‘Picnic for Sunday Suppers’ Fundraiser
August Fundraiser – A Picnic for Sunday SuppersBoard members and project organizers Helen Nadel and Karen Shore, along with the Co-op staff, threw a fundraising picnic BBQ to benefit the Co-op’s outreach programs:
Background
The Swarthmore Co-op has a rich history of serving the community, and is uniquely positioned to house outreach projects to increase food access for people in need.
Many in our community – including Swarthmore, Wallingford, and surrounding neighborhoods – do not have access to fresh, healthy foods on a regular basis. They may be elderly and homebound, low-income (including families with young children), or facing illness or disability. For example, about 10% of students in the district qualify for free or reduced lunch, and this area is home to many elderly residents who may have difficulty shopping for or cooking homemade meals.
On Sundays, the Co-op closes at 7 p.m., leaving the kitchen free for community service projects. This spring, the Co-op’s Education Committee piloted ‘Sunday Suppers,’ a project involving 8 adult volunteers who cooked and delivered 4-5 meals to 10 low-income or homebound seniors. We received great feedback from food recipients – who benefited from delicious, nutrient-rich, homemade meals that supported health – and volunteers, who cultivated a sense of service through cooking together for others in need.
To continue this project and the others currently in development, we need funding!
On-going Funding
Initial funds came from the organizers’ own pockets. Our late-summer fundraiser will allow the cash infusion we need for Education Committee to offer monthly outreach projects for the coming year. Cooking classes and food-related workshops and tours will provide small but critical on-going funds.
Projects are staffed solely by volunteers. The Co-op provides food at cost, estimated at $120 for 12 recipients to receive 3-4 meals.