TOP REASONS TO DONATE TO NOURISH:

#1: NOURISH is at the forefront of volunteer experiences.

The NOURISH Farm to Table Tour is the first of its kind; providing three interlinking experiences of harvesting, preparing and sharing local farm fresh meals with struggling families all in one afternoon. The NOURISH team searched the country for a similar program and no other program that delivered this experience.

#2 NOURISH is not only unique; its successful.

100% of people participating in the NOURISH Farm to Table Tour would recommend it to a friend. In NOURISH's first season, the tour scored a 4.8 out of 5 in satisfaction, both among volunteers and the homeless. All summer tours were booked by the first week of June, with little publicity beyond a flyer and emails. Twenty-two tours were completed in 2009.

#3 NOURISH embraces a “pay it forward” philosophy.

With NOURISH, Sheboygan's homeless prepare fresh local snacks (carrots, snap peas, apples, etc.) for low income kids at local Boys and Girls Clubs; thus “paying it forward” to others in need. The homeless washed and prepared 790 of these healhty fruit and veggie snacks in 2009. Sargento graciously donated natural cheese snacks that NOURISH delivered along with the fruits and vegetables.

#4 NOURISH works with lower income children; 70%+ are on free lunch programs during the school year.

In summer, when children's need is the greatest because there are no free school lunches, NOURISH plans to expand beyond fresh local fruit and vegetable snacks to full meals at the Boys & Girls Club Stayer Center. In line with its “pay it forward” philosophy, NOURISH will use the expansion to teach the older kids to prepare fresh foods for the younger ones.

#5 NOURISH puts diverse people to work….together.

We've seen corporate executives learning to make salad dressing side-by-side with homeless factory workers. Very different backgrounds yet neither had a clue how to make a basic dressing. Food is a great venue for bringing people together and practicing social skills.

#6 NOURISH is a grassroots organization.

The idea for NOURISH began at the Sheboygan Salvation Army, where homeless guests couldn't get enough of the salad Carol Christensen's family had made with fresh farmers market ingredients. Carol and several friends started NOURISH so struggling families could access and learn about fresher, better food; thus improving their outlook and health. Little did they know NOURISH would quickly expand to three farms, five chefs and two shelters; all in its first season.

#7 NOURISH is about programs...not overhead.

NOURISH has no paid office space, no paid staff, and no physical assets. NOURISH leverages underutilized resources – farmers with extra fruits and vegetables, shelter kitchens not in use. Perhaps NOURISH will eventually need some “infrastructure,” but its core philosophy remains crystal clear: NOURISH is about hard work and results, not assets.

#8 NOURISH, and other Sheboygan County organizations, need you now more than ever.

Sheboygan County unemployment doubled this past year, homeless shelters like Salvation Army have been filled to capacity, and an estimated 45% of our children now qualify for free lunch programs during the school year. If there was ever a time to give it is now.

Tax deductable donations are made payable to

NOURISH, PO Box 911, Sheboygan WI 53082.

Questions? Call NOURISH at 920-918-0251.