<div>Hello everyone!
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<div>My name is Sterling, and last year, my best friends Ethan and Madhav and I started <strong>Common Grounds, a completely student-run nonprofit making meals for the food insecure and homeless in London.</strong> Thanks to your incredible support, what began as weekend sandwich-making sessions in our apartment has grown into something we never imagined possible.
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<div>We’re back today not just to ask for your continued support, but to share <strong>how far we’ve come and where we’re headed next.</strong>
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<div>We started Common Grounds after seeing London’s <strong>severe food insecurity and homelessness crisis</strong>. The numbers tell a stark story:
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<ul>
<li>Since 2022, <strong>food insecurity rates have doubled</strong>
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<li>As of 2024, <strong>28.2% of the Middlesex-London region faces household food insecurity</strong> (<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/Data-and-Analysis/Health-Equity/Household-Food-Insecurity" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Public Health Ontario</a> )
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<li>As of March 31, 2025, <strong>nearly 2,000 experience homelessness</strong> - a number that’s grown by <strong>400 people just since January.</strong>
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<div>These numbers are overwhelming, but they remind us why this work matters. <strong>Since our last campaign,</strong> we’ve been able to grow Common Grounds in ways we’re proud of:
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<li><strong>2,346 sandwiches</strong> <strong>delivered</strong> to the London community
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<li>Partnerships with <strong>6 local organizations</strong> across the city (wonderful organizations such as the <a href="https://arkaidmission.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ark Aid Mission</a>, <a href="https://mysistersplace.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My Sisters’ Place</a>, <a href="https://unityproject.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Unity Project</a>)
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<li><strong>Cut our cost per sandwich in half </strong>from $1.40 to $0.70 through wholesale partnerships
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<li>Grown our volunteer base to <strong>30+ amazing students</strong> who kindly give their Saturday and Sunday mornings to this cause
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<div>Building on last year, <strong>we’re aiming higher. </strong>For the 2025-2026 season, our goals are to:
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<ul>
<li>Deliver our <strong>5,000th meal</strong>
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<li><strong>Expand donations beyond sandwiches </strong>with soups, fresh fruit, pasta, and care packages (clothing, blankets, hygiene supplies)
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<li><strong>Secure sustainable ingredient sources and reduce costs </strong>- with the long-term goal of bringing the cost per sandwich as close to <strong>$0 as possible</strong>
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<li><strong>Strengthen existing partnerships, and establish new ones</strong> to reach more people across London
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</ul>
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<div>This year, our primary mission is to <strong>build sustainability</strong>. While we’ve cut costs in half, <strong>our goal is to eliminate them entirely.</strong> To get there, we’re working on long-term solutions that will keep Common Grounds alive past our time as students. This year, that translates to:
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<li><strong>Partnering with local suppliers and organizations </strong>to secure reliable, low-cost, and ideally donated or rescued ingredients
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<li><strong>Exploring grants and partnerships </strong>that reduce our dependence on fundraisers
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<li><strong>Securing access to an expanded space</strong> so we can prepare meals at larger scales
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</ul>
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<div><strong>But in the meantime, community donations are what keeps us going week after week. </strong>Every single dollar goes directly into ingredients, and just <strong>$0.70 covers the cost of one sandwich.</strong>
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<div>Whether you’re <strong>donating for the first time or continuing your support,</strong> your contribution helps us<strong> feed more people, partner with new organizations, and grow this little initiative we started last year into something lasting. </strong>And if donating isn’t possible, <strong>sharing our story with friends and family </strong>makes a tremendous difference too!
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<div>Thank you again for being part of this journey with us. We’re so excited go further :)
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Help us continue making sandwiches for the homeless

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