Produce Fairy Collective
Donation protected
This fund was created to support the residents of Chelsea, Massachusetts.
Why Chelsea, Massachusetts?
The 2.2 mile area of Chelsea is suffering through the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic in the entire state. While they're only two miles from Boston, they are one of the poorest cities in the region. Many individuals work in the food & service industry (restaurants, cafes, hotels, retail) and are, sadly, now out of work.
Sixty percent of Chelsea's residents speak Spanish as their primary language and a majority of the population identifies as Latinx. Since 30,000 of them are undocumented, many do not have access to unemployment and government-funded relief programs. They do not have money for food and are gathering at the food pantries throughout the city. I've witnessed lines of 1,000+ people waiting in line to get food for their families. This isn't a 3rd-world country; this is Boston, USA!
How This Started:
The Produce Fairy Collective started with 1 produce box - a big box of beautiful vegetables, greens, and fruit that costs just $25 but contains about $60 worth of produce. I brought that box to a friend who lives in Chelsea. The following week, thanks to contributions from friends and family, I took 16 boxes to a Chelsea apartment building. And when I put out the call for more contributions on social media, I received hundreds of donations ($26K+ to date including what we've raised here and offline). It was with that round of donations that we got the nickname, the Produce Fairy Collective, and I decided to launch this page to streamline donations.
I have since aligned with the Chelsea Collaborative (a group that empowers Chelsea residents to enhance the social and economic health of the community). They operate a large food pantry out of their offices at 318 Broadway on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a pantry from St Luke's Church at 201 Washington Ave on Saturdays. I am using all donations from this fund to provide produce boxes and other necessary food items to their pantries each week.
I get all this beautiful produce from Katsiroubas Brothers , a wholesale fruit, produce, and speciality food company in Boston that's been operating for more than 100 years. They typically supply very high quality produce to Boston's restaurants and are now providing produce to residential consumers, too. Torry Katsiroubas-Stamm is the female owner of the company and has been an outstanding partner.
It is my belief that we cannot leave these individuals behind to suffer through this pandemic alone. They have fed us in Boston's restaurants, bars, & cafes; they have provided service in hotels & retail businesses; and they need our help now more than ever.
Please consider a $25 donation to get a box of produce to a family in need. Thank you so much for your generosity.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I donate multiple increments of $25 to donate multiple boxes?
Yes! Your generosity is the key to feeding these people this week, next month, and for the many months during which we'll endure this pandemic. Please, however, allow us the flexibility to send food items besides produce if that's what the community needs.
Who's in charge here?
The Produce Fairy Collective was started by Maggie Battista, an entrepreneur and small business advisor in Boston. However, it's been supported by the amazing efforts of Katsirousbas Brothers and the hundreds of individuals who help get the word out on social media. When she's not supporting this fund, Maggie supports hospitality ventures and small businesses in service, food, hospitality, and wellness. She is especially passionate about raising the profiles and wages of women, and people of color, and getting fresh food to marginalized communities.
How do I know that the money will end up where it's supposed to?
I plan to keep everyone up to date through my Instagram page as produce is donated. I'm also maintaining an email list for those who want regular email updates.
How often/quickly will deliveries be sent to Chelsea?
We've already begun delivering produce to Chelsea (starting 4/23/20). Once GoFundMe starts sending us the money, we will continue to send produce on a weekly basis.
Can my non-profit get in on this fund?
I've currently focused all deliveries to Chelsea, Massachusetts so please be in touch if you have a need in that city. I hope to help other areas as the fund grows.
Is this tax-deductible?
Unfortunately, no. This is considered a gift - thank you so much! :)
Why Chelsea, Massachusetts?
The 2.2 mile area of Chelsea is suffering through the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic in the entire state. While they're only two miles from Boston, they are one of the poorest cities in the region. Many individuals work in the food & service industry (restaurants, cafes, hotels, retail) and are, sadly, now out of work.
Sixty percent of Chelsea's residents speak Spanish as their primary language and a majority of the population identifies as Latinx. Since 30,000 of them are undocumented, many do not have access to unemployment and government-funded relief programs. They do not have money for food and are gathering at the food pantries throughout the city. I've witnessed lines of 1,000+ people waiting in line to get food for their families. This isn't a 3rd-world country; this is Boston, USA!
How This Started:
The Produce Fairy Collective started with 1 produce box - a big box of beautiful vegetables, greens, and fruit that costs just $25 but contains about $60 worth of produce. I brought that box to a friend who lives in Chelsea. The following week, thanks to contributions from friends and family, I took 16 boxes to a Chelsea apartment building. And when I put out the call for more contributions on social media, I received hundreds of donations ($26K+ to date including what we've raised here and offline). It was with that round of donations that we got the nickname, the Produce Fairy Collective, and I decided to launch this page to streamline donations.
I have since aligned with the Chelsea Collaborative (a group that empowers Chelsea residents to enhance the social and economic health of the community). They operate a large food pantry out of their offices at 318 Broadway on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a pantry from St Luke's Church at 201 Washington Ave on Saturdays. I am using all donations from this fund to provide produce boxes and other necessary food items to their pantries each week.
I get all this beautiful produce from Katsiroubas Brothers , a wholesale fruit, produce, and speciality food company in Boston that's been operating for more than 100 years. They typically supply very high quality produce to Boston's restaurants and are now providing produce to residential consumers, too. Torry Katsiroubas-Stamm is the female owner of the company and has been an outstanding partner.
It is my belief that we cannot leave these individuals behind to suffer through this pandemic alone. They have fed us in Boston's restaurants, bars, & cafes; they have provided service in hotels & retail businesses; and they need our help now more than ever.
Please consider a $25 donation to get a box of produce to a family in need. Thank you so much for your generosity.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I donate multiple increments of $25 to donate multiple boxes?
Yes! Your generosity is the key to feeding these people this week, next month, and for the many months during which we'll endure this pandemic. Please, however, allow us the flexibility to send food items besides produce if that's what the community needs.
Who's in charge here?
The Produce Fairy Collective was started by Maggie Battista, an entrepreneur and small business advisor in Boston. However, it's been supported by the amazing efforts of Katsirousbas Brothers and the hundreds of individuals who help get the word out on social media. When she's not supporting this fund, Maggie supports hospitality ventures and small businesses in service, food, hospitality, and wellness. She is especially passionate about raising the profiles and wages of women, and people of color, and getting fresh food to marginalized communities.
How do I know that the money will end up where it's supposed to?
I plan to keep everyone up to date through my Instagram page as produce is donated. I'm also maintaining an email list for those who want regular email updates.
How often/quickly will deliveries be sent to Chelsea?
We've already begun delivering produce to Chelsea (starting 4/23/20). Once GoFundMe starts sending us the money, we will continue to send produce on a weekly basis.
Can my non-profit get in on this fund?
I've currently focused all deliveries to Chelsea, Massachusetts so please be in touch if you have a need in that city. I hope to help other areas as the fund grows.
Is this tax-deductible?
Unfortunately, no. This is considered a gift - thank you so much! :)
Organizer
Maggie Battista
Organizer
Lynnfield, MA