The UrbanPromise CDC is prayerfully waiting for a response to a funding proposal that would cover all costs for 3-years. In the meantime, we want to keep the doors open—especially with the holidays coming.
As the government shut-down continues, those eligible for federal assistance programs face heightened uncertainty and the demand for food assistance remains high.
Gloria provided for her three kids.
As a Spanish speaker without a high school diploma, her job options were limited. She worked as a Laundry Aid at a nursing facility. The bills were paid and there was food on the table.
At UrbanPromise, her kids were enjoying opportunities they wouldn’t have otherwise – like taking trips with the Trekker program. And Gloria would help at the school whenever she could.
One afternoon, Gloria stood quietly in the entrance to the high school admin office.
Marycel Rodriguez, our high school Dean of Students and a trusted Spanish-speaking confidant, paused. Something felt off.
“I could tell something was wrong,” shared Marycel. “Everyone is going through something and sometimes it’s difficult to share that, but I decided to ask if she was okay. That’s when she told me she was laid off. She was trying to care for the kids and keep up with the bills —without a paycheck.”
It was to the point where she couldn’t buy food.
She didn’t want her high school-age son to get a job—she wanted him to focus on school and focus on the opportunities he had at UrbanPromise.
Marycel told Gloria about the UrbanPromise Food Co-Op and sent her home that same day with a box of food—fresh produce, dry goods, and enough staples for the week. She invited her to come back every week, as needed.
“I depend on the Food Co-Op each week to be able to get food for my family . My income is not the same each week and sometimes I don’t have the money to buy enough groceries to feed my family. I like this Food Co-Op because they offer a lot of healthy food, especially produce.” – Yali, Food Co-Op Patron
Those weekly boxes carried Gloria’s family through a difficult season and they allowed her son to keep his focus on education and development, not survival.
For over a decade, the Food Co-Op, operated by our affiliate UrbanPromise Ministries CDC, has been a lifeline for hundreds of Camden families. It’s located directly on the border of East Camden and Pennsauken, the neighborhood ranked 5th on a list of New Jersey food deserts. Just this past year, the Co-Op served 640 households (including 914 children) and distributed more than 200,000 pounds of food— at no cost to participants
But now, the Co-Op is at risk of closing.
During COVID, emergency funding kept pantries like ours open. Today, those funds have dried up while demand continues to grow. Add historic inflation—New Jersey ranks 5th in the nation for grocery cost increases over the past year—and the need has only intensified.
The CDC is prayerfully waiting for a response to a funding proposal that would cover all costs for 3-years. In the meantime, we want to keep the doors open—especially with the holidays coming.
The Thanksgiving distribution is the most significant of the year—one that families rely on and look forward to.
To bridge the gap, we need to raise $25,000. Your one-time special gift will make that possible.
With gratitude,
Lindsey Markelz
VP of Development & Finance
P.S. It only takes $12 to feed a family for a week. The food they receive is valued up to $200—a 15:1 return.
P.P.S. Any additional funds raised will be directed to our programs for children and youth.
Families are counting on the Co-Op this holiday season
With your help, we can keep the doors open through December and as we await long-term funding news.
- $4,000 underwrites two weeks of the Food Co-Op
- $1,200 provides 100 families with groceries
- $540 provides 45 families with groceries
- $300 provides 25 families with groceries
- $120 provides 10 families with groceries
- $60 provides 5 families with groceries
- $36 provides 3 families with groceries