We officially underwrote the launch of the Exploration Eats Program for The Children’s Home of Reading!
THANKS to Supporters like YOU!
During the 2021 Holiday Season, Do It Local accepted the challenge to raise enough funds to launch the Exploration Eats Program in 2022 for the kids at the Children’s Home of Reading.
During a 2 Week Do It Local Family Meal PopUp Challenge with 24 loving PopUp Hosts and 6 incredible local restaurants; we raised enough funds to launch the Exploration Eats Program in 2022 at the Children’s Home of Reading!
The Challenge was a true success for everyone included!
748 Total Meals Served (surpassing the 500 goal!) significantly helping our local restaurant partners when they need it most!
630 incredibly caring & awesome participating families (who also got to enjoy a night off from cooking while eating together at home).
143 Family Meals Donated to local families in need with MADJ Marketing donating 100 of these meals!
Officially underwriting the launch of The Exploration Eats program in 2022 for The Children's Home of Reading with the funds raised!
All thanks to the love and support of 24 PopUp Hosts and 6 incredible local restaurants (Crave Café, Nonno Alby’s, Mimmo’s Restaurant, Vincenzo’s Ristorante, Gourmand Café, and Klinger’s Pub)
Our hearts are filled by the generosity of our local community who together bought 143 of our Family Meals for loving foster families who could use a little extra love around the holidays. Through a partnership with Threads of Change, we distributed the donated meals on 12/21 and 12/22. WFMZ even came out to our distribution to share this heartwarming story with our community. This success was largely thanks to MADJ Marketing who donated 100 of the meals!
We are so unbelievably thankful for every single order, every single share, and every single accomplishment!
This PopUp Challenge meant a lot to me because we are not only helping locally owned restaurants during a time where they need it most; but also, because we are helping the Children’s Home of Reading give their kids the best Holiday Gift ever…. the Exploration Eats Program!
What is a Family Meal Popup Fundraiser?
It’s when a PopUp host promotes Family Meals to be ordered using an easy link to their neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers for easy curbside pickup at their house or office on a specific day within a 30 minute window (which we call their PopUp Day).
On their PopUp Day, the restaurant comes to their location and distributes the delicious Family Meals curbside (so you don’t have to get out of your car) within a 30 minute window. Super easy, fast, and delicious! A percentage of each meal is donated back to a specific organization. For these 2 weeks, a percentage of all 748 meals sold went back to The Children’s Home of Reading to underwrite the Exploration Eats Program which will teach children Culture Diversity and Inclusiveness through food during difficult times.
The Exploration Eats Program will provide the children with a chance to taste cuisine from across the globe. Once a month, a different culture will be featured. Through food, the education of various cultures will be explored with the intent to embrace differences and build tolerance.
Food is a language unto itself and brings people together.
Many of us take for granted the opportunity to enjoy a variety of cuisines at restaurants across the region. However, there are many households where that exposure is not possible. The children at CHOR have requested the chance to immerse themselves in new cultures through this experiential program and learn more about the world around them. Thank you for helping us breakup the National Lunch Program meals and bring the Exploration Eats Program to life for these amazing kids.
Overcoming misunderstanding and intolerance in the world by breaking bread together.
However, our work is not done - we launched the Exploration Eats Program but we must continue to raise funds to keep the program going & growing! Learn more about the Exploration Eats program by visiting the Children’s Home of Reading’s website.
Of course the ultimate goal is to help to find all the local children placed with The Children's Home of Reading a foster home; but in the meantime we will keep brightening their days and giving them all the love we possibly can with the help of our incredible community right here in Berks County!
To learn more about the Exploration Eats program visit www.buildingkidslives.org. If you are interested in learning more about foster care or adoption register for a free info night by calling 610-478-8266 ext. 435.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Heather Brady
Thank you for making this holiday season brighter for those less fortunate while also supporting these amazing local restaurant partners!
Questions or ideas about Family Meal PopUps? Send an email to Heather: heather@doitlocalberks.com
Click HERE to visit the Children’s Home of Reading’s website to learn more about the Exploration Eats Program as well as other amazing things our friends at the Children’s Home of Reading are doing throughout Berks County for our kids.
Questions or ideas about Exploration Eats Program? Contact The Children’s Home of Reading 610-478-8266 ext. 1249.
The Family Meal Popup Program is made possible by our title sponsor and Do It Local Marketing Partner, MADJ Marketing.
Thank you to Darren Kostival of REMAX, Gourmand Café, Grove Dental Group, and Skin Sanctuary Spa for supporting this Children’s Home of Reading Family Meal PopUp Challenge!