Special Message from Joy:
Last Friday we learned that our Wake Forest Community Meals Program was awarded the Mission Endowment Grant from the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. This grant supports ministries that establish "the Episcopal presence of Christ in communities in ways that brings the community to see Christ’s presence among them." For six years our meal program has done this and has transformed from a 10 week program in the summer to a year round meal distribution program at three locations/ three nights a week connecting a diverse base of volunteers to each other and to community members experiencing food insecurity.
This grant affirms what I have known for the past yea; that our program requires a focused executive director to transform this expanding ministry into a thriving 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The grant affirmed the vision to continue to both feed those experiencing food insecurity AND to connect Wake Forest residents who have been historically divided by race and socioeconomic conditions and move us toward Building Beloved Community.
Over the next six months while I will work to establish this nonprofit organization, we will continue to feed community members nutritious meals, fresh produce and groceries each week as well as plan quarterly gatherings to build relationships and have critical conversations about history, race and justice. Much like the "Segregated by Design: Community Conversation" we had on June 16. I am considering renaming this program to Wake Forest Community Table because I envision this organization creating space for connection, education and nourishment.
This program has expanded over the past 6 years because of partners like you who have been generous with time, talent and treasure. I will be leaning heavily on your continued support in the next year to build a sustainable program beyond the two year grant cycle. If you or your connections have expertise in establishing a 501(c)3, let me know. The grant does not cover food and supply costs, so I will still rely on your generosity to purchase our meals. I look forward to working with all of you to create a program in Wake Forest that Builds Beloved Community.
Love,
Joy
