CMI May News: Catastrophe & Resilience
Building Wealth & Wellness in West Virginia with WV-grown Food.
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Terminated with No Warning!
In under 48 hours Community Markets Inc. shrunk from a team of six to a team of just one – me! Back to where we started over four years ago. Our four AmeriCorps Members were terminated with no warning and our Program Manager Ellie parted with CMI on good terms, all within two days – Catastrophe!!
Fortunately, many volunteers have stepped up to fill in the capacity gaps left in the wake of these changes, many donors have contributed much-needed funds, and many people have called to see how I’m doing, asking how they can help. I am deeply grateful for and indebted to so many of you during this difficult transition – you know who you are!
I’m happy to say that we haven’t missed a beat of programming or impact since the AmeriCorps cuts – and that’s a testimony to the strength of our community rallying around ensuring that every West Virginian can access healthy and affordable food grown by local farmers.
In over four years we’ve been growing much more than just the size of our team; an entire network of volunteers, partner organizations, donors, advocates, and friends have rallied around CMI and multiplied the impact that our little nonprofit is making daily in the lives of underserved families and local farmers. This is community resilience in the face of catastrophe. With your help, Resilience is part of who we are at Community Markets Inc.
Thank you for being part of this!
As we regroup internally at CMI, I’m pleased to welcome former AmeriCorps VISTA Member Maria Resendiz as our full time Development Manager. Maria did an excellent job as CMI’s Fundraising Specialist in her six months as an AmeriCorps, raising over $130,000 in half a year. There was no question of whether to keep her on after her AmeriCorps contract was terminated. We also are welcoming Abigail McBee, a well known name in our region, on a part time basis as well as considering adding some others to CMI’s Team on a part time basis. Look for more info on this in an upcoming press release.
Our community’s hungry families and local farmers need our continued support! Can you help?
- Volunteer! Contact Our Team for ongoing opportunities. We need everything from Market help to Drivers to Office Volunteers to Food Box Giveaway packers and everything in between! Volunteer Today!
- Donate! Please Become a Monthly Donor if you’re able to. Even $5, $10, $25 per month makes a difference! Donate Today!
- Spread the Word! A quick forward of this email or sharing our posts on social media goes a long way!Subscribe to CMI’s Newsletter!
I am very grateful for each one of you reading this!
Keep Growing,
Mark Peiffer, RPO Operations Manager
At a Glance:
April & Cumulative Impact
- In April alone, CMI fed over 900 people with 7,000 lbs. of healthy food and paid local producers a fair price for their goods totaling $31,000!
- In two & a half years, Community Markets Inc. has fed 13,200 people in 10 WV counties with 139,200 lbs. of healthy & locally-sourced food and put over $352,300 back into farmers and small family business owners’ pockets.
News Briefs
- April proved to be a challenging month for CMI. Cuts to the AmeriCorps VISTA program meant we lost our four VISTA’s overnight, leaving a huge hole in operations.
- CMI also said goodbye to Ellie George, our Program Manager. Thank you for your nearly two years of service to our community through CMI!
We wish her the best in her future endeavors!
We moved! In case you missed it, Community Markets Inc. recently moved from our office in Charles Town to office space in Shepherdstown within the Flowing Springs Professional Center at Covenant Church! Come visit us and say hello!
Please note our new physical address and mailing address:
Upcoming Events
Our upcoming Food Box Giveaway will be on Saturday, May 17th at the Ranson Health and Wellness Fair. As always, we could use YOUR help! If you can volunteer and help us feed families in need, reach out!
- The St. Isidore Market continues to operate! Place your preorders by Tuesday at Noon the week of the Market, and then swing by to pick up your fresh, local groceries!
The money we raise through our mobile markets goes back into feeding those in need who can’t shop for healthy & local food!
Shop Local & Affordable Groceries Now.
SNAP EBT accepted!
Donate
Community Markets Inc. (“CMI”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Shepherdstown, WV whose mission is to connect locally grown food to families in need.
www.communitymarketsinc.org