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| | The Mushroom Messenger KCG Monthly Newsletter: March 2026 |
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| Bringing you the monthly news of Kennett Community Grocer, your community-owned grocery store in the making, committed to local food, community, and culture. |
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| Hello to our Member-Owners and Friends!
In this edition: |
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What's the Board Been Up To? |
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| The KCG Board continues to meet twice monthly as we move steadily toward construction and opening. These next two meetings will be closed sessions as we prepare for critical votes to select our general contractor. Once selected, final documentation will be submitted to Kennett Township to obtain our building permit. We expect to hear back from the township within approximately one month of submission. This is a pivotal moment. Selecting a contractor allows us to officially begin renovation — but in order for work to start, we must have sufficient funds in place. While we’ve made meaningful progress toward our pre-opening fundraising goal, we still need to raise additional capital to confidently move forward this month. If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to donate — this is it. Please make a donation or sponsor a piece of equipment to help open your store! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the 38 Member-Owners who have already done so. If each of our 524 M-O households donates, we will be in good shape to fund construction and build a more financially sustainable store. 💛 |
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| | In the meantime, before renovations begin, we’re excited to invite you inside the space again for another Sneak Peek of the future Kennett Community Grocer store! 
✨ Sneak Peek: Come see our future store! ✨ 📍 629 E. Cypress Street, Kennett Square
🗓 Sunday, March 29
⏰ 11:00 AM–2:00 PM
Save the date on your Google Calendar here
This is your chance to:
Walk through the store and see the plans before construction begins See early plans for our new logo and exterior signage Share your ideas, questions, and feedback with Board members Meet newly hired Store Manager Rachel Sanchez
We can’t wait to gather your input as we prepare to bring this space to life — together. We were thrilled to have over 50 community members attend the first event. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and ideas with us! And for those who requested, the store renderings that were displayed are now available on our website here. |
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A Word From Our "Friends" |
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| Our nonprofit partner, Friends of Kennett Food Co-op, continues working behind the scenes to secure grant funding and major gifts that support store renovation and future educational programming. Over the next six months, they aim to raise approximately $250,000 to ensure a strong, debt-light opening and long-term sustainability. The exact amount will firm up later this month when they hear back regarding several “irons in the fire.” We Need a Grant Writing VolunteerFriends is seeking a volunteer with writing experience to assist with grant applications. You would be assigned specific grants to work on under the direction of the Friends Board. If you are interested and able to commit time to this effort, please email Edie Burkey, who will follow up to discuss next steps: 📧 info@friendsofkennettfoodcoop.org This is a high-impact way to contribute to KCG’s success! |
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Chili Cook-off Week is Here! |
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| We’re thrilled to share that our second annual Chili Cook-off Fundraiser is officially SOLD OUT! Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets — we can’t wait to welcome you. Unfortunately, this means no tickets will be available at the door. But even if you missed out on tickets, read on to learn how you can still support the mission and help us reach the finish line for our community-owned grocery store… |
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| | Tap, Bid, Win — Our Silent Auction has gone virtual and will be open to everyone! Pre-register to bid today!The Chili Cook-off is our largest fundraiser of the year, with the Silent Auction being a huge component of its success. Every dollar raised goes directly toward opening Kennett Community Grocer — helping reduce startup debt and support our first six months of operating costs. What we raise this week will directly impact how strong we open our doors later this year. This year, the bidding fun will be all digital so that anyone can participate, not just folks with tickets to the event! But don’t worry, there are 40+ thoughtfully curated baskets and prizes to go around, featuring some of Kennett’s most loved businesses, local experiences, art, dining, fitness, and specialty goods — with a combined value of over $10,000. See below for a taste! Mark your calendars for the bidding window:
📅 Auction Opens: Thursday, March 5 @ Noon
📅 Auction Closes: Saturday, March 7 @ 9:00 PM We encourage you to share the auction link far and wide with friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers! The more people who see it, the more momentum we build: 🔗 KCGrocer.com/silentauction We also encourage you to pre-register now so you’re ready when bidding opens — and when you see something you love, bid generously. Every bid is an investment in our community-owned grocery store. If you need any help pre-registering, check out these instructions or email KCG.Chili.Cookoff@gmail.com. |
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| | | Take a look at four standout items you won’t want to miss: |
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| | 🛍️ State Street Stroll (item #9)
A curated collection of 10 gift cards and experiences from beloved businesses in the heart of Kennett. 
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| | | This event plays a critical role in funding the store’s first six months of operations. We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, chefs, volunteers, vendors, and attendees for making it possible. We’d like to once again recognize Covenant Wealth Strategies, our flagship event sponsor. Learn about why they chose to support Kennett Community Grocer 👇 |
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| | | | This is your chance to: Walk through the store and see the plans before construction begins See early plans for our new logo and exterior signage Share your ideas, questions, and feedback with Board members Meet newly hired Store Manager Rachel Sanchez
We can’t wait to gather your input as we prepare to bring this space to life — together. |
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| | This will be an important meeting where we will: Vote on proposed bylaw updates Share store build-out timeline updates Hear from Store Manager Rachel Sanchez on product sourcing and vendor development
Please mark your calendar — Member participation matters! |
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| | | 🎉 Big News! We’re thrilled to officially welcome Rachel Sanchez as our new Store Manager! |
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| Rachel brings 15 years of experience in natural food and specialty retail, with deep expertise in team leadership and store operations. She’s energized by building spaces where staff, customers, and local producers can thrive together — and she’s especially passionate about supporting small producers and strengthening the local food economy. At her core, Rachel believes communities are the glue that holds us together! Outside of work, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family, sewing, caring for her two dogs, and volunteering with a local animal rescue. She’s excited to bring her energy and collaborative spirit to Kennett Community Grocer and envisions KCG as a true community hub — a place to gather, meet local farmers and producers, enjoy events, and relax together. She looks forward to welcoming everyone to the store! |
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| | JOIN THE COMMUNITY!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and now LinkedIn! |
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