We’re about to ask you for a bit of money.
We tweaked the focus of our fundraising last year. Since 2011, we’ve reached out primarily to foundations and local businesses for financial support. We also reached out to the general public via fundraising dinners, but we realized that by doing it that way, we were limiting our reach to folks who could afford elaborate dinner parties. The fact is, a much broader group of citizens in Evanston cares about fighting food insecurity, and we really weren’t reaching out to them.
So last year, our goal became to obtain a gift of $25 from the widest possible group of individuals and families who want to see our support for families in need continue.
We called this campaign Just25+, and it has become an ongoing effort, with modest, but significant success. Do you believe that $25 can make a difference? It can, and it does, every week at the Downtown Evanston Farmers Market. $15 is the amount our Link program matches, each week. That’s 15 extra dollars that parents can spend on healthy, fresh food for their family. 15 extra dollars that seniors on a fixed income can use to make their meals healthier and more delicious. So each donation helps multiple families to make their food budget last longer!
$25 makes a big difference. And the Link program brings more people to the Downtown Farmers Market every week, and more dollars to Downtown Evanston merchants. Check these numbers out:
Last season, our matching funds were accessed by Link users almost a thousand times. Friends of Evanston Farmers Markets is a small, dedicated group. Our footprint is incredibly small. Every cent of your $25 donation will go towards our matching program. If everyone who reads this message contributes to JUST25+, we’ll be able to help every Link family, all season long.
We have tweaked the campaign a bit this year, and we’re calling it Just25+.
Now when you click a JUST25+ button, you’ll be able to securely donate $25, or any other amount, via PayPal, credit, or debit card. And now, you can choose to make your donation a monthly, recurring gift. These changes are a response to donors who wanted to give more, and others who, even though $25 was a challenging amount, wanted to give something. We appreciate any donation, because the spirit behind it is magnificent, no matter the amount.
Thank you for joining your neighbors and Friends in keeping our services available to every family that needs a little help!
