April 2024 Newsletter
The Mushroom Messenger
Bringing you the monthly news of Kennett Community Grocer, a growing Food Co-op committed to local food, community, and culture.
Hello to our Member-Owners and Friends!
In this edition:
The Board reconfirmed 2024 priorities
March brought 4 new Member-Owners
Member Benefit Program up to 11 businesses offering discounts
Events for April
Special Feature: Why The Heck Are We Doing This?! Part 3 (sneak peek: our new website launches later this month!)
WHAT’S THE BOARD BEEN UP TO?
The KCG Board held a special in-person session on March 19 with our consultants from Caroltalks to define our goals for fiscal year 2024-2025 and plan for future growth based on our collective strengths and talents as Board members. Our highest priority goals are increasing our membership to 500 by the end of this calendar year, offering several membership-driving events each month, continuing our robust social media strategy, and launching our new website.
In-person Board meetings begin on April 9. Board meetings occur on the second Monday of the month and will now meet in the Dogwood Room at the Kennett Library at 7 PM. Meetings will be hybrid and can be accessed via the Zoom link found on the KCG Events Calendar. Member-Owners are welcome at these meetings.
MEMBERSHIP EVER GROWING
We are currently at a Member-Owner count of 358. We continue to grow by an average of 5 Member-Owners per month. It’s progress, but we are counting on your word of mouth – and event invitations to friends and neighbors – to push us to our year-end goal. The combined member-equity shares (minus organizational expenses) are crucial to obtaining financing for the store. As we seek a site location, we anticipate needing at least $100,000 saved in the bank account to position ourselves best for a favorable lease. Memberships plus fundraising will get us to that goal. Our upgraded website (launching soon!) will add an online fundraising platform to our tool chest.
Many thanks to our Events team for organizing wonderful member-magnet events! Last month, Member-Owners participated in the opening of the Kennett Library's seed library and welcomed new members over a happy hour at Victory Brewing Co. Mixing and mingling at community events has been a great driver of membership gains.
Member Benefit Program
We are up to 11 local growers and producers offering discounts to KCG Member-Owners – check them all out here! Freshly added...
KCG EVENTS: Looking ahead to April and May
Tuesday, April 9, 4:30-5:30 PM:
Live Better Cooking Demonstration at Kennett Library. Come chat with KCG at this interactive presentation packed with facts, recipes and tips designed for active people of all ages. Learn from Jena Wood (MS, RD, LDN) how to fuel your body for peak performance in running and other activities.
Friday, April 12, 5-8 PM:
Wine Tasting at Paradox Vineyard (1833 Flint Hill Road, Landenberg, PA). Come by, purchase a glass of wine, enjoy free music by Liz Watkins, and learn more about Kennett Community Grocer. There will be a raffle! Please bring a friend.
Saturday, April 27, 10 AM-2 PM:
Fundraising Craft Fayre at The Log House (205 S Fairville Road, Chadds Ford, PA). Shop for wonderful items created by local craft artisans and vendors while supporting great local causes; proceeds from the Fayre will benefit the Kennett Senior Center, the Hickman, and the Roo Fund. Stop by the KCG table to enter our raffle for a basket of goodies.
SPECIAL FEATURE
This is the third of our stories about the inspiration and urgency behind building a member-owned cooperative grocery store in Kennett Square. Do you have a story to share about what the Co-op means to you? Please get in touch at info@kennettcommunitygrocer.coop
Connections: one of our favorite words and co-op principles. Our hard work to create a cooperative movement in the area is both an expression and an endorsement of community, helping people form new connections and strengthening the network of our local businesses. In this space you’ve seen photos of pigs, carrots, honey, beautiful handmade crafts (to name a few) and heard tales about the producers and vendors.KCG is committed to connecting with the rich resources of our area and local businesses in order to create a collective sense of community.
As you saw in the events list above, there are several opportunities coming up for you to connect, support, and engage with local businesses and KCG members. You are part of this vibrant community – please continue to join us for the events that keep KCG's network strong, and bring a potential new member (or two) with you!
To help make connecting to KCG an easier and richer experience online, we are updating our website. Thanks to the many talents of our KCG volunteers and Board Treasurer Lindsay D. Cook this more modern, informative, and accessible site will start rolling out this month. The new site will also allow us to add a fundraising platform soon, which will include a great explanation on how to donate capital towards “opening the doors” to the store (tax deductible). When the transition has completed, spend a few minutes exploring this refreshed resource. And while you’re there, share the link on your Facebook and Instagram accounts.Let’s all spread the word!
