Christmas is all about giving to those in need and demonstrating gratitude towards others, and the people of Gowanda did just that this holiday season. Ensering Hopes and Dreams Incorporated knew it was imperative to build a strong foundation for success. To help the community and the non-profit all at once, our staff worked diligently to host a launch event during the holidays.
From December 20th to 27th, new followers on our Instagram account (@WeGiveYouSmile) contributed to putting food on families’ tables. EHD would donate one food item to The Gowanda Food Pantry for every new follower added on Instagram. This not only helped our local food pantry, but it also helped to gain awareness for the organization. When the announcement was made, the community’s generosity poured in and gave the event an overwhelming show of support. The event was shared all over social media, making the non-profit’s launch a success with 150 new Instagram followers and 150 items of food to be donated.
Gowanda’s local Shop ‘n Save, managed by the Fort Family, is an integral part of the community. The store is open come rain, shine, or snow, to provide food and other necessities to families year-round. The Fort Family not only sponsored this event but also covered the food costs and had the food ready for pick-up on donation day. The family also took the initiative to donate an extra five items towards the event, showing even more generosity than before, and bringing the total to 155 food items. Sponsoring this event was not only a way to give back during the holidays, but it allowed the Fort Family to give back to the community in which they serve.
Members of our Board kept in constant contact with the food pantry to ensure everything ran smoothly. In the midst of shortages, the organization wanted to make sure the food pantry had what it needed. This communication led to the pantry’s top five needs being donated on time. Among the items donated were the following: 40 cans of spaghetti sauce, 40 Chef Boyardee microwavable bowls, 25 jars of peanut butter, 25 jars of jelly, and 25 packages of fresh 1 lb ground beef. In addition to donating food items, our staff prepared 50 pre-made meal kits, which included utensils, napkins, plastic cups, plates, and bowls all in one bag. These kits allow families in need to receive the essentials without the financial burden.
It meant so much to us that this event was such a success. Gaining followers was just the beginning. Our cause was made visible to the public and more people can follow along with the non-profit’s mission. People have seen that we are dedicated to our hometown as well as taking pride in our work and delivering what we promise. Looking at the bigger picture, EHD had the support of Gowanda. The event was made possible thanks to the support and sponsorship from Shop ‘n Save & the Fort Family. A big thank-you also goes out to everyone who supported us during the event, and to the people who will continue to do so. Ensering Hopes and Dreams Incorporated would finally like to extend our appreciation to The Gowanda Food Pantry. We encourage people to continue showing support towards them throughout 2022.
As the organization moves forward, we plan on making the meal kits a regular donation on our behalf. This continued effort will keep the pantry’s shelves full for anyone in the community that could benefit from the kits. The community will also influence our focus throughout our first year of operation. Anyone wishing to collaborate or offer insight with Ensering Hopes & Dreams Incorporated is greatly encouraged to contact us via our website, email, phone, Instagram, or Facebook. To stay up to date with future non-profit events & programs, be sure to follow our Instagram page: @WeGiveYouSmile and/or Facebook: Ensering Hopes & Dreams Incorporated. Thank you kindly for spending a few minutes with us & we hope you have a great rest of your day!
