Women-run grassroots group helps Brown Bag Ministries feed the hungry
Volunteer nonprofits across the Triangle have seen needs in their community increase. With the help of a local women's philanthropist group, Brown Bag Ministries has jumped into action.
Brown Bag Ministries is an organization dedicated to food and clothing distribution. It is feeding 1,400 people every Saturday in Wake County. But, the cost for feeding each person has jumped up to 185% more since the pandemic.
The organization used to spend 30 or 35 cents per bag -- now they are spending over a dollar.
This puts an immense financial burden on the nonprofit.
Women Who Give a Hoot is a membership-based philanthropist group. The group is designed so that women can give $100 each quarter to three randomly selected local nonprofits that make a presentation to the organization. This time, it was Brown Bag Ministries.
"The beauty of it," said Brandt, "is it is 100 women giving $100 directly to a nonprofit which means that we are actually giving $10,000."
Most of the time, the women decide to donate more.
"We've given anywhere from $11,900 up to $23,000 and change," she said.
But -- the pandemic has affected several of the philanthropists' jobs which limits their ability to give $100.
That's when Brandt and others agreed to change their organization structure and open up their organization to the community rather than working with members only.
Volunteers have donated more baked goods to put into each bag at Brown Bag Ministries, which will be handed out in Wake County. Other basic food items like bread have come up short lately. Volunteers are spending from their own pockets to fill these bags full of goods for those who are hungry.
Right now, 100% of the money raised by the Raleigh chapter of Women Who Give a Hoot goes to Brown Bag Ministries.
Through her work, Brandt has seen the impact of many people, giving a little or giving a lot, combined together into one check to help feed Wake County.
"It's wonderful to give, but if you give as a group, you get to feel what it means giving a sizable, very impactful donation with other people," said Brandt.
