Wheels for Meals
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Chester Eastside Inc.We are raising funds to purchase a van so we can increase our food supply by picking up donations.
$23,150
raised by 18 people
$25,000 goal
in 7 days left
New update
Our Van Is Waiting!!
Here it is! We made a down payment on a cargo van so as soon as we reach our fundraising goal of $25,000 we will drive it off the lot! It is a 2022 Ford Transit Connect that's in great shape - and is made for hauling heavy loads in urban areas. And check out the eye-catching bright red exterior!!
It has 127 cubic feet of cargo space and can haul 1,570 pounds. In terms of canned goods and potatos, one load with this little beauty will provide more than 1,400 meals!! We estimate this will result in a 15-20% increase in the amount of donated items we are able to pick up. We are also anticipating a new partnership with SHARE Excess, which will likely double the amount of fresh produce we can offer in our food pantry. And its capacity will mean consolidating multiple trips into one - saving time and fuel!
Speaking of anticipation - you can only imagine how excited Jason Kea, our food pantry pick up and delivery person, is!!
We are grateful for all you are able to offer so we can better serve the people who come to us in need of food assistance...
Last year we served 286,564 meals - a 31% increase over 2024. Due to cuts in federallly-based funding, we lost funding for a period of four months. The only thing that got us through was the extraordinary generosity of groups and individuals in the larger community. The gap left by the funding cuts was filled, which meant we were able to maintain our regular level of service.
We also learned a valuable lesson during that time. We received calls from people wanting to donate food, but had no way to get it to us. We have a legion of faithful volunteers, but none with the time, vehicle, or physical strength to pick up food. Believing that we will supplement our food stock, we became determined to acquire a vehicle to pick up food donations from our partners and donors.
We are especially driven to increase our food supplies because we know that the dramatic rise in food insecurity last fall will defintely remain high; likely, it will continue to rise. Cuts to SNAP benefits started in December, and we're seeing the impact in both our food pantry and hot meals programs. The price of food remains high, as does health care, housing, and now energy is skyrocketing.
Our goal is to get more food so that we might give more food. Your support will help us accentuate our ability to pick up food with the goal of fulfilling our commitment that no one ever leaves one of our programs empty-handed. We are grateful for all you can do to help us.