Free Food for Families in Need
Tax deductible
The founders of Good Neighbor Family Pantry began feeding the hungry in 2013 when a two farmers decided to band together to minimize waste and improve the availability of produce to those less fortunate.
By the summer of 2014, word had spread, and the need for larger equipment was critical. The farmers launched a massive public awareness campaign, including a crowd-funding effort. The community was so excited, they gathered over 250 sponsors in just 30 days, and raised over $32,000 in donated cash, materials, and volunteers. The support from the community allowed the group to fix the old equipment they were abusing, as well as purchase a dedicated truck and trailer, more than doubling the volume of food they could deliver, and a non-profit was formed.
The Good Neighbor Family Pantry, run by those same dedicated farmers, is now providing over 20,000 pounds of fruit, vegetables, and other food items, and feeding over 1,000 people per month. They have built relationships with over 20 local churches, rotary groups, and other nonprofit organizations to feed those that cannot make it to the farm, and give freely to other food banks every week.
One of the primary benefits of Good Neighbor Family Pantry is the efficiency with which it runs. The farmers who began it continue to dedicate countless hours to the cause, and their commitment to the community is obvious. The equipment, land-use, and time donated allows GNFP to continue to feed thousands without need for paid staff or leased space, but it is time to grow. The community is in need, and as hard as it is for us to ask for help, we cannot do this without help.
In any community, some have more time than money, others more money than time. Some can help fundraise, others volunteer on the farm, and others can afford to donate financially (whether that be through this venue, directly, or with the donation of tools, barter items, or skilled labor). We need all the help and support we can get, and appreciate anything and everything you can offer.
Below, you will find an outline for each project on the table for 2015, along with a cost estimate and brief benefit summary. Now we need YOUR help to spread the word, raise the funds, and find companies (and individuals) willing to get on board and help make this happen!
Your support and energy means more to this cause than you realize!
Box Truck Door ($2,700): Currently the truck we are using has no rear door. Installing a door would not only improve the obvious appearance of the vehicle and image of the organization as a whole, but improve food-safety and minimize risk of losing cargo. Additionally, a quality door will provide a surface on which to recognize sponsors and donors, increasing the funding, exposure, and food available to Good Neighbor Family Pantry’s “feed the world” campaign.
Box Truck Deck ($2,300): The box deck/floor of the current vehicle is deteriorating rapidly, and vendors have refused to load food because of the increased time it takes to hand-load (versus machine-load). Replacing the old plywood floor with decking will speed loading time, and expand the vendors with whom we can network, as well as make the conditions safer for volunteers who are loading and unloading.
Box Truck Decals ($4,250): The box truck currently is a faded white with paint touch-up and no branding/decals. Decals would radically improve the image and exposure of Good Neighbor Family Pantry, expanding both the number of families aware of our presence and services, and the number of vendors willing to contribute. A strategic, highly visible decal layout will also provide vendors and sponsors to purchase space to acknowledge their contributions, allowing GNFP to increase monthly support and self-sufficiency (passive fundraising).
Box Truck Lights ($675): Currently, the vehicles have no lights for loading and/or unloading. Loading floods would allow us to expand our winter services (currently limited by lack of daylight), and improve safety and efficiency in low-light conditions.
Disabled Citizen Transportation ($8,500): Limited street-side parking and steep slope currently limits our ability to provide services to the elderly, disabled, and less mobile community. A golf-cart or gator would allow us to post a volunteer at the road and transport people to and from the gleaning site, allowing people of all mobility statuses to receive the benefit of what we do.
Expanded Parking with ADA access ($23,700): The current lack of parking is our largest limiting factor. Additionally, the gleaning location is a good walk from the parking site, and cars often back up for blocks restricting traffic and limiting the number of people able to receive help. Our expanded parking area more than quadruples the “on-site” parking, and provides a loading site along the main road, which will cut the time it takes us to load/unload in half, and allow the community to receive benefits in a fraction of the time it takes now. This quick turn-around, coupled with the increase in parking space is projected to allow GNFP to serve over FIVE TIMES the number of people in the same period of time, as well as improve safety and allow easier access for the disabled, elderly, and individuals with limited mobility.
Produce Washing Station ($895): Produce and gleaned items from GNFP currently need to be taken “as is,” there are no washing facilities on-site. Washing stations will allow volunteers to clean and prepare boxes of produce for people unable to glean for themselves, resulting in more people being served, a higher percentage of the produce going to use, and a higher level of food safety
Refrigeration unit ($5,400): Currently GNFP does not have the ability to freeze or refrigerate beyond what fits in a camping cooler. This means that perishable items must be given away within the first few hours, and storing large donations is almost impossible. A refrigeration/freezing unit would allow GNFP to store large donations, making sure all families had the opportunity to receive benefits, even if they were not available that day/within the first few hours. Refrigeration/freezer units would also allow us to partner with larger sponsors, expanding the food selection and quality available to our community.
Freezer unit ($7,200): Currently GNFP does not have the ability to freeze or refrigerate beyond what fits in a camping cooler. This means that perishable items must be given away within the first few hours, and storing large donations is almost impossible. A refrigeration/freezing unit would allow GNFP to store large donations, making sure all families had the opportunity to receive benefits, even if they were not available that day/within the first few hours. Refrigeration/freezer units would also allow us to partner with larger sponsors, expanding the food selection and quality available to our community.
Emergency Food Pantry ($4,200): GNFP currently has volunteers willing to can, pressure can, dehydrate, and otherwise preserve food for families in need, but no place to store bulk items. An emergency food pantry would allow GNFP to store and stock large quantities of canned, dehydrated, and bulk food items, which would be available as “emergency food services” to families in crisis.
Unloading Equipment ($34,000): GNFP currently leases old farm equipment for loading and unloading. The older equipment has limited lift and unload capacity, and fails on a regular basis. Having a dedicated unloading machine would eliminate this time-consuming, and often dangerous issue, and allow for increased capacity, consistent schedule, and safe operation in all conditions
We have also discussed an unloading dock and expanded street-side parking, both of which are excited to implement in the future.
Again, thank you for your support-every bit helps!
By the summer of 2014, word had spread, and the need for larger equipment was critical. The farmers launched a massive public awareness campaign, including a crowd-funding effort. The community was so excited, they gathered over 250 sponsors in just 30 days, and raised over $32,000 in donated cash, materials, and volunteers. The support from the community allowed the group to fix the old equipment they were abusing, as well as purchase a dedicated truck and trailer, more than doubling the volume of food they could deliver, and a non-profit was formed.
The Good Neighbor Family Pantry, run by those same dedicated farmers, is now providing over 20,000 pounds of fruit, vegetables, and other food items, and feeding over 1,000 people per month. They have built relationships with over 20 local churches, rotary groups, and other nonprofit organizations to feed those that cannot make it to the farm, and give freely to other food banks every week.
One of the primary benefits of Good Neighbor Family Pantry is the efficiency with which it runs. The farmers who began it continue to dedicate countless hours to the cause, and their commitment to the community is obvious. The equipment, land-use, and time donated allows GNFP to continue to feed thousands without need for paid staff or leased space, but it is time to grow. The community is in need, and as hard as it is for us to ask for help, we cannot do this without help.
In any community, some have more time than money, others more money than time. Some can help fundraise, others volunteer on the farm, and others can afford to donate financially (whether that be through this venue, directly, or with the donation of tools, barter items, or skilled labor). We need all the help and support we can get, and appreciate anything and everything you can offer.
Below, you will find an outline for each project on the table for 2015, along with a cost estimate and brief benefit summary. Now we need YOUR help to spread the word, raise the funds, and find companies (and individuals) willing to get on board and help make this happen!
Your support and energy means more to this cause than you realize!
Box Truck Door ($2,700): Currently the truck we are using has no rear door. Installing a door would not only improve the obvious appearance of the vehicle and image of the organization as a whole, but improve food-safety and minimize risk of losing cargo. Additionally, a quality door will provide a surface on which to recognize sponsors and donors, increasing the funding, exposure, and food available to Good Neighbor Family Pantry’s “feed the world” campaign.
Box Truck Deck ($2,300): The box deck/floor of the current vehicle is deteriorating rapidly, and vendors have refused to load food because of the increased time it takes to hand-load (versus machine-load). Replacing the old plywood floor with decking will speed loading time, and expand the vendors with whom we can network, as well as make the conditions safer for volunteers who are loading and unloading.
Box Truck Decals ($4,250): The box truck currently is a faded white with paint touch-up and no branding/decals. Decals would radically improve the image and exposure of Good Neighbor Family Pantry, expanding both the number of families aware of our presence and services, and the number of vendors willing to contribute. A strategic, highly visible decal layout will also provide vendors and sponsors to purchase space to acknowledge their contributions, allowing GNFP to increase monthly support and self-sufficiency (passive fundraising).
Box Truck Lights ($675): Currently, the vehicles have no lights for loading and/or unloading. Loading floods would allow us to expand our winter services (currently limited by lack of daylight), and improve safety and efficiency in low-light conditions.
Disabled Citizen Transportation ($8,500): Limited street-side parking and steep slope currently limits our ability to provide services to the elderly, disabled, and less mobile community. A golf-cart or gator would allow us to post a volunteer at the road and transport people to and from the gleaning site, allowing people of all mobility statuses to receive the benefit of what we do.
Expanded Parking with ADA access ($23,700): The current lack of parking is our largest limiting factor. Additionally, the gleaning location is a good walk from the parking site, and cars often back up for blocks restricting traffic and limiting the number of people able to receive help. Our expanded parking area more than quadruples the “on-site” parking, and provides a loading site along the main road, which will cut the time it takes us to load/unload in half, and allow the community to receive benefits in a fraction of the time it takes now. This quick turn-around, coupled with the increase in parking space is projected to allow GNFP to serve over FIVE TIMES the number of people in the same period of time, as well as improve safety and allow easier access for the disabled, elderly, and individuals with limited mobility.
Produce Washing Station ($895): Produce and gleaned items from GNFP currently need to be taken “as is,” there are no washing facilities on-site. Washing stations will allow volunteers to clean and prepare boxes of produce for people unable to glean for themselves, resulting in more people being served, a higher percentage of the produce going to use, and a higher level of food safety
Refrigeration unit ($5,400): Currently GNFP does not have the ability to freeze or refrigerate beyond what fits in a camping cooler. This means that perishable items must be given away within the first few hours, and storing large donations is almost impossible. A refrigeration/freezing unit would allow GNFP to store large donations, making sure all families had the opportunity to receive benefits, even if they were not available that day/within the first few hours. Refrigeration/freezer units would also allow us to partner with larger sponsors, expanding the food selection and quality available to our community.
Freezer unit ($7,200): Currently GNFP does not have the ability to freeze or refrigerate beyond what fits in a camping cooler. This means that perishable items must be given away within the first few hours, and storing large donations is almost impossible. A refrigeration/freezing unit would allow GNFP to store large donations, making sure all families had the opportunity to receive benefits, even if they were not available that day/within the first few hours. Refrigeration/freezer units would also allow us to partner with larger sponsors, expanding the food selection and quality available to our community.
Emergency Food Pantry ($4,200): GNFP currently has volunteers willing to can, pressure can, dehydrate, and otherwise preserve food for families in need, but no place to store bulk items. An emergency food pantry would allow GNFP to store and stock large quantities of canned, dehydrated, and bulk food items, which would be available as “emergency food services” to families in crisis.
Unloading Equipment ($34,000): GNFP currently leases old farm equipment for loading and unloading. The older equipment has limited lift and unload capacity, and fails on a regular basis. Having a dedicated unloading machine would eliminate this time-consuming, and often dangerous issue, and allow for increased capacity, consistent schedule, and safe operation in all conditions
We have also discussed an unloading dock and expanded street-side parking, both of which are excited to implement in the future.
Again, thank you for your support-every bit helps!
Organizer
Tyler Boggs
Organizer
Sherwood, OR
Good Neighbor Family Pantry
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
