COOKING FOR COMMUNITY

In its first fiscal year, Cooking for Community raised just over $1,000,000 and provided over 100,000 meals. Our reach into the community has been significant. We are an all-volunteer organization, with countless hours logged by a dedicated team of professionals who put this work into motion. As a result, we kept our overhead to near-nothing with 98% of monies raised going directly to programming. Combining these leadership efforts with support from hundreds of donors, advisors, organizers, kitchen workers, chefs, harvesters and creative and nonprofit professionals have enabled us to achieve goals no single entity could deliver alone. Our reach into the community has been significant. We brought together restaurants, social service agencies, local government, foundations, businesses and coalition groups to create a network of 40 partnering organizations. Consequently we have been able to serve delicious and nutritious meals to our neighbors who are often most at risk: the elderly (26%), the unsheltered (41%), and families (33%), with approximately 15% being black, indigenous and people of color. Over the course of the year, our programming also: made it possible for our restaurant partners to avoid layoffs and/or hire additional staff; supported the local supply chain; provided nimble responses to crisis situations and unexpected need; aided social service agencies with programming such as flu shots; took advantage of available/underutilized kitchen facilities in restaurants; provided comfort and care to underserved and isolated individuals and families. Cooking for Community's services had tangible economic outputs. in the fall of 2020/winter 2021, we worked with Inspire, a non-profit consulting group, on a pro bono basis, to develop an economic impact assessment. We asked them to look at the multiplier effect of our model on Maine's local and state economy. The results were clear: For every $1 we spent, at least $1.58 was added back into the local economy. In other words, the $1,000,000+ invested by Cooking for Community in services this past year equaled $1,580,000 in total economic impact in the local community. Additionally, our innovative model demonstrated the ability to grow and be duplicated. While we started as a Portland-focused effort, our programming has expanded to other towns and areas in Maine to great success. Through our services, we have also advanced the common good in more intangible ways. Food that is thoughtfully prepared and shared brings people together. Our model has: forged and fostered community connections between groups; facilitated public-health outreach, such as nutrition, mental and physical health; advanced social justice, promoting a sense of value and worth in all people; provided a sense of purpose for restaurant owners and employees, as well as donors and volunteers; encouraged creative thinking and novel approaches to reach our goals; motivated others to engage and spread our model.