Lunch With a Purpose prepares for next season of fundraising
Lunch with a Purpose members recently met at the Clubhouse at Baywood to plan their 2021-22 season.
Board members talked with representatives from eight of the nine charities that will serve as hosts and recipients starting in September.
Due to COVID restrictions, Lunch With a Purpose held virtual meetings for the 2020-21 season. Thanks to its loyal supporters, local charities received more than $25,000 from this effort. Supporters also provided more than 3,000 pounds of food for the Community Resource Center Food Bank.
Meetings for the upcoming season will be held in person following COVID guidelines in place at the time. Participating charities include Rehoboth Art League, Rob Scheer Comfort Cases, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Delaware, Champions for Children’s Mental Health, Southern Delaware Therapeutic Riding, What is Your Voice, Children’s Beach House, West Rehoboth Children and Youth Program, and Village Volunteers. All charities serve Sussex County.
In an effort to extend the group’s reach, Signatures at Bayside has been added to complement its existing lunch venues Clubhouse at Baywood, Rehoboth Beach Country Club and Hyatt Place Dewey Beach.
Lunch With a Purpose began 14 years ago as a small group of local women who met regularly and were determined that lunch should not be their only reason for gathering. Led by Cheryl Mitchell, the group began to collect goods for charity while enjoying a lunch and good company. Since then, luncheon attendance has grown to nearly 200 for each event. Board members choose beneficiaries from applicants that they feel are underserved in the community and encourage them to promote their cause while providing raffle items for bid.
Luncheons are held from September through May, and charities receive 100 percent of proceeds from the raffle items they supply. Lunch With a Purpose was recognized recently for its efforts with a Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Award.
To learn more, go to Lunch With a Purpose/Coastal Delaware on Facebook and click on the send email tab to sign up for monthly notifications of luncheons or to donate items for raffles.
