August 17th is National Nonprofit Day! We’d like to take a moment to appreciate all the nonprofit organizations in our communities that help those who are in need. From our volunteers to our donors to the dedicated kitchen staff that make hundreds of thousands of meals for our clients a year, we thank you for all your support.
National Nonprofit Day has a longer history than you might think. On August 17th, 1894, the Tariff Act was signed into law. This Tariff law exempted nonprofit organizations from certain taxes and tariffs, benefiting socially focused organizations by encouraging them to re-invest in their communities. From then on, nonprofits grew into the diverse array of organizations we see today. We are so lucky to be among a community of dedicated organizations that today employ over 800,000 Bay Staters.
Nonprofit organizations help fill needs in our communities by advancing social causes for the common good. Organizations like Community Servings do not operate like a normal business; all the funds we raise go directly back into the program, allowing us to increase the number of clients we can serve. In the past two years, demand for our services has skyrocketed, and thanks to our generous donors and volunteers, we’re able to meet an increasing need.
Community Servings started in 1990 as a diverse group of AIDS activists, faith organizations, and community organizers to deliver hot, homemade meals to individuals living with HIV/AIDS. We started with a group of 30 clients and a handful of vehicles serving individuals in Dorchester and Roxbury. This year, we’re celebrating the 30th anniversary of our signature fundraising events, Pie in the Sky and LifeSavor, which is a testament to the immense progress we’ve made in expanding our mission. We now provide meals to all of Massachusetts with plans to serve neighboring states.
But above all else, National Nonprofit Day is not just about celebrating Community Servings; it is about highlighting the essential work that all nonprofits do to help our neighbors. Organizations like Project Bread, Boston Area Gleaners, Women’s Lunch Place among countless others inspire us to continue our work. We thank them for their partnership and guidance in being the most effective organization that we can be.
We could always use your help supporting our mission as well. Our volunteer program is an essential part of our operations at Community Servings. We currently host up to 70 daily volunteers in three shifts that make 3,400 medically tailored, scratch-made meals a week that go out to our clients. Sign up for any of these daily shifts, Monday through Friday, at our website, or make a donation.
