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chapelhill.porchcommunities.org |
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The NC Huddle – April 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.
We have been sending out The Huddle for more than a year – we hope you've found it helpful! You can read past editions here.
In the first quarter of 2023, you collected $50,787 worth of non-perishable food. Thank you for your extraordinary efforts! We are so proud to have 120 active neighborhoods and 141 active NCs.
SURVEY RESULTS
Thirty-seven of you filled out our Neighborhood Coordinator survey earlier this year – we appreciate it! We gained so much from your insights.
The survey results showed that NCs get the most joy from: making a positive impact by helping food insecure families in the community; building relationships by doing hands-on work with friends and family for a common cause; spreading the word about PORCH and raising awareness about food insecurity; feeling that one is able to contribute to community in a meaningful way; reminding neighbors of donation days; and providing collection services.
Among your top challenges, according to the survey: trouble increasing participation; balancing between providing information to donors and respecting their time; inconsistent participation; the struggle to have one-on-one conversations in order to gain regular donations; lack of motivation of infrequent donors, especially in smaller neighborhoods; collecting during poor weather conditions.
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We have compiled your top tips into this document – please take a minute to look it over. You will learn a lot from your fellow NCs!
MAY DATES
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, May 21 (3-7 p.m.) and Monday, May 22 (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 May 15 and 19.
As always, if you are feeling discouraged that more neighbors aren't leaving non-perishables on their porch, remember that 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.
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. Community support helps us sustain – and expand – our efforts to fight hunger in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
– 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 520 families (over 2,150 individuals and 1,250 children) 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 120 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.
– Food for Thought, our advocacy program, raises awareness about food insecurity, calls attention to the intersectionality of food insecurity and poverty, and strives to engage the community in grassroots, as well as systemic, solutions to address hunger.
– If a workplace or community organization wants to host a food drive for PORCH, it’s pretty easy! Find a list of our most needed items, a promotional flyer, and some instructions on our website.
– $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 $600 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!
Pamela Evers, Azalea Drive/Beechridge
Ada Wiltberger and Donna Evon, Carrboro Mill Village (helping Anne Glauber)
Heather Yeowell and Jennifer Gallagher, Oxbow Crossing
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Resources at Your Disposal
When you come to Extraordinary Ventures, be sure to check out our PORCH Swag and Resource Table. Our (free!) PORCH merchandise is designed to assist you in your role as NC so you can recruit and retain donors, communicate effectively, and thank your neighbors.
We have vinyl stickers, T-shirts, yard signs, yard sign toppers, postcards that allow you to introduce yourself as NC, thank you postcards, and car magnets. See photos of the available items.
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Additional Neighborhood Coordinators Wanted
We are seeking additional NCs throughout Chapel Hill and Carrboro, particularly in the Cates Farm and Wexford neighborhoods. If you know of someone outside of your neighborhood who may be well suited for the role of Neighborhood Coordinator, please send them a compelling note explaining why you do this work and how rewarded you feel by it. You can pass along the link to this page, which gets into the nuts and bolts of this work; it includes this handy video.
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It Takes a Village – and Ours Is Awesome!
– NCs Betty and Wade (pictured at far left) bring their big red truck to transport bags each month.
– NC Eileen (pictured at left) gave her neighbors Valentine bags to fill for PORCH in February. This initiative was hugely successful!
– We love this comment from NC Wendy:
“This role came about because my son (now in high school, but then in elementary school) was really upset by the idea that some children were hungry. This was a solution he readily took to and has been doing it ever since.”
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PO Box 16363
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
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