WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO
See the Special Feature below for a recap of the 2023 Annual Meeting.
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KCG BOARD ELECTIONS - WE NEED YOU!Kennett Community Grocer will be holding 2023 Board Elections this month, and we are looking for interested candidates to fill our vacant roles.  KCG is entering an exciting new phase, and with this development there are certain skill sets and expertise that will be advantageous to our new Board.
KCG is currently in need of:
- Financial expertise: Acquiring and managing funding streams
- Legal expertise
- Fundraising expertise: Emphasis on capital campaigns
- Marketing expertise
The present Board of Directors of Kennett Community Grocer looks forward to working with a new group of Board volunteers in 2023!
Link here to find information and the application process
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Sunday, November 12, 12 pm: Order deadline for November KCG Co-op Box – one week early. (See note below)
This month's box:
Special note: As KCG ramps up fundraising and business development in 2024, we will wind down the KCG Co-op Boxes. November and December 2023 will be your last chances to purchase fresh produce and assorted local products through KCG.
The good news is that our farm partner, Flying Plow, continues to offer the finest produce throughout the year through its CSA program and to the general public. Find information here: https://flyingplowfarm.csaware.com/store/
Next month’s newsletter will include a thank-you to the many vendors who have added variety and local flare to the Co-op Boxes. Right now, though, we would like to say A BIG THANK YOU TO FLYING PLOW for being a consistent and reliable source of organic produce for KCG in the last couple of years. We are grateful for this partnership – and for all of the nutrients and deliciousness you have provided us! Thank you to owners Tom Paduano and Sarah Rider and their staff!
Thursday, November 16, 6:30pm - 8pm: KCG Volunteer Appreciation Night. Contact Mitch if you didn't receive your invitation: [email protected].Saturday, November 18, 10 am-12pm: Co-op box pick up. Friends Meeting House at 125 W. Sickle Street in Kennett Square
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SPECIAL FEATURE:
Annual Meeting Recap and Call Action
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The KCG Fall Celebration and Annual Meeting took place Friday evening, October 27 in the Kennett Library’s lovely reception space and auditorium.
Thanks go to the Events Committee, chaired by Rachel Warren, and all of the volunteers who helped with setup, crafts, the signup table, cleanup, etc. We have a wonderfully efficient and friendly team – and are always on the lookout for new member-helpers!
Thanks also to Café Emis, Casa Carmen Wines, and Victory Brewing for sending along some of your finest food, wine, and beer! (The leftovers were good, too!) In addition, thanks to the donors who provided raffle prizes!
There were two highlights to the evening. The first, as always, was the chance to mingle with fellow Member-Owners, a truly varied, interesting, and dedicated bunch. The second was the update from Board President Edie Burkey and Business Advisory Chair Tom Sausen on where KCG stands today and what the immediate plans are for the growth – financially and in membership – that will bring about the actual store. The good news: we are on track to make bricks and mortar, not to mention the food and products we yearn for, happen!
Edie stressed the importance of volunteers to making the store a reality – we need twice as many as we currently have. (Here’s a way to sign up.) And, as noted above, she encouraged members to put themselves forward in this month’s Board elections. She pointed out the role of nutrition in overall health and the ability of a locally owned and sourced co-op to support good health. She stressed community involvement – connections KCG is already making with local organizations, businesses, and the borough of Kennett itself. Some of the connections that have been made with local vendors will continue in the form of a member benefits program which will be rolled out in coming months.
Tom then stepped in to talk about the nuts and bolts of getting what is essentially a “start-up company” off the ground. He highlighted the seasoned advice available to KCG through the Food Co-op Initiative organization and from paid and unpaid friends and advisors who have deep experience in co-op development. Three key points of Tom’s message are the importance of increased community awareness about KCG and its mission, the launch of the vital Community Investment Fund in the next few months, and the Board’s goal to open the store debt free.
KCG continues to move forward: the Board is actively talking with realtors about property, volunteers are stepping up (and will be celebrated on Nov. 16 at an appreciation night), concrete fundraising strategies are underway, community connections are being made. The Call to Action for 2023 heading into 2024 is to get involved. A Kennett Community Grocery store can be a reality with the financial and physical participation of all of us, the Member-Owners, and the many more we recruit to the effort.
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JOIN THE COMMUNITY!
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