In our first year in operation, we’ve made such great progress and achieved significant milestones thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, donors, and team:
- 254 volunteer hours: Our volunteers have generously donated their time to coordinate pickups, deliver items, and sort donations.
- 8,367 lbs of rescued items: We have rescued a substantial amount of food and other items that would have otherwise gone to waste.
- $6,650 in donations: Your financial support enables us to cover operational costs and expand our services.
By The Numbers…
Since our last update in December, we have continued to make a meaningful impact:
- Pickups every day of the week: We have increased our impact by expanding our volunteer networks and business partner connections.
- Food and Item Rescues: We continue to rescue a wide range of items, including bagels, bakery products, sandwiches, clothing, and other essential goods.
- Bagels – 1,600 lbs
- Bakery – 750 lbs
- Sandwiches – 430 lbs
- Other food items – 680 lbs
- Clothing – 310lbs
- Volunteer hours: Our volunteers have contributed over 150 hours so far this year, demonstrating their unwavering commitment.
General Update
- We are consistently delivering bagels, bakery items, and sandwiches to several local charities, helping to alleviate food insecurity in our community.
- We have provided bedding and detergent to animal shelters, ensuring the well-being of our furry friends.
- We have donated baby formula and women’s clothing to support vulnerable families.
- Our board members volunteered at the holiday give out at Northern Lehigh Food Bank.
- Our partnership with Northern Lehigh School District resulted in a pre-winter holiday food rescue, providing much-needed supplies to local charities. Forward thinking by their administration results in minimal waste and maximum impact to the community.
- Amazon reached out and donated a pallet of bottled water. The pickup and distribution was coordinated by one of our charity partners.
- Via of the Lehigh Valley’s volunteer support has greatly expanded our pickup and delivery capacity during the week.
Continued Success for our Surplus Program
Many local charities and nonprofit organizations sometimes receive more food and personal item donations than they need. Rather than sitting on a shelf and potentially going beyond expiration, we work with these organizations to redistribute the excess to other local charities in need.
We rescued and delivered over 1,000 lbs so far in 2024!
Fundraising Update
We are actively fundraising to lease a pickup/delivery van. This van will significantly increase our transportation capabilities, allowing us to rescue and deliver more items to those in need. Please consider making a donation to help us continue our mission. LINK HERE
New Charity Partners
We are excited to welcome the Food Bank at Jordan Lutheran Church and Dough2Door as new charity partners. These partnerships will enable us to reach a wider network of individuals and families in need.
Volunteer Opportunities
We know that most of you want to help, but are not sure how. We offer multiple ways to get involved and make a difference:
- Pickup and delivery: Assist with the transportation of donated items.
- Business connections: Connect us with local businesses that may have items to donate.
- Item sorting: Help sort and organize donated clothing and personal items.
- College clean-outs: Organize donation drives at colleges and universities.
- Board involvement: Join our board and provide leadership in your areas of expertise, such as strategy, fundraising,accounting, and marketing.
We understand that you may be too busy with other activities to contribute your time. Monetary donations are always welcome to help support our mission and cover operational costs and expand our services.
Thank you for your continued support of iHave iNeed. Your generosity and commitment are making a real difference in the lives of those in need.
We invite you to stay connected with us on social media, visit our website, and spread the word about our mission. Together, we can create a more just and equitable community for all.