As we move through the summer months, we’re excited to share with you the incredible progress and impact that iHave iNeed has made since our Spring 2024 update. Your unwavering support continues to be the cornerstone of our success in maximizing sustainability and helping those in need.
Progress by the Numbers
Check out our significant growth in our rescue efforts and volunteer engagement:
- Volunteer Hours: Our dedicated volunteers have contributed over 134 hours of their time, ensuring that rescued items reach those who need them most.
- Items Rescued: We’ve rescued over 2,600 pounds of food and essential items, including:
- 726 lbs of bagels from Back Home Bagels and NOT Just Bagels
- 354 lbs of bakery items from Egypt Star
- 336 lbs of sandwiches from Wawa
- Over 2,500 vegetable plants and flowers
- Frequent Pickups: Our team continues to make 12+ pickups every week, maintaining a steady flow of resources to our charity partners.
Continued Momentum
- Surplus Program Success: Our surplus program continues to thrive, redistributing 1,100 lbs of fresh fruits, vegetables, and breads between local charities.
- Plant Rescue: We rescued and donated over 2,500 vegetable plants and flowers from several Flower Tents of the Lehigh Valley locations. These were delivered to charities for distribution to their clients, with some charities even using them in their onsite vegetable gardens.
- School District Donation: Northern Lehigh School District once again reached out to donate cases of chocolate milk, showcasing the ongoing support from our community partners.
- Upcoming Donation: We’re excited to announce an upcoming shipment of Earth Breeze laundry detergent sheets in September, which will benefit local shelters, food banks, and animal rescues.
- Collaborative Efforts: Our friends at The Kindness Project assisted us with a bagel rescue from NOT Just Bagels, demonstrating that teamwork truly does make the dream work!
- Continued Partnerships:
- Back Home Bagels (Schnecksville, PA) and NOT Just Bagels (Allentown, PA) continue their regular donations of bagels, amounting to several hundred pounds each month.
- Our partnership with Via of the Lehigh Valley remains strong, with their amazing clients and support staff reliably assisting in our weekly rescue and delivery efforts.
- New Partnership: We’ve partnered with the Allentown Area Ecumenical Food Bank, not only to accept donations but also to participate in our surplus program. This collaboration allows for even more efficient distribution of resources.
Thank You to Our Supporters
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our monetary donors. Your financial support is crucial in covering our operating expenses and enabling us to continue our mission. Every dollar contributes to making a significant difference in our community.