A Love Letter To November.
Founder Notes
This November feels unlike any other. To me, it’s the August of fall, a time filled with anticipation, reflection, and quiet transition. But this year carries a different weight. There’s a tension in the air, a reminder that while the world keeps moving, many are carrying more than they can hold.
The economy is in shambles. Elders are losing benefits, copays are rising, and families are doing their best to make ends meet. Even when these challenges don’t touch us directly, they ripple through our communities. We’re all connected, and at any point, it could be any one of us who needs a little extra care.
Before I’m a business owner, I’m a neighbor, a sister, a daughter, a friend, a girlfriend. I hold space for joy and truth at the same time. I love the beauty this season brings, the gatherings, the colors, the sense of calm, but I also want to acknowledge the collective heaviness many are feeling right now.
Even when these challenges don’t touch us directly, they ripple through our communities. We’re all connected, and at any point, it could be any one of us who needs a little extra care.
This month I’ll be hosting a free in-person workshop at the studio, an intimate roundtable to connect, learn, and ground together. We’ll spend time exploring crystals that support emotional steadiness and grounding during uncertain times. Honestly, it’s really just an excuse to spend time with you all. So many of us have connected through the store and now the studio, and those shared moments always feel needed.
In this month’s letter, I’ll also be including a list of local food pantries across New York and New Jersey. Inflation and rising costs are touching everyone in one way or another. Even if we’re not directly affected, someone close to us might be. Support looks different for everyone. It might mean donating, sharing resources, cooking for a neighbor, picking up a prescription, or sending a friend lunch. When you feel that quiet nudge to check in on someone, follow it. Those small gestures go farther than we think.
This month isn’t just about getting through. It’s about remembering our humanity. The heart of November is compassion for others, for ourselves, and for the world as it is, while still holding hope for what it can become
The heart of November is compassion for others, for ourselves, and for the world as it is, while still holding hope for what it can become
Overall Energy
November carries a quiet but powerful energy. It doesn’t rush or demand attention. It moves with steady purpose and invites us to slow down, to really see one another, and to move with softness.
This is a time to return to what matters most. To nurture meaningful exchanges, to rest honestly, and to approach productivity with gentleness. The world may feel heavy, but we can lighten it by caring in small, consistent ways.
Beneath the surface there is a creative pulse. In uncertain times, creation becomes a form of hope. Whether through cooking, journaling, designing, or dreaming, making something with your hands and heart can bring grounding and quiet clarity.
Beneath the surface there is a creative pulse. In uncertain times, creation becomes a form of hope. Whether through cooking, journaling, designing, or dreaming, making something with your hands and heart can bring grounding and quiet clarity.
Mind & Body
Our minds are overstimulated by constant change, and our bodies often carry the stress without our consent. November invites us to regulate both. Take a deep breath before you react. Step outside for five minutes when the noise feels too loud. Nourish your body with foods that feel warm and grounding such as soups, teas, roasted vegetables, and whole grains.
Rest is not laziness this month. It is preparation. Give yourself permission to pause and recalibrate before winter. Your body knows when it needs stillness; your mind only needs to listen.
Create small moments of care that keep you centered. Minimize distractions while you eat, journal with your morning coffee, or call someone you love instead of sending a quick text.
Rest is not laziness this month. It is preparation. Give yourself permission to pause and recalibrate before winter. Your body knows when it needs stillness; your mind only needs to listen.
Rest is not laziness this month. It is preparation. Give yourself permission to pause and recalibrate before winter. Your body knows when it needs stillness; your mind only needs to listen.
Journal Prompts & Questions
1. Where can I offer support to my community, even in small ways?
2. How can I stay grounded while the world around me shifts?
3. What creative act helps me reconnect with hope or calm?
4. In what ways do I measure abundance outside of money or success?
5. Who in my life could use a little extra care or encouragement this month?
6. How can I balance awareness of the world’s heaviness with gratitude for what is still good?
7. What does generosity look like for me right now, emotionally, energetically, or financially?
This list of pantries is a wonderful place to start, but the most meaningful way to give often begins close to home, by sharing with neighbors, friends, or those in your own community when the need arises. These pantries can serve as additional points of support, helping others beyond your immediate circle, while the heart of generosity lives in the care you offer directly where you are.
NEW JERSEY PANTRIES (HUDSON COUNTY)
Hoboken Community Center Pantry
Address: 1301 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Hoboken Community Center +1
Description: Offers supplemental food, hygiene, and pet supplies for the community. Hoboken Community Center +1
Drop-off for donations: Thursdays 9-11 a.m. at side entrance. Hoboken Community Center
Food Pantry at Hoboken Grace Church
Address: 400 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Hoboken Grace Church +1
Notes: Provides weekly food distributions, produce, and pantry staples. Open to all residents of Hoboken. Hoboken Grace Church +1
Salvation Army – Union City Food Pantry
Address: 515 43rd Street, Union City, NJ 07087. Lemontree +1
Notes: Weekly pantry distribution (groceries) at ~9 a.m. Tuesdays. Lemontree +1
Brian P. Stack Civic Association Food Pantry
Address: 811 West Street, Union City, NJ. guttenbergnj.org +1
Hours: Wednesdays 4–6 p.m. (first 200 families) guttenbergnj.org +1
Palisades Emergency Residence Corporation (PERC) Food Pantry
Address: 111 37th Street, Union City, NJ 07087. thepercshelter.org +1
Hours: Open to public with registration; supports individuals and families in crisis. thepercshelter.org +1
Our Lady of Sorrows / Mary House Emergency Food Pantry
Address: 93 Clerk Street, Jersey City, NJ 07305. Our Lady of Sorrows +1
Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Our Lady of Sorrows
Note: Emergency food pantry for individuals/families in urgent need. Our Lady of Sorrows
Christ the King Food Pantry
Address: 768 Ocean Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304. ccannj.org
Schedule: Tuesday & Thursday 10 a.m.–12 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–12 p.m. ccannj.org
Mercy House Jersey City Food Pantry
Address: 20 Greenville Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07305. ccannj.org
Hours: Monday & Thursday 11 a.m.–4 p.m. ccannj.org
Our Lady of Fatima Food Pantry
Address: 8101 Kennedy Blvd., North Bergen, NJ 07047. ccannj.org
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m & 1 p.m.–5 p.m. ccannj.org
NEW YORK PANTRIES (5 BOROUGHS)
Manhattan
City Harvest – Manhattan Food Pantries
Address: Various locations throughout Manhattan. cityharvest.org +1
Notes: Offers fresh produce, pantry staples, and prepared meals. Open to all NYC residents. cityharvest.org +1
God’s Love We Deliver – Manhattan Pantry
Address: 166 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013. glwd.org +1
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. glwd.org
Note: Provides medically tailored meals for individuals living with serious illnesses. glwd.org +1
Urban Outreach Center Food Pantry
Address: 44 West 126th Street, New York, NY 10027. urbanoutreach.org +1
Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. urbanoutreach.org
Note: Weekly pantry providing groceries and essential items to Harlem residents. urbanoutreach.org +1
Brooklyn
FoodBank for NYC – Brooklyn Pantry
Address: 388 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217. foodbanknyc.org +1
Notes: Distributes pantry staples, fresh produce, and prepared meals. Open to all residents. foodbanknyc.org +1
Brooklyn Rescue Mission Pantry
Address: 30-10 Crescent Street, Brooklyn, NY 11208. brooklynrescuemission.org +1
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. brooklynrescuemission.org
Note: Provides groceries and essential items for low-income families. brooklynrescuemission.org +1
St. Francis Food Pantries – Brooklyn
Address: 1051 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11216. stfrancisbrooklyn.org +1
Hours: Wednesday & Saturday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. stfrancisbrooklyn.org
Note: Offers supplemental groceries to families in need. stfrancisbrooklyn.org +1
Queens
Queens Community House – Food Pantry
Address: 108-25 62nd Drive, Forest Hills, NY 11375. queenscommunityhouse.org +1
Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. queenscommunityhouse.org
Note: Provides pantry staples and fresh produce to Queens residents. queenscommunityhouse.org +1
NYC Rescue Mission – Queens Pantry
Address: 86-20 102nd Street, Queens, NY 11416. nycrescuemission.org +1
Hours: Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–3 p.m. nycrescuemission.org
Note: Weekly grocery distribution and emergency food assistance. nycrescuemission.org +1
Bronx
BronxWorks – Food Pantry
Address: 590 Exterior Street, Bronx, NY 10451. bronxworks.org +1
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. bronxworks.org
Note: Offers groceries, fresh produce, and hygiene supplies to Bronx residents. bronxworks.org +1
Food Pantry at St. Ann’s Church
Address: 2315 Webster Avenue, Bronx, NY 10457. stannbronx.org +1
Hours: Wednesday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. stannbronx.org
Note: Provides supplemental food for families in need. stannbronx.org +1
Staten Island
Staten Island Food Bank
Address: 130 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301. silb.org +1
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. silb.org
Note: Weekly distributions of groceries and pantry staples. silb.org +1
SI Alliance Against Hunger Food Pantry
Address: 2365 Richmond Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10314. sihungeralliance.org +1
Hours: Thursday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. sihungeralliance.org
Note: Emergency food assistance and community food programs. sihungeralliance.org +1
