Today we introduce you to our newest grantee—and ask for your help in making its mission a success!
The new grantee is Wholesome Riches, which distributes food to neighbors at Camden public school sites. In addition to food, Wholesome Riches offers mentorships for young people and crisis intervention services for families.
How you can help: volunteer to prepare and distribute bags of food at Veterans Memorial Family School in the Cramer Hill section of Camden on Monday, July 24, 8:30 am to 12 pm.
One of the things we love about Wholesome Riches is that it engages students and families from the host schools—along with other kind-hearted people like you—as volunteers. During summer vacation, students are less likely to show up. That’s why the families who rely on Wholesome Riches particularly need your help!
Wholesome Riches asked the Domenica Foundation to adopt one school site. We chose Veterans because it’s located in a high-need neighborhood. Many clients are immigrants with small children. Most walk to the site.
“We thought our funding could have the most impact at Veterans,” said Elena Piperno, Domenica Foundation director. “We can strengthen operations in many ways, such as purchasing foldable shopping carts so families who walk to the site can transport their food home.”
Last year, Wholesome Riches distributed food to 35,000 people. This year, with our help, it plans to reach 50,000 adults and children. It also facilitates student service-learning projects, offers family support groups, and distributes gifts at Christmas.
As part of the process of deciding on the Wholesome Riches grant application, Elena visited one of its sites last spring. “I was impressed with the entire operation,” she said, “but particularly with the way staff and volunteers treated guests. They knew many guests by name, and they treated all of them with love and respect.”
You can be one of those loving volunteers! Join us on July 24 at Veterans Memorial Family School, 800 North 26th Street, Camden, NJ. If you can, reply to this email to let us know you’re interested.
If you can’t come on July 24, how about August 28? We’ll be there every fourth Monday, helping to distribute food to Cramer Hill neighbors. Helping others is a deeply rewarding experience. If you volunteer once, you’ll want to do it again!