A Letter from Executive Director Jill Fink

Dear Food Moxie supporter,

Food Moxie’s mighty team of growers, educators and cooks began 2018 ready to go! We’re not only talking about our staff members — the young people and adults at Stenton Family Manor shelter in Germantown, the students at Martin Luther King High School in Germantown and Saul High School in Roxborough and our amazing volunteers are also ready to dig in and get their hands dirty.

While our growing spaces lay dormant for the winter, our talented team of program managers continued to deliver experiential lessons focused on healthy cooking and eating. They also began preparations for the 2018 growing season by engaging program participants and our site partners in the decision-making. What we grow and what we cook is fully informed by the community we serve.

Before the first seed of the season is planted, more than 700 hours of skilled labor and leadership are required, in addition to over $12,000 for equipment, supplies, tools and repairs, for our four growing sites at Stenton Family Manor, MLK, Saul and Awbury Arboretum in Germantown.

Our commitment, as always, is to provide innovative, high-quality programming that puts the diverse needs and safety of our program participants at the forefront.

Can we count on your support to ensure that our growing sites are well-equipped and well-maintained for the people we serve?

Your gift, from $50 to $5,000 and everything in between, supports our farms and our staff, program participants and volunteers. Here are some ways your generous donation goes toward our purchase of necessary items:

  • $25 for farmstand supplies such as berry boxes and produce bags.
  • $50 toward the cost of hand tools and harvest bins.
  • $100 for a power drill and supplies to repair raised beds and fence posts.
  • $250 toward compost and other soil amendments.
  • $600 to repair the greenhouse thermostat and fans.
  • $1,000 for a shade cloth to protect greenhouse seedlings.
  • $2,000 for insect netting and row cover.

Your investment not only makes it possible for our farms to produce nutritious, local food for those who are most in need, but also demonstrates your commitment to one of our core shared values: We all deserve access to beautiful green spaces that are safe and welcoming.

Food Moxie works with some of the most vulnerable populations in Philadelphia — people who struggle daily with broken systems that have failed them. Please help us welcome children, families and students into growing spaces that reflect the abundance of our community and the beauty and abundance we ALL deserve.

I’ve written this before, but it’s as true now as it has ever been: Food Moxie could not do this important work without you and your support. For more information and to donate, please visit www.foodmoxie.org. 

On behalf of the hundreds of individuals we’ll serve in 2018, thank you in advance for your generosity. 

With gratitude and growth,

Jill Fink, Executive Director