OSHaRE is launching a new campaign to celebrate the one million meals they will have served by mid-August.
Executive Director Colleen Trask-Seaman says the 1 Million Nickels campaign comes as they have been seeing a growing consistent need for their services.
“Last month was our highest month ever in June with 28,000 meals being shared with our community, and so definitely a very busy time for us,” says Trask-Seaman.
OSHaRE typically holds one large fundraiser a year, but as the organization is set to hit a milestone of one million meals served to the community, they aim to raise one million nickels by Aug. 14.
“That in my estimation, is when we should hit that one million meal mark,” says Trask-Seaman. “We wanted it to be accessible to everyone in the community. Honestly, if pennies were still around, I probably would have chose pennies, but I just wanted everyone to feel like they are a part, because it has obviously taken an enormous amount of people to make those one million meals.”
She says several local businesses will have jars out to collect nickels for OSHaRE, including Sugar Dust, Dominoes, Tree House Children’s Clothing, Jersey Mike’s, Sunpoint, and Scenic City Game Emporium.
Zehrs will be hosting a drive and barbecue on Friday to support the fundraiser, while Wholesale Club will also collect donations when shoppers pay for their items.
Then on Aug. 14, OSHaRE will be holding an open house to celebrate the occasion.
“We are going to have games, and face painting, people can do tours and we are going to have nickel pancakes and a nickel lemonade stand, it’s all free, but we just kind of wanted to play with the nickel idea,” says Trask-Seaman.
More details can be found on OSHaRE’s website here.
