For two weeks, WSM asked shoppers to donate bags of fresh produce for neighbors in need. More than 2,500 shoppers responded with a resounding, “YES!” The food campaign yielded $31,000 in donations, which exceeded our ambitious goal of 1,000 bags of produce. The donated produce will go to PORCH’s Food for Families program, which provides a week’s worth of groceries to local families at risk for hunger.
Organizers and volunteers at PORCH were overjoyed at the outpouring of donations from WSM shoppers. At WSM, we set the goal high because we believed the campaign would resonate with our owners. Our shoppers expressed appreciation for the opportunity to donate fresh produce in addition to the non-perishable items collected by the PORCH neighborhoods.
The results necessitated some logistical adjustments. Rather than receiving the $60,000 worth of produce and eggs all at one, PORCH requested that WSM purchase and deliver the donated produce to 100 of the PORCH families over a 10-month period. The first delivery is scheduled for March 25. WSM owners and PORCH volunteers will meet once a month, beginning March24, to sort and box the produce and prepare it for delivery to the PORCH pick-up sites.
The PORCH food campaign is the first of four campaigns through WSM’s new Community Food Partnerships. The next food campaign (starting May 20th) will feature Summer TABLE, a program that provides weekly nutritious food to the kids at risk for hunger during the summer months when they are not receiving school meals.
Click here to read about volunteer opportunities with our Community Food Partners.
Please contact Brenda Camp at brenda.c@weaverstreetmarket.coop with questions or for additional information.