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chapelhill.porchcommunities.org |
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The NC Huddle – January 2023 |
Hello!
Welcome to PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro's quarterly message that we send to all Neighborhood Coordinators (NCs), hoping that it will provide support and inspiration for the incredible work that you do.
In 2022, you collected approximately $190,900 worth of non-perishable food. Thank you for your extraordinary efforts! We are so proud to have 115 active neighborhoods and 141 active NCs.
Here are this edition's helpful hints and updates:
– We encourage you to fill out this brief survey, exclusively for NCs. Let us know if you'd want to take part in Zoom forums, allowing NCs to share advice and tips; let us know if you'd be interested in a mentorship program; describe what you love most about your role and which areas require a bit more support. This feedback will be invaluable as we strive to offer you more resources.
– Feeling discouraged that more neighbors aren't leaving non-perishables on their porch? Remember, your communications might be prompting them to give a financial gift to PORCH, which is amazing! At the very least, you are keeping our organization and our mission top of mind, which greatly benefits those we serve in the long run.
– With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, consider attaching a piece of chocolate to a personalized postcard to let a neighbor know that the February collection dates are coming up. This is an especially good idea if you reached out to a neighbor once but quite a lot of time has lapsed since. Reconnect! Now may be the time for them to start participating! This is also a kind way to reach out to someone who has recently moved into your neighborhood.
– Have you ever thought of creating an online registry through a major grocery retailer like Target? Neighbors – or even friends who aren't local – can shop for requested items like rice and dried pasta and ship these items right to your door in advance of PORCH week! The PORCH Communities blog offers more information about this method, which could nicely supplement your monthly porch pickups.
– We can help you put a QR code on your neighborhood signs that will allow neighbors to fill out a form if they want to connect with you to learn more about PORCH. If you are interested in this, let us know by emailing chc@porchcommunities.org.
– We have created a library of past editions of The Huddle and placed it on our website, in case you want to go back and review prior tips and tricks.
– Are you taking part in our Food for Thought advocacy program? It takes less than five minutes to write a postcard while you are at Extraordinary Ventures. The message on the postcard changes each month depending on current events or pieces of legislation; it will be sent to one to three elected officials. We encourage you to participate often! Let our legislators know we are paying attention and insist they enact policies that prioritize our most vulnerable neighbors. Plus, help us grow our advocacy program by letting your neighbors know they can write postcards from the comfort of home. To participate, email Kathy Hohneker at khohnekr@gmail.com to let her know how many of your neighbors would like to join in. We’ll then prepare packets with the postcards, scripted messages, stamps, and mailing labels. Packets can be picked up at Extraordinary Ventures when you drop off bags of food, and then delivered to your neighbors’ porches. Neighbors simply write their postcards and drop them in the mail. For more information about our growing advocacy program – and to see the messaging for February – go to our Food for Thought page.
– Keep in mind that you can drop off food donations on Sundays from 3 to 7 p.m. at Extraordinary Ventures. In fact, getting donations on Sunday really helps us get the non-perishables sorted early so we can plan for how much food we can pack in our Food For Families bags! Sunday won’t work? No problem! Drop off from 8 to 10 a.m. on Mondays. A reminder that the next drop-off dates are Sunday, Feb. 12 (3-7 p.m.) and Monday, Feb. 13 (8-10 a.m.). We will send an email reminding you of these dates (and linking to our monthly message so that you can forward that to your contacts) on Feb. 6 and 10.
As always, if you are interested in scheduling a one-on-one consultation with our team to discuss ways you can enhance your neighborhood’s PORCH activities, please email us at chc@porchcommunities.org. We’d be happy to brainstorm with you! Thank you for all you do for PORCH!
Best,
The PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro Team
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PORCH Fact Sheet
Here are some key facts and statistics about PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro that you may want to pass along to donors and potential donors as you share our mission and correspond about upcoming collection dates:
– In 2023, we are seeing a record need in our community, as evidenced by the waitlist for our programs. We are also serving more local pantries than ever. Community support helps us sustain – and expand – our efforts to fight hunger in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
– In 2022, thanks to our incredible donors, our Food for Pantries program provided 2,150 bags of food – with an estimated value of $43,000 – to 13 local pantries. We look forward to growing this program in 2023!
– We provide fresh food, too! Once a month, enrollees in our Food for Families program each receive 35-40 pounds of produce such as potatoes, green beans, apples, broccoli, zucchini, sweet potatoes, onions, and peppers, along with eggs, milk, and non-perishable items. More than 500 families (over 2,100 individuals) are enrolled, having been identified as being especially at risk of hunger by school social workers in Chapel Hill and Carrboro. They also receive grocery gift cards, providing them the dignity of choice.
– Among our 200 monthly volunteers are fantastic interpreters who assist with communicating with our families in Spanish, Burmese, and Karen.
– We currently have about 115 active neighborhoods around Chapel Hill and Carrboro contributing non-perishable food each month. Plus, many civic groups, places of worship, workplaces, schools, etc. hold one-time or annual food drives that generate many bags of non-perishables.
– $15 provides milk and eggs to two families; $25 provides a grocery gift card for one family; $50 provides 9 days’ worth of fresh food for one family; $300 provides produce for a family for six months; and $900 provides a year supply of produce for a family.
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Meet Your Fellow NCs
The following NCs – and neighborhoods – have come on board in recent months. We are so glad to have them as part of this stellar team!
Amy Cook, Ironwoods
Poonam Pande, Providence Glen
Andrew Rinehart, Lake Hogan Farms - Longmeadow Area
Toby Weber, Englewood
Laura Weisbein, Lake Hogan Farms - Dairy Court
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Spread the Word About These Upcoming Fundraisers
– Eat at Shake Shack in Chapel Hill on Jan. 28 and support PORCH! Use the code DONATIONDAY25 on the Shake Shack ordering app or mention that you are there to support the PORCH fundraiser at checkout – 25 percent of your purchase will go to PORCH.
– When you shop at Weaver Street Market between now and Jan. 31, round up to the next nearest dollar to support PORCH! This fundraiser has already raised more than $39,000 for us since it began in November. We'd love to get to $50,000 in the remaining days.
– On March 1, The Carolina Club's Pasta with a Purpose series will raise funds for PORCH. Enjoy $14 all-you-can-eat pasta, and $11 will benefit our non-profit. You do not need to be a member of The Carolina Club to participate. We will share details on our social media channels in the coming weeks, but for now – save the date!
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It Takes a Village – and Ours Is Awesome!
– Curt McLaughlin (pictured at far left) gathered so much food from his friends and neighbors in Carol Woods in December that he needed to make two trips to deliver it all!
– NC Tabitha Elien and her son Joshua (pictured at left) collected food for PORCH as they trick or treated!
– We recently received this lovely note from a donor and wanted to share:
"Every year, instead of buying Christmas presents for my family members, I make donations to local charities. We are very fortunate and want for nothing. At a time when so many struggle to put food on their table, I am more than happy to make this donation. My actions have spurred other family members to make donations to local charities instead of buying gifts. Thanks for all of your hard work."
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PO Box 16363
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
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