2021 Winter Appeal
Debuting our new space
Did you catch our big news? If you attended our virtual fundraiser in September, or read our last newsletter, you’ve probably heard about CSC’s new, second location!
Our new Food Hub is already fully operational, distributing groceries to over 3,000 households a month. Based in an 8,000 square foot warehouse, the Food Hub gives us the opportunity to take in and store much more food, therefore reaching more neighbors who could benefit from free access to nourishing groceries, hygiene supplies, pet food, and more.
Next year, we intend to scale up our food program to serve 6,000 families, and that’s only the beginning. In the coming years, we’ll be able to reach thousands more.
While we are thrilled to be able to get more food to people who need it, it’s incredibly disheartening that this growth is necessary. In a country with so much wealth, something is wrong when so many people are still experiencing food insecurity, even after the government has increased social benefits in response to the pandemic.
When government aid isn’t enough
Every day we hear about people who are being left behind. For example, take Lou,* a dedicated CSC volunteer and recipient of CSC food deliveries. Lou, 61, was forced into early retirement a few years ago because of frequent, debilitating mini-strokes and associated chronic pain.
By heating her home with wood and not keeping a phone line, Lou pinches pennies to live off Social Security Disability, but after paying her mortgage, property tax, and basic utilities, she has only $5 left over each month. Meanwhile, Lou’s SNAP benefits (food stamps) recently increased from $35 to just $45 a month.
Lou can fill the gaps in her budget with CSC’s grocery deliveries. “CSC is just a lifesaver,” she says. “If you ask for something, they don’t make you feel bad about it. I ask for food and I have it in a day or two, it lasts two weeks, and even includes hygiene items that SNAP doesn’t cover.”
Lots of our neighbors have stories like Lou’s, and many face additional obstacles to food access that can compound on each other, from language barriers, to immigration status concerns, to limited transportation options. In the months to come, we’ll be reaching out to more people facing the toughest hurdles to food access, including immigrants, refugees, and people in rural communities.
Will you make a donation today, and help our food programs reach 6,000 people in 2022?
With thanks,
Debra Mason
Executive Director
P.S. If you’ve ever donated clothing to CSC, there’s a good chance Lou sorted and organized it. A self-described workaholic, it’s hard for her to sit idle even while in pain, but she would lose her SSD benefits if she took a paid job.
“When I first got sick, and you let me volunteer, it made me feel like I was still worth something,” she says. “I always want to do anything I can to help the Center.”
*Name changed for privacy.
Our deepest thanks to Classic Business Printing Services for donating paper, ink, and time for the physical version of this newsletter.