It’s the ultimate feel-good Thanksgiving story — the community coming together with a big helping hand to raise much need funds to feed those in need.
Bob and Rhonda Silver, longtime supporters of the work of Toni’s Kitchen, launched a five-day matching gift initiative on Friday, November 20 to raise funds for food relief programs at Toni’s Kitchen. The initiative resulted in an unprecedented community outpouring, totaling $111,291.50 from 492 donors. The Silver Family Foundation/The Bravitas Group matched these donations dollar-for-dollar for a total impact of $222,583 in funds raised.
COVID-19 has created huge pressures on area food support organizations. Restaurant owners and workers, professional families with double incomes, hospitality industry employees and those working in the Arts suddenly found themselves without any income, overnight. Food support is needed while these neighbors regroup and find a new path forward. Toni’s Kitchen now provides an average of 20,000 meals a week under three major umbrella programs: groceries for families; groceries and homemade meals for seniors; and hot meals to-go for their soup kitchen guests. This is an almost five-fold increase from their average of 4,300 weekly meals just last year.
“The need is beyond anything we could have imagined,” said Anne Mernin, Executive Director of Toni’s Kitchen. “Some of our families will need a few years to regain their footing and we need to take a long view of this. Bob and Rhonda’s donation allows us to do just that. We are overwhelmed by their generosity and their commitment addressing this urgent need.”
“In these very difficult times, we are humbled by the generosity of our friends and the community who contributed $111,291.50 to help their neighbors in need. Anne Mernin and the many Toni’s Kitchen volunteers work tirelessly to help feed the community,” said Rhonda and Bob Silver.
For more information about Toni’s Kitchen and to support its work, visit www.toniskitchen.org.