Volunteer-Led Campaign Invites Community to Help Unlock $10,000 Gift
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Greenfield, MA — In recognition of Volunteer Appreciation Month, volunteers at Stone Soup Café are giving back by organizing a volunteer-powered fundraising campaign to support Stone Soup Café.
The goal is to crowdfund at least 250 individual donations, unlocking a $10,000 gift from a group of donors. All donations to the campaign support weekly pay-what-you-can meals, groceries, and community programming in Greenfield.
With 516 volunteers contributing 9,764 hours in 2025, the Café is sustained by a wide community of people who cook, serve, and deliver meals every week. This campaign centers these relationships, encouraging volunteers to reach out to friends, family, and neighbors to invite them to participate.
“Volunteers are the heart of Stone Soup Café. This place is built on people choosing to care for one another, and this campaign makes that visible,” said Mike Phillips, Board President and an organizer of the fundraiser. “I hope that anyone who has ever volunteered at the Café finds a way to take part in this fundraiser by sharing what they love about the Café or inviting someone else to give in their honor. This is a chance for the broader community to recognize and support all our hard-working, dedicated volunteers." Phillips, who has been volunteering with Stone Soup Café for more than five years, hopes to raise $1,000 through his personal campaign page.
The campaign, which goes through April 30th, invites participation in multiple ways: making a gift, encouraging others to contribute, or sharing a personal story about why the Café matters to you. These stories help others realize the impact Stone Soup Café has in creating community space.
“Being new to the area, I began volunteering during COVID as a way to meet people while giving back to the community,” says Mara Kohls, another organizer of the fundraiser and a Stone Soup Board Member. “My time spent during the 6:30 AM Saturday morning shift fills my soul, and I make recurring monthly donations to give back for all that I receive each and every week. Now that I am a board member, I can confidently share that Stone Soup Cafe uses every dollar it receives with care, dignity, and wisdom to support and build our community.”
In the past year, 346 new volunteers joined the Café, alongside 170 returning volunteers, reflecting a growing network of people invested in building a more connected and equitable local food system. That network is supported by 1,105 donors, who provide nearly half of the organization’s $680,800 annual budget, demonstrating a broad base of community investment.
The $10,000 gift will be released in portions at key milestones in the campaign. Each contribution, no matter the size, plays a role in releasing these funds. “These donors want their support to encourage broad participation and reflect how Stone Soup Café actually works,” says Jansyn Thaw, Development Director at the Café, who helped secure the challenge grant from a small group of donors. “The Café is sustained by all of us together, not just a few of us alone.”
Stone Soup provides an infrastructure for people to support their neighbors by cooking delicious, healthy meals, sharing high-quality groceries, and creating connections and routines for everyone in their orbit. By focusing on peer-to-peer outreach, the campaign embodies one of Stone Soup Café's core tenets: mutual aid.
Community members are invited to support the campaign by making a donation, sharing a volunteer’s story, or learning more about how to get involved. The campaign runs through April. Visit givebutter.com/volunteer-fundraising to contribute and join the effort.
About Stone Soup Café
Stone Soup Café creates a welcoming space in Greenfield where all are invited to share nourishment, connection, and learning. Through its Pay-What-You-Can meals, Everybody’s Community Store, and community programs, the Café works to increase access to healthy food while strengthening community connections.
Contact Info: Michael Phillips - Volunteer and Board President (mike@thestonesoupcafe.org)
Posted: to Community Newsletter on Fri, Apr 10, 2026
Updated: Fri, Apr 10, 2026