Shelbourne Community Kitchen, a Saanich non-profit dedicated to addressing food insecurity and fostering community engagement, has reached its Bring Home the Kitchen capital campaign goal of $387,000.
This past week, a $35,000 donation from Travis Lee of Tri-Eagle Development Corporation and Cam Pringle of Cadillac Homes helped reach the goal.
“It was a wonderful moment as Tri-Eagle has been a generous supporter since our early days in the little White House,” said Clarice Dillman, the Kitchen’s board chair, in a statement.
The campaign, which had been in the works for some time, officially launched in October and had already raised 64 per cent of the total campaign goal. The campaign to fund phase 2 renovations received support from various donors, including community members, local businesses, and philanthropic organizations.
A long-time generous anonymous donor pledged to match the first $50,000 of donations received in October. Other notable donations that came from past board member Jacquie Farris, volunteer Carl Stovel, the Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, and local businesses Waterworks Irrigation and Abstract Developments were doubled. In addition, a successful jazz bar event raised over $26,000 in a single afternoon, making the total raised in October $52,278, which was turned into $102,278.
“We are immensely grateful for the overwhelming support we have received for the campaign and continue to receive for our work,” said Kim Cummins, director of operations. “Not only have we met our capital campaign goal, but our anonymous donor is also matching all donations, up to $50,000 from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15 to help fund ongoing operations and programs. With the high cost of living and food inflation, the need in our community continues to skyrocket. Donation matching campaigns like this make a world of difference in our ability to serve more people who are turning to us for support,” Cummins added.
This will enable The Kitchen to build a much-needed new commercial kitchen, increase capacity and provide a place for participants to learn and cook together in person, share community meals, host canning and preservation workshops, and so much more.
The Kitchen is a neighbourhood food centre with two gardens that supply the majority of the produce from May to September, a self-select Pantry Program that distributes healthy foods, a variety of cooking and food skills programs and a resource centre.
Over 1,500 adults and 500-plus children are supported through the Shelbourne Community Kitchen’s services.
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