strong ‹‹ HOPE & RESILIENCE
cards for grocery stores to generate revenues for their ministries and charitable efforts. The churches make a percentage profit off the sale of each card. Group member Chris Janelle suggested that there should be a connection between the purchase of the gift cards from churches and the nonprofits in the community that distribute grocery store gift cards to families and individuals. From there, Our Shared Plate was born. I had started a nonprofit organization in late 2019 but not yet launched it, so that 501(c)(3) provided the perfect vehicle to accept tax-deductible donations from the community and use those funds to purchase grocery store gift cards. Group members began to reach out to the organizations they were familiar with to make connections. By April 25, Asbury Four Pillar Church in Shepherdstown and St. James Catholic Church in Charles Town were lined up to distribute gift cards to families and individuals, as were Catholic Charities and the First Baptist Church Soup Kitchen in Martinsburg. New Street United Methodist Church in Shepherdstown, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Martinsburg, Trinity Episcopal Church in Martinsburg, and St. James Catholic Church in Charles Town were lined up for gift card purchasing. The community has been very generous, and donations continue to flow in. Our
ERIC LEWIS W SHEPHERDSTOWN, JEFFERSON COUNTY Filling Our Shared Plate Golf buddies hit a generosity hole in one. the initial idea for our shared plate was offered by Jim Price to his 10 golfing buddies via text message on April 16, 2020. The message started with “Boys, I want to toss an idea out …” Jim’s thought was, this group of friends should figure out a way to make a difference in the community by helping raise money to provide meals to people in the community who needed help. It only took six days from that initial text, along with a couple hundred texts and a few Zoom meetings, for these 11 men, a group I’m happy to say I’m part of, to raise over $10,000 to support food for families in need. Our Shared Plate is a fundraiser and connector. For years, churches have sold gift
Shared Plate hopes that, as the economy opens back up and people go back to work, fewer people will need a hand up. However, the organization recognizes that, even in the best economy, unfortunately, people will always need help. Hopefully the concept of Our Shared Plate, purchasing gift cards from churches and giving those gift cards to people in need, is adopted on a more widespread basis and carries forward long into the future. Members of the group are Bill Baker, Darin Gilpin, Chip Hensell, Chris Hussion, Chris Janelle, Henry Kayes, Jeff Petrucci, Jim Price, Scott Roach, and Chauncey Winbush, and myself. We are hopeful that our small efforts help inspire others to do the same.
JENNIFER MASON W LEWISBURG, GREENBRIER COUNTY Teaming Up to Keep People Fed
Greenbrier County organizations and people pitch in. when covid-19 hit , our government asked our at-risk population to shelter in place. However, that came without an instruction booklet on how to make it work. When people were asked to shelter in place, our businesses suffered, and some were at risk of closure. I decided to contact as many people and organizations in Greenbrier County as I could to help. They all responded! We created an organization to feed our at-risk neighbors and keep eight local restaurants in business. In partnership with Bimbo Coles & Co Project, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, the Mountain Transit Authority, The Shepherd’s Center of Greenbrier Valley, The Marvel Center, the Greenbrier County Committee on Aging, Community Action, accountant Doug Bicksler, Cornerstone IGA, and the Meadow River Valley Association as well as the local towns, mayors, police, sheriff ’s office, fire departments, ministerial associations and churches, senators and representatives, food banks, and approximately 100 volunteers and more, we fed 700 at-risk individuals two or three times a week for four weeks and enabled them to order groceries and have them delivered.
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