September 2023 // A Community Newsletter | |
Dear friends and neighbors, | |
These letters don't usually start with statistics, but this one will because right now, the story of our food pantry is best told in numbers. For the last year or so, we've seen an unprecedented level of demand on our pantry services. When you look at a graph of individuals served, the line has a steady upward trend. | |
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Here's a snapshot: In August 2022, we provided groceries to 2,875 people (1,047 households). In the same month this year, 4,746 people (from 1,660) households received food from our pantry. That's nearly double in just one year!
September is Hunger Action Month, and I'd love it if every single person reading this letter took action to shine a light on hunger in our community. Here are just a few ideas:
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Wear orange tomorrow, Sept. 15, for Go Orange Day. Post a photo of yourself on social media (and tag Goodman) and share with your friends why you're wearing orange.
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Learn more about food insecurity. Check out Feeding America's podcast "Elevating Voices, Ending Hunger."
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Donate to your local food pantry. For many of you, that's the pantry right here at Goodman.
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Volunteer to help out at your local pantry. See our opportunities here.
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Host a food drive or fundraise for your local pantry. We have a handy food drive kit.
As we ease into fall, the season of holidays and family gatherings, we know our neighbors are going to need extra help. Every effort – big or small – counts. Thank you for caring for your community!
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Letesha Nelson
CEO & Executive Director
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EVENTS
The Evolving Role of Donors
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We're thrilled to welcome Vu Le, author of the blog Nonprofit AF and the book Unicorns Unite, to Madison as part of our Love & Legacy Campaign! Vu Le matches his wit with wisdom about the nonprofit sector, which isn't surprising, given his decades-long resume working with nonprofits.
On Sept. 20, Vu will talk about the evolving role of donors, and he'll do it in his characteristic funny yet serious way. All are welcome to attend this FREE event. Space is limited, so RSVP today!
The Evolving Role of Donors
Presented by Vu Le,
author of the blog Nonprofit AF and the book "Unicorns Unite"
Wednesday, Sept. 20
6-7:30pm
Brassworks Building
Goodman Community Center
214 Waubesa St.
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Thank you to our sponsor, Madison Community Foundation! | |
Thanksgiving Basket Drive 2023 | |
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It's (almost) time to talk turkey! Can you believe it?!? Our team has been hard at work planning our Thanksgiving Basket Drive, and once again, we plan to provide 4,000 families with everything they need to make a Thanksgiving meal at home. And we're pretty confident in saying that families are really going to need our help this year.
As Letesha mentioned in her letter, our pantry is seeing unprecedented demand. When we think we've hit a plateau, the next month's numbers come back higher than the month before. Families in our community are having to make some tough choices about how they allocate funds, and for many, a traditional Thanksgiving meal simply won't be in the budget.
Keep an eye on our website as we add more info in the next month. And if you'd like to get a head start, sign up to host a food drive or make a financial gift today.
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Last week, our programs welcomed back students in preschool through 12th grade. After a week of quiet, it was so nice to see our spaces filled with youthful joy again. Teachers, staff and students will spend these first weeks getting to know each other and setting up a flow and family feel in our spaces.
In our preschool rooms, kiddos didn't waste any time exploring and playing together, like the trio in this photo who were playing an imaginative game of doctor.
Here's to a great school year!
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On Aug. 30, Goodman youth leaders Arthur Morgan, Family Advocacy Manager, and Shantrice Solis, Assistant Director of Youth Career and Development, were honored with awards from Madison Out of School Time (MOST) with their LOFT team members by their side.
Shantrice received the 2023 MOST Outstanding Youth Workers award for her compassion-driven work with high schoolers. Arthur was given the 2023 Legends award for his over three decades of service to Madison youth with a primary focus on middle schoolers. (Longtime youth organizer and leader of Girls Inc. of Greater Madison for MSCR, Leslie Smith, also took home the Legends award.) Each winner was rewarded with a plaque and $500.
Congratulations, Shantrice and Arthur! Goodman is proud to be the space where they dedicate their skills and time each day.
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Pasta Night for East High Football | |
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East High School's football team is in for a treat for the next few weeks as Chynna and our TEENworks team started cooking up a weekly pasta dinner. The group gathered in our Brassworks space for the last two weeks and will be back for three more nights of carb loading and team bonding.
Thanks to Chynna and the teens for working together to make this great opportunity happen!
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This summer, a group of older adult participants were treated to a six-week Introduction to Watercolors course, taught by volunteer Soham Wilkerson.
Each class started off with an educational piece on using and blending colors, and ended with either a guided painting session or free-painting time. At the last session, each student was sent home with watercolor paints, brushes and paper to continue their art exploration. They also each chose a piece of theirs to put on display in our senior lounge.
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WORK AT GCC
Make an Impact
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The Goodman Center has some of the best benefits in town – no joke. In addition to a $20/hour minimum wage, an incredible health care plan (better than what some much bigger businesses in town offer, we've been told by our staff) and retirement matching, Goodman also offers more than 5 weeks of paid time off in your first year, free child care for kids in preschool and attending Lowell or Emerson elementary schools, and more.
Check out our current open positions and apply today:
- Facilities Manager
- Middle School Specialist
- Elementary Programs Co-Teacher
- Preschool Substitute Teacher
See all open positions and apply here.
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AT THE CENTER
Goodman Menders
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Every week, a group of dedicated (and talented) volunteers post up outside our food pantry, needle and thread and sewing machines at the ready. These folks are here to offer free mending services to the community, and their skills are already being put to good use.
Anyone from the community is invited to bring items that need mending at these times:
- 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month, 5:30-7:30pm
- 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month, 9-11:30am
Bring your long hems, ripped seams and worn knees for patching! These volunteers will fix you right up (notable exception: no zipper repairs). No regular pantry use or registration needed – stop in when you can.
Read more about this great program on our blog.
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A Successful Volunteer & Staff Party | |
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Excessive heat and a last-minute venue change couldn't keep our volunteer and staff party down! At the end of August, we gathered members of our staff and volunteers together for an evening of food, community and family trivia!
Thank you to everyone who was able to make the bash celebrating the work of our staff and many volunteers. Staff and volunteers don't always get the chance to get to know one another while they work, but events like this help keep everyone connected.
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FOOD PROGRAMS
Fritz Food Pantry
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❤️ We're so happy you're a part of our community ❤️ | |
GOODMAN COMMUNITY CENTER
214 Waubesa Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53704
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