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MCF COVID-19 relief campaign thank you

August 24, 2020

The mission of the Milton Community Foundation is to promote the well-being of the community and undertake programs and projects that serve the citizens of Milton.  We are a nonprofit educational and charitable organization that is governed by a volunteer board, and our activities are supported by fundraising events, grants, donations, and bequests. 

In the beginning of April, the MCF initiated a fundraising effort to help COVID-19-impacted families and individuals because we thought others in Milton might want to help but weren’t certain how best to do this.

So, in partnership with Milton schools, civic, business and religious organizations, the MCF asked them to help identify families and individuals needing some help with ‘food security’ due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To respect the privacy of families and individuals, the MCF only obtained the number of families or individuals that needed help in the form of a Food Lion gift card.  The MCF provided the cards and the identifying organizations distributed them.

The community support for this effort was overwhelming.  In initial discussions, we thought a modest goal of $5,000 might be possible, but we decided to have a stretch goal of $10,000.  We started a GoFundMe campaign and did some community outreach.  Within 13 days, we exceeded our goal.  We decided to revise our goal and stretched it to $20,000.  We successfully raised $19,000.

As a result, the MCF was able to purchase 233 $75 Food Lion gift cards which we continue to distribute. In addition, 109 $20 cards were purchased and distributed to Milton students who receive a daily meal from the Harry K Foundation.

Further, the MCF made a $200 donation to the Milton Community Food Pantry with the funds left over.

This was all made possible with the help of the community.  We received donations from the following: Bethel United Methodist Church, County Bank, I.G. Burton, Landscape Architectural Services, M&T Bank, The Milton Chamber of Commerce, The Milton Farmers Market, The Milton Garden Club, The Milton Lions Club, Parkowski, Guerke & Swayze, P.A., and Women’s Club of Milton.  

And with the permission of his donors, a contribution by John Potocki from the Gladys Wilkins Scholarship Fund was made to the campaign. In addition, there were 103 individual donations either via the GoFundMe campaign or by written checks.  

Further, Al and Mary of Frantic Frets hosted two online concerts to raise awareness and money, and a community member, Susan Bennett, took free porch photos of families and suggested that donations could be made to the campaign.

The donations ranged from $5 to $2,500.  Regardless of the amount, they all helped achieve the goal: help those in need.

This successful attempt to help our neighbors in need was truly a community effort and just reinforces that fact that Milton is a wonderful, caring place to call home. Thank you all.

Steve Crawford
president
Milton Community Foundation
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