Our Place on Facebook!
Comments (1)New Our Place Board member Maryann McArdle has hit the ground running! Within hours of joining the Board, Maryann identified the next step in the process of accepting online donations and updated OP’s Facebook page. Now that’s a volunteer any organization would appreciate!
Please take a minute to become a fan of Our Place on Facebook!
Thank you!
Nan
Development Update
Our Place continues to enjoy the active and generous support of our community! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
1. Mark your calendars —> September 16th (2nd annual Our Place fiesta at Boccelli’s) & November 7th (always sold-out Empty Bowl dinner at Alysson’s Orchard)
2. Welcome Center hospitality fundraiser -–> Thanks to Grafton Cheese Company, Vermont Country Store, Drew’s Natural, the Vermont Foodbank, Dutton’s Farmstand, Allen Brothers, Discount Food Warehouse, and Mr. G’s for donations of food that permitted Our Place to welcome travelers into our beautiful state with quite the spread of Vermont-made food products. We also met our fundraising goal of $750.
3. New Stewardship Initiative —> In July, Our Place is unveiling a new initiative making it easier for people to team up with family, friend, or colleagues to serve as Our Place Stewards. Stay tuned!
4. Farmers Market —> Our Place will be collecting locally produced food at the Bellows Falls Farmers Market two Fridays per month beginning in July. Please be sure to stop by our colorful gazebo, say ‘hello’ and pick up a copy of our cook’s wishlist and a shopping bag to drop in our food collection bin on your way out. We LOVE supporting local growers and food producers in this way!!!! Win-win-win!!!!
5. 50-50 Raffle - Each year, Our Place raises $2500 through the sale of raffle tickets. Tickets are $20 each and only 250 will be sold between now and September 16th when the winning tickets will be drawn at the Fiesta. 50-50 is a bit of a misnomer in that you actually have five chances to win — 1st prize = $1000, 2nd & 3rd prizes = $500, and 4th & 5th = $250. Improve your chances by buying more than one! 
Tickets are available from any Board member, at the gazebo wherever you see it set up this summer, and at the center Monday-Friday.
That’s it for now! Again, thank you for your support!!!!
Scoop the Loop food drive / community walk!
Diane Harty, an Our Place Board member, is coordinating a new food drive / event to help fill the center’s relatively empty shelves in advance of the local harvest and summer giving period. Please participate!!!!
Basically, all you have to do is:
* show up by 9:50 or so on Saturday, May 22nd (raindate May 23rd) with some food for the food shelf
* choose to walk one of two routes – 2 miles or .8 miles
* join the right group and walk away
* enjoy ice cream, entertainment, great community spirit & individual / team awards upon return to Our Place!
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I’ll post the award categories as soon as they are finalized! Call 802-463-2217 for more info or email ourplace@sover.net.
People served in 2009
Total meals served: 7,348
(up 26% over 2008)
Total people served by food shelf: 3,922
(up 18% over 2008)
Development Update!
* Thanks to the generosity of the greater Bellows Falls community, Our Place exceeded our 2009 Project Feed the Thousands food and cash goals. You donated over 1,700 bags of food and nearly $10,000.
* Despite the state of the economy, 143 individuals, households, and organizations donated over $13,000 in response to our 2009 Holiday Appeal. Many of these contributions were made in memory or honor of community members.
* 2010 development priorities include developing co-marketing and sponsorship / stewardship opportunities and boosting visibility and outreach through the use of community media and web-based tools. Stay tuned!
Project Feed the Thousands – Update!
Wow! Thanks so much to everyone who has jumped in to get the local Project Feed the Thousands campaign benefiting Our Place off to a great start!
Would you believe that we already have reached our financial contributions goal!???
THANK YOU so much for your generosity! Our food drive coordination team will be meeting next week and we’ll decide then how best to proceed. Should we double down????
In the meanwhile, please feel free to be part of the excitement by contributing food. I noticed today that the only canned veggies on the shelf are diced tomatoes and peas so that’s an urgent need – green beans, corn, spaghetti sauce, carrots, etc. It’s all welcome!!!
Other items on the Our Place food shelf wishlist include:
- frozen fruits and veggies
- garlic, onions, winter squash, and other produce that can be stored
- canned meats (tuna, chicken, ham, etc)
- 100% fruit juice
- personal care items (TP, soap, shampoo/conditioner, razors, tampons)
- beans, peanut butter, jelly, healthy mac & cheese
- powdered milk
It’s EMPTY BOWL time!!!!
On November 1st, you know where to be, don’t you??????
Yup, Our Place’s annual Empty Bowl dinner at Alyson’s Orchards in Walpole!
Over 100 tickets already have been sold so it should be quite the party. Remember last year when Sharon Boccelli rocked the crowd by outbidding Ray Massucco on some politically-oriented chocolate? I actually hadn’t even begun working for Our Place (started the next day in fact) but remember thinking what a great event this is.
Here’s a photo from last year’s Empty Bowl dinner:
Auction Action!
Fiesta Fun!!!!
New Our Place Co-Chair Dan Davis addresses crowd
Board members Nancy Sargent & Patty Mark collect food & sell raffle tix
Dan & Our Place supporter Chris Curven & daughter raffling $2500
Fiesta guests & Our Place Board members
Part-time Cook Wanted!
Approximately 20 hours per week. Call Susan at 802-463-2217 for more details about the position. Send your cover letter and resume to Our Place – Job Search, PO Box 852, Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
Fiesta Time!!!!!!! Project Feed The Thousands kickoff – Sept 15th
Hello!
You are invited to the Our Place fiesta / open house on September 15th from 5-7 p.m. to kick off Project Feed The Thousands, our annual end-of-year food drive!!
The drop-in center’s doors will be open for tours of the kitchen, dining room, and food shelf.
Harvest Moon is providing a complimentary taco bar & will be serving margaritas, sangria, and beer at a cash bar.
We’ll be honoring some of those who make everything we do at Our Place possible and having a good ol’ time!
Please join us but RSVP 802-463-2217 so we can be sure to have enough food!
