Bruce Hill, a volunteer for the Jaffrey Historical Society and the Jaffrey Center Village Improvement Society, was researching the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States when he came across a website about “America’s Potluck.”
The national initiative invites communities across the country to mark the July 4th semiquincentennial with a shared meal — and Hill saw an immediate fit for Jaffrey.
“It’s very unifying that towns and villages all over the country will be doing the same thing at the same time,” Hill said. “The thing that struck me right away was the logo — it’s appropriate for anywhere in the U.S. We’re keeping it very simple. I knew it was something that the Historical Society and the Village Improvement Society could work together, because we have the same mission of preserving Jaffrey history.”
The potluck will take place on Sunday, July 5 at from 4 to 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Jaffrey Civic Center at 40 Main St.
“It’s a true potluck,” said co-organizer Toni Gildone, president of the Jaffrey Center Village Improvement Society. “People can bring whatever they want — we’re not organizing that in any way. We’re just trusting the process.”
Hill said the event will be a true gathering of community.
“We don’t have any agenda, there won’t be any speeches,” he said. “This is truly just an opportunity for the community to come together — to share food together, and maybe to try new things, some diverse and interesting food, to have conversations, and hopefully to meet new people, maybe discover new neighbors. It’s all about bringing people together as we celebrate 250 years as a nation.”
Participants in the potluck should bring their own beverages, along with a dish to share. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at the event.
Hill, Gildone, and Peter Lambert of the Jaffrey Historical Society were the “three spokes of the wheel” that got the potluck underway.
“When Bruce brought it up, we really jumped on the idea of having a 250th potluck. We thought it was a really wonderful idea bringing everyone together. It’s very grassroots. We did not want to spend a lot of money, and we wanted to be part of the whole nation’s celebration,” Gildone said.
Gildone, Lambert and Hill reached out to Jaffrey nonprofits and community leaders for support, and ended up with a long list of sponsors, including Jaffrey Civic Center, the Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary Club, the Jaffrey Woman’s Club, the First Church of Jaffrey, the United Church of Jaffrey, the Jaffrey VFW, Belletete’s Inc., Marc Teiger, the Thorndike Club and the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce.
“We sat down and decided how we would make this happen, and we started reaching out to other groups in the community,” Gildone said. “Each sponsor is going to bring whatever they have as far as plates and napkins and cups, and we’ll just have that. We’re not going to spend a bunch of money on matching plates; it’s truly grassroots and truly a community effort. Our sponsors are providing tents, tables, chairs, and everything we need.”
The event will include live music.
America’s Potluck originated with the State of Utah’s 250th Commission and has expanded to every state in the union.
Hill said in checking the national website for America’s Potluck, the Jaffrey event is one of only three in the entire state. Andover and Keene are also hosting potlucks.
“We are the only one in our part of the state,” Hill said. “We’re pretty excited to make this happen, and we hope everyone will come be a part of it.”
For more information about America’s Potluck in Jaffrey, search for the event on Facebook.