robert Burns. He describes friends reminiscing with satisfaction and regret. So, friends, we reminisce at the start of a new year, with satisfaction and regret.

In 2025, BPNN continued to play a vital role by serving more neighbors than ever before, opening a new building addition, and expanding services. We share great satisfaction that our marvelous community supports this vital work. We share great regret that BPNN is needed.

How wonderful it would have been to awaken on January 1, 2026, to news that food insecurity was solved! Everyone would have enough. Children would not go hungry. But we live in the real world, where children suffer pangs of hunger and parents lack resources to feed them, where injustice is visited disproportionately on the poor, and where we fight long odds to help.

Let’s welcome 2026, our 40th year in operation, with renewed, clear-eyed vigor, knowing that what we do matters, that we must do it because it is the right thing to do, and that we gain something, too, by helping our neighbors. Auld Lang Syne proclaims, “We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet.” Fill 2026 for you and yours with cups of kindness, and may we all continue to bring cups (and grocery bags) of kindness and social justice to our neighbors. Thank you for all you do.

Happy New Year!