In 2012, Tracey Galloway became Chief Executive Officer of the organization. A highly successful development director for almost 20 years at Edison State College, Galloway saw an entity that “had grown big enough to be run like a business, but was stuck in that little non- profit box. We needed to either cut way back, or reorganize and move forward. We all saw the need, so there was really no decision. Now five years later, we’re really moving forward.” Moving forward is an understatement. From once a stand-alone soup kitchen, Community Cooperative today fulfills its mission to deliver innovative food, education and social services — for everyone from infants to senior citizens — by last year serving more than 185,000 meals and 41,000 school lunches, distributing 600,000 pounds of food and touching 16,000-plus “unduplicated” lives. Just as amazing, they accomplished this good with a budget of only $2 million — funded exclusively by individuals, family foundations and private grants — with 19 full-time individuals. While that revenue is requisite to their success, the real key as Galloway sees it “is our 2,000 wonderful volunteers. They’re our helping hands and feet, and we simply couldn’t do it without them. They work in the kitchen, work in the garden, clean the food, chop it, pack it, put it on the trucks and deliver it. Social services are part of our programs, too. Our volunteers talk to people, help educate them on everything from nutrition to budgeting to resume writing, and a lot more. We have so many opportunities for volunteers. Every day, once a week, once a month, we’ll take ‘em.” While some people still refer to it as “The Soup Kitchen,” and others know it as “CCMI,” today’s Community Cooperative is a shining example of a do-good organization with a clear mission, a strategic vision and a
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