Social service organization kicks off campaign

SEEDS, which stands for selfless love, empowerment, equity, deliberate partnership, and stewardship, is a new nonprofit serving the Conestoga Valley (CV) community. Focusing on education, health care services, and housing, SEEDS is now ready to kick off its first giving campaign for the purpose of growing the organization's funds, hiring employees, and renting office space.

"It's a big giving campaign," said SEEDS president, Michelle Kime. "Our goal is $100,000 because we are dreaming big." The campaign will kick off on Monday, April 17, and run through Friday, May 5. "We are partnering with a bunch of local businesses because we want to be community oriented," shared Kime. Participating local businesses include Coffee Co., which will give 4% of sales each Tuesday from all four locations - New Holland, Lancaster Shopping Center, Lititz, and Mill Creek Square. Rachel's Cafe & Creperie in Lancaster is creating a special crepe with sprouts, turkey, and cucumber, and $2 from each crepe sold will be donated, along with 10% of all sales on May 5. There will be a tip jar for SEEDS at the register. Gracie' on West Main in Leola will make a special spring cookie for SEEDS, and a percentage of profits from each cookie purchased will go to SEEDS. Stroopies, an organization that employs refugee women to create sweet treats, will raise funds through its website. Those who order using the code "CVSEEDS" will give 30% of the order price to SEEDS. Rohrer Seeds will participate as well.

"Our information will be in all those businesses, and we will promote each other," said Kime.

SEEDS is already at work in the area of education, teaching free English as a second language (ESL) classes, which began on March 21, at Faith Church. According to SEEDS vice president Kristen Hershey, class size has tripled since the fall, and the current program is serving 24 adults and 20 children in four classes with more than 40 volunteers helping out. The next classes are scheduled for fall. Kime noted that SEEDS is quickly running out of space at Faith Church, and the organization would like to find a rental in the CV area that would work for offices as well.

In the area of housing, SEEDS has connected with Good Samaritan Services and Homes of Hope, and in the health care sector, the goal is to provide medical and dental services from a central CV location.

SEEDS has been blessed with an automatic matching gift in the fundraising effort. "When we reach $20,000, we get to $40,000," explained Kime, who noted that funds may be donated through the organization's website at https://seedscv.com, as well as through the partnership efforts.

"We would love monthly givers because they sustain our budgeting," said Hershey, who noted that gifts in any amount are welcome and that receipts for tax purposes are available.

Working with Ryan Glick at 513 Media, SEEDS is creating a promotional video that will launch at its website, as well as on Facebook and Instagram. "That will be ready in time for the giving campaign launch," said Hershey. Readers can learn more about SEEDS by searching for "Conestoga Valley SEEDS" on Facebook or @seedscv on Instagram.