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Looking for a volunteer opportunity?

I run a project called Getting at the Roots of Hunger. We provide free seed to anyone who will plant it and share with other people in need, either the neighbor down the street who may be experiencing crisis, or donate the produce to the local food shelf. Churches grow gardens for their food shelves, shelters have their own gardens, and senior housing units have their own gardens too. Help me raise funds, because there are seven more states that want to participate, and right now the project is in MN. I created the project, and 2008 will be its fifth year. Help fight hunger across the United States! You do not have to look far to find hungry people! We buy our seed in bulk, wholesale, and volunteers package it up. Is there a way you can help? Donations to my organization are tax deductible. We are utilizing a nonprofit fiscal agent (a 501 (c) (3) organization) and are considered a branch of that organization, until we have our own nonprofit status. This saves us from having to hire an accountant, so the majority of donations are go right to program services. see the fiscal agent at www.capsh.org - a community action agency. Good idea on the website, it might be time. Believe me when I say I'm not twiddling my thumbs in between growing seasons. I need more helpers and more donors.

Public Comments

1. I researched this group and you can also at: /www.gardenworksmn.org/Resources/Roots_of_Hunger I tend to be a bit leery of these kinds of requests but think this is a good one.
2. Do you have a website created yet? You should. For less then $10.00 a year you can buy a domain name and for a few bucks a month have your own web host account. Having a website brings the world to your front door so that you can share with others your wonderful service. Are you a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charitable organization? If not, you might want to consider filing to become one as then you can solicit for donations, both financial and tangible items and provide a tax-deduction receipt to your donors. My friend just become a 501 (c) (3) and he paid someone about $300 to set everything up. You could place on your web page a free Paypal 'Donations' button so donors then could contribute online via Paypal, minus Paypal's transaction fees. Of course, you can't then give the donor a tax-deductible receipt unless you are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charitable organization. But you still might get some donations. Do you ever watch the TV show "Dirty Jobs? I remember when Rowe had an episode of a dairy farmer who used his cow's waste and created an injection process and makes "Cow Pots." Now, my marketing thoughts for you would be to contact them. You two might make for a good business idea. Read more about Cow Pots here: http://www.freundsfarmmarket.com/cowpots/story.html I know there are many food security programs around the world, most of them outside America, but it might be worth contacting some of them and asking for any suggestions.
3. Have you registered with VolunteerMatch? I've heard it recommended to find a place to volunteer, so maybe you can get helpers.