Community Garden Kitchen of Collin County, Inc.

Our goal is to eliminate food insecurity in our county by building a permanent facility that will be open year round. Having secured the land, the next goal was to raise funds to build a 4800 sq.ft. free standing building. The next goal is to raise and maintain sufficient funds to operate on a daily basis. Construction will begin and complete in 2020. Food service will begin in 2021. Volunteers at Community Garden Kitchen are working to complete the first permanent kitchen in Collin County that will serve freshly prepared meals to anyone in need. Located in an area of need, the new kitchen, and dining hall will be open in the evening to address the nutritional needs of the working poor, public school and college students, senior citizens, the homeless and forgotten.

The Community Garden Kitchen is an important complement to other services providing food to fill the needs in our area. Many people experiencing hunger do not have the equipment, nor opportunity, to prepare or store food. This kitchen will be the only facility in Collin County open in the evening to meet the food needs of single parents, students, the working poor, the homeless and senior citizens. Opening in 2021, the Community Garden Kitchen will be a safe, welcoming place, where anyone in need of a meal may enjoy a delicious, healthy meal. Meals will be served restaurant style, in an effort to preserve the dignity of all our guests, and no one will be required to complete paperwork or present identification before being served. Seating will allow for between 85 -100 guests at one time. On Saturdays, the kitchen will offer free classes to the community on nutrition, cooking, budgeting, finance and gardening.

In 2018, approximately 1 in 4 McKinney ISD students qualified (based on family income) for free or reduced price meals. In 2017-2018, 1,156 students registered in Collin County were classified as homeless. In zip code 75069, as many as 4,000 people are estimated to be food insecure. The CGK facility will be centrally located in this area of high need so that we can reach and feed as many of our neighbors as possible. However, our definition of neighbor is broad and will include anyone in need, regardless of their zip code of residence.

The board of directors determined after much research, that a permanent facility serving meals on a consistant schedule was the best solution to combat hunger in the community and close the gap in existing services offered. Property to build upon has been acquired in a zip code area that has a high number of residents that are food insecure. Community Garden Kitchen (CGK) secured a twenty year lease on this property, with a twenty year option in place with the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas for $10 per year.

A critical next step was securing permission to build and operate a free kitchen in the county seat. Working with the city council and mayor, and city staff, CGK was granted permission to move forward with construction and conduct a feed program.

With the property in place, and permission to build granted, the next phase was to select a low maintance, energy efficient building design. Once the design was determined, a capital campaign was launched in 2016 after the organization received the 501 (c) 3 tax status.

Three annual major fundraising events have been developed and executed in the past 3 years. A gala, a golf tournament, and a July 4th event, The Star Spangled Salsa Fest, comprise the three major events. This has resulted in substantial revenue and continues to be a primary source of funds. Numerous grants have been submitted to organizations that support capital developments. This has also been a successful effort. Speaking engagement occur year round, and serve as a fundraising effort, in addition to raising community awareness about food insecurity. A holiday mailer requesting donations is sent to over 900 area residents.

We offer sponsors the opportunity to engage in this important community effort to eliminate food insecurities in unique ways.
First is our Business Partner program – this is a year-long connection with CGK that offers business sponsors a multifaceted program that will drive both brand awareness and business opportunities.
Second, sponsors can engage with a particular event, either being the title sponsor or one of the sponsors.
Thirdly, we encourage sponsors to establish a particularly close community relationship by becoming on-going “build partners” who sponsor the foundation of our program.

Supporting the kitchen operation once the doors open for service will be an ongoing effort. Extensive connections have established through out the county with a variety of food sources and suppliers. The local college will be involved for staffing and guidance, and multiple organizations will supply both funding and volunteers. A professional kitchen manager and kitchen assistant will be hired to manage daily operations and volunteer staffing.

Additional strategies to guarantee sustainability include a vibrant and consistant public relations campaign, continued public speaking engagements, regular communication with the donor base.

Since the creation of the non profit, the board members of CGK have endeavored to establish a profession organization, designed to build a much needed facility to address food insecurity. Professionals from various businesses, educational institutions and community organizations have been invited to participate in the many aspects of the development and fundraising phase. Board members and dedicated volunteers have different responsibilities ranging from donor management, public relations, construction coordination, to event planning and finances. Monthly board meetings are held to apprise members of progress and plans long range goals.

An full audit was completed in 2018 to provide prospective donors with detailed information. Compartmentalization and monitoring of tasks is reviewed and revised by the executive committee on a regular basis. Engaging the right professional volunteer for a task is essential to achieving a the task at hand. Communication is ongoing with board members and volunteers and donors. Advise from professional fundraisers, restaurant professionals and promotional people is sought, evaluated and accepted when a need or task arises.

CGK members have proved their capabilities in producing profitable, fundraising events several years running. Grant writing skills offered by volunteers, have resulted in sizeable gifts. A group of professional writers have submitted articles concerning food insecurity and CGK's future facility and goals to numerous news outlets for publication, resulting in donations as well as interest in volunteering.

Established a goal to eliminate food insecurity in Collin County.
Secured property in a food insecure area in the county seat.
Negotiated a 20 year lease for the property with a 20 year option for $10 per year
Applied for and received permission to become a 501 (c)3 non-profit
Built a professional organization in compliance with all federal rules
Raised awareness of food insecurity in the area
Raised over $650,000 for construction
Designed an energy efficient free standing building
Developed connections to support and sustain a food service facility
The building will be completed and ready to serve meals in the spring of 2021.