Happy New Year to our readers from the Volunteers and Board Directors of Kennett Community Grocer!
WHAT’S THE BOARD BEEN UP TO?
Our New Year’s Resolution is to work hard on your behalf to reimagine our store: where it will be, how it can best provide delicious and healthy food for the greater community, and what it can offer to benefit our local food producers. Our Board of Directors will have a half-day retreat at the end of January to solidify plans for the coming year. We will strive to create a strategy to motivate the wider community to join our current KCG Member-Owners in achieving our mission.
Please read the recap of the 2024 Annual Meeting in the Special Feature below. We are pleased that over 45 Member-Owners attended this meeting and asked some great questions.
Annual Meeting Zoom Headquarters
MEMBERSHIP EVER-GROWING
We are currently at a Member-Owner count of 457. All new and long-time Member-Owners are encouraged to move the KCG project forward by volunteering. We particularly need volunteers to work on Events and to help with the effective work of our social media posting. If you can help with event planning, social media outreach, or in any of the roles mentioned on our volunteer page, please be in touch. Please contact us at through the volunteer interest form on our website or email us at info@kennettcommunitygrocer.coop.
Our 2025 Annual Meeting will be in-person in late March, most likely in the Auditorium of Kennett Library. As previously mentioned, our Annuals Meetings have been shifted to the spring to better align to KCG's fiscal calendar.
We are putting together an educational panel with nutrition experts on the benefits of eating local and reducing your intake of ultra-processed foods, with a focus on the ways a food co-op makes this easy to achieve.
Throughout the year, we will continue to do tabling events to spread the word about KCG as opportunities become available at various venues.
The first KCG "Grown Up Talent Show": We have an idea for a very entertaining fundraiser evening, presented with a community partner. BUT we need Member-Owners to volunteer in order to help us pull it off! This event will include Raffle Baskets and give KCG family members and friends plenty of opportunities to participate, donate, and win.
SPECIAL FEATURE: 2024 ANNUAL MEETING RECAP
Thank you to everyone who attended the Annual Member Meeting on December 9th! It was a chance to reflect on the year’s achievements, challenges, and future plans for Kennett Community Grocer. Here are some key takeaways:
This Year in Review
176 new Member-Owners joined, bringing our total to 457 households.
$43,000 raised through member equity, donations, and grants.
18 local business partners joined our Member Benefit Program, offering exclusive discounts to Member-Owners.
25 events hosted, including fundraisers and community engagement activities.
Lessons from 600 S. Broad Street
While the site initially seemed promising, our financial and logistical review revealed that leasing it wasn’t a sustainable option. This process underscored the importance of early risk assessment, understanding capital needs, and prioritizing more Member-Owner involvement.
Questions from Member-Owners
Q: Do we have another location in mind? A: Not yet! If you know of a site 5,000 sq ft or smaller, with 25+ parking spaces and good foot traffic potential, let us know.
Q: How broad is our search area? A: We’re focusing along the Route 1 corridor, from Chadds Ford to Toughkenamon.
Q: How are donations and grant funds managed? A: Direct donations are held in a high-yield savings account. Grants and tax deductible donations are held in a KCG-designated account through our fiscal sponsor, Cooperative Development Services (CDS), which retains 10% as a management fee.
What’s Next?
The road ahead includes:
Fundraising $100k to restart our site search and contract with a realtor.
Finding a property with sustainable terms—possibly through purchase instead of lease.
Recruiting volunteers and new board members to strengthen our team.
📢 Get Involved!
Join a committee, offer your skills for a one-time project, or help with fundraising efforts.
Suggest potential sites or connect us with donors.
Apply for a Board position in March (3 seats available). Details to follow.
Your continued engagement is essential to opening the co-op’s doors. Together, we’re building something extraordinary for Kennett Square!
Your financial contribution to Kennett Community Grocer’s Capital Stew will help bring healthy, local, and affordable food to our community. Please make a donation today!
