All,

Thanks to everyone who contributed! We are only $1755 away from our goal!! With the current match going on, that's $877 that we need to raise before 12/31! You are a part of more than 150 people who give an average of $100 each - what a powerful community! We'll be highlighting the fundraising campaign at this week's Green Market and we're confident that - thanks to all of you! - we'll make our goal/

The winter has brought some big changes. We're now at Neighbor's Together (kitty-corner across from the Phoenix Community Garden) where we have use of part of their basement to store pantry items and pack pantry and produce bags. We have a regular schedule of pantry items so that our elders get a carefully thought out mix of necessary items (this week it's eggs, butter, flour, and milk - other weeks it's beans, rice, honey, oats, peanut butter, pasta, and the like). We're getting great feedback from the elders, and they tell us that the produce and pantry items are very welcome. For some, our weekly delivery is the only fresh produce they get.

Our volunteers deliver groceries by foot, bike, and car. We each have a regular "route" and we see the same elders each week. This gives us a chance to say hello, check in, and make sure everyone is doing well. For me, it's one of the highlights of my week to be able to make these deliveries. 

Thanks to IOBY, we've been able to raise nearly $30,000. Since our costs are about $5,000 a month, this money will get us through June 2021. We're very hopeful that by then we will have enough people vaccinated against COVID-19 that this type of delivery won't be necessary. 

Thanks also to IOBY, we've gotten some incredible volunteers, who have helped us weigh out food, pack bags, and deliver the groceries. It's been so wonderful to see the community come together and to meet so many wonderful folks in the neighborhood. The volunteers show up whether it's 90 degrees or 30, and get done what needs getting done.

Our fearless leader, Marcia Denson (who is featured in the video with this campaign) continues to inspire, organize, and direct all of us each week. 

Thank you for all that you've done to make this work possible. They say that justice is what love looks like in public. Thanks for all the public love. 

Best,
Sharon

All,

Thank you SO MUCH for your donations to the Elder Box Program! Because of you, we are halfway to our goal! 

If you want to make your support go further, please encourage your friends to join this effort! Feel free to use the below social media post:

The Phoenix Community Garden Elder Box Program is a food security, mutual aid effort - we want our elders to know that they can rely on weekly fresh produce. Help us raise the funds to keep providing fresh produce to our community elders through Spring 2021. The pandemic isn’t going anywhere - but neither are we! RIGHT NOW we have the chance to MATCH EVERY DONATION dollar for dollar. $15 becomes $30 and $30 becomes $60! Help us get the word out!! Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/ElderBox

Thanks again for all that you do for the community!