Dear friends,
Exciting updates left and right around here! Please take a few minutes to read about:
- Our Capital Campaign fundraising progress and a call for your ideas
- Our Phase 1 construction (spoiler alert: It's here!)
- Our big June event, Kitchen Crawl: A Traveling Cocktail Party
- Our newest Shop South Philly partner business (hint: It's where you can buy everything for the kitchen but the sink ... )
And so much more. Thanks as always for your support and your participation!
In cooperation,
The South Philly Food Co-op Board of Directors
P.S. If you'd like to cook or donate food or drink to the Kitchen Crawl, please fill out this form!
P.P.S. We'd like to wish our Board President, Jessica Calter, a very happy birthday today! Thanks for everything you do for the Co-op.
CO-OP NEWS
Recap: Spring 2018 General Membership Meeting
Huge thanks to everyone who came out to The Broad on Mifflin for our Spring 2018 General Membership Meeting! We ate (thanks, Blackbird Pizzeria!), we texted, we broke out into groups, and we all left feeling more inspired than ever before. Key takeaways:
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Our Capital Campaign is going full steam ahead! Thanks to all of you, we are 909 members strong and have raised $191,800 in member loans. Wow! (Check out this handy one-sheet that explains our progress in more detail.) Now's the time to double down on our efforts: To fill our $250,000 gap, we need at least 300 more members and $150,000-$175,000 more in member-owner loans. (To that end, click here if you'd like to become a member-owner of the Co-op today, or email [email protected] if you're ready to make a member loan to deepen your investment in our future.)
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Four Board members were (re-)elected to our Board of Directors for another two-year term! Big congratulations and gratitude go out to Jessica Calter, Angel D'Ippolito, Anna Kisiel and Emily Wyner. We couldn't do this without you!
- Our committees are busy ... really busy. Our Facilities team has shepherded phase 1 of construction (scroll down for details); our Outreach team has been setting up Co-op tables at events from river to river; our Food Justice & Equity Committee is gaining ground in establishing inclusive and equitable practices, processes and policies to help us enact our mission of using food as a force for good.
Building News: Phase 1 of Construction Is Complete!
We shared this exciting news at our General Membership Meeting, and we’re so pleased to share it with all of you: With building permits in hand, we have started construction! We hired Philly-based small-business owner Buckminster Green as our general contractor to do the first of two phases of construction. The first phase was limited to framing out the store; this framing was necessary to allow our landlord to complete their agreed-upon improvements, including electrical and HVAC installation and distribution. Phase two won’t start until all financing and fundraising is in place, but we’ll be ready to go when that all comes together!
Want to check out the space for yourself? Come to our June 30 Kitchen Crawl and get a tour! Speaking of which ...
[We're throwing!] June 30: Kitchen Crawl: A Traveling Cocktail Party
Join us for a very special event at the end of the month! The Kitchen Crawl is a South Philly interpretation of a traveling dinner party, offering samples and sips of Philly’s local food scene at homes of South Philly Food Co-op member-owners. Small groups will travel from home to home, including a stop at our future store location at 2031 S. Juniper. Tickets will be offered for $30 to Co-op members and $40 to non-members. Only 100 tickets will be sold, to ensure our event is an opportunity for neighbors to have authentic interactions with chefs, entrepreneurs, and fellow food enthusiasts that make up Philadelphia’s vibrant culinary community. Saturday, June 30, 3-6 p.m., $30 (Co-op members)-$40 (general admission), registration at 2031 S. Juniper St., southphillyfoodcoop.org/kitchencrawl.
[We're benefiting!] August 26: The Philly 10K
Quick reminder that the 2018 Philly 10K has chosen the Co-op as its beneficiary! We're honored to be partnering with this amazing organization that rallies thousands of runners around a singular passion: the City of Brotherly Love. Save the date and cheer on all the runners! Sunday, August 26, 7:30 a.m., add your name to the registration waiting list at thephilly10k.com.
P.S. Don't forget, you can always check our event calendar or Facebook page to stay up-to-date on Co-op happenings.
FUNDRAISING UPDATE
Help Us Wrap Up Our Capital Campaign!
- What's your strategy for helping us raise $250,000 in remaining capital?
- How much would you charge?
SHOP SOUTH PHILLY SPOTLIGHT
Welcome Fante's to the Fam!
Our long-running local business partnership program Shop South Philly offers exclusive discounts and specials to South Philly Food Co-op member-owners when they shop at dozens of participating boutiques, restaurants and other shops. Just show your member card or member ID number at the following local businesses to receive your discount.
We'd like to give a warm welcome to everyone's favorite Italian Market kitchen outfitter, Fante's, our newest Shop South Philly partner business! Present your card at purchase to receive 10% off tools and 5% off electrics.
Don't forget to patronize Shop South Philly partner businesses often, and thank them for their participation!