Golola Charles’ Post

This past week has been incredibly challenging for our community in Los Angeles. Fires have swept through the city, leaving destruction in their wake and displacing countless families. While The Farmlink Project's mission is to improve fresh food access nationwide, Los Angeles holds a special place in our hearts. It’s where our journey began in 2020 with an egg delivery to the Westside Food Bank, and it remains the most food-insecure county in the U.S. Today, in the aftermath of these fires, the need is more urgent than ever. Here’s how we’re positioned to help: Immediate Relief Deliveries: If you are—or know—a community leader in need, we can work with our partners to deliver truckloads of fresh produce (30,000 pounds or more) within 24 hours. Resource Support: For those looking to move high volumes of resources into Los Angeles—such as water, food, equipment, or other donations—we can coordinate deliveries through our robust network of partners across the county. In the coming weeks, we’ll continue working to ensure that millions of servings of nutritious food reach those who need it most. We are deeply grateful to our partners who have generously donated food, resources, and funding, and we’ll keep you updated on our progress. If you’re able to contribute, we are accepting monetary donations restricted to LA Fire Relief [link below]. This will be a long rebuilding process for so many people and communities, and I want you to know—we aren’t going anywhere. If you know of ways we can help or if you need support, please email us at disasterrelief@farmlinkproject.org or reach out to me. 🧡💚

We have officially launched our end-of-year fundraising campaign. From November 1st to December 31st, we aim to raise $10,000 to support our school and community programs, and we need your help to get there. Why donate to Green Calgary? Protecting our environment, protects our children, communities, and the future of our loved ones. Green Calgary is dedicated to securing a better tomorrow by mobilizing citizens in the fight against climate change. We need your financial support to continue building climate-resilient communities. What does your donation do? 1. Ensures free environmental education for schools to combat climate anxiety and inaction among youth. 2. Provides food security and food waste reduction resources to low-income and immigrant families. 3. Supports energy efficiency education to help reduce our community’s carbon footprint. 4. Strengthens water conservation efforts to address Calgary's growing drought conditions. Donate today: https://buff.ly/4hD6oJq

We're proud to partner with Vancouver Food Runners (VFR) to donate the surplus produce from our R&D farm to local communities in need. While 58% of all food produced in Canada is wasted or lost each year, 1 in 5 households in B.C. face food insecurity. VFR helps bridge that gap by partnering with 150+ food businesses and 350+ volunteers to deliver food to 145+ nonprofits running essential food programs. 💚 Together, we're ensuring nothing goes to waste and giving fresh greens to those who need it most! ⭐ VFR is the only food recovery program in Metro Vancouver that can efficiently and effectively offer same-day food donation collection through its app technology and volunteer food recovery model. Since its launch in March 2020, VFR volunteers have delivered over 3.9 million pounds of food, mitigating 6.7 million pounds of CO2eq from the environment. Check them out to learn more about the amazing work they do! Vancouver Food Runners

Today is Hunger Action Day, and this is our call to action. 💡 The reality? 44 million Americans—including 1 in 5 children—face food insecurity. But every action we take can push us closer to a food insecurity-free future. From donating and volunteering to simply sharing this message, your impact starts now. Let’s take one million actions against food insecurity together because when people are fed, futures are nourished. 🧡 Let’s make hunger history: https://buff.ly/3Qn2jwi #HungerActionDay #EndHunger #SocialImpact #CorporateResponsibility #LongIslandCares #FoodInsecurity

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with loved ones, but as you prepare your home for family, don't forget to keep them safe from carbon monoxide (CO). 🦃🍂 Before turning up the heat in the kitchen to prep your Thanksgiving meal or lighting the fireplace to stay warm and cozy, follow these carbon monoxide safety tips: - Ensure your CO alarms are working; test them before guests arrive. - Never use your oven to heat your home, even if it’s cold outside. - Don’t run cars or generators in the garage, even with open doors. - Check your fireplace to make sure it’s venting properly. Learn more about carbon monoxide safety from the experts - NCOAA. This is Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month, and this month, donations up to a total of $5,000 will be matched, thanks to DD-Scientific and IPEX. Learn more and donate today: https://buff.ly/4hsgtce #NCOAA #COAwarenessMonth #GivingTuesday

We’re almost at our £1billion target in legacy income for charities! So today we're hearing from our partners at Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). Lizzie Cresswell and Franka Fueller built out their first first successful legacy campaigns for SAS with Farewill. Dorka Voicu, their account manager, tells us how much she enjoyed working with the team, and how good it was to see them getting confident with the demographic data provided through Spotlight, our industry-leading dashboard. Partners can read a case study and an interview with Lizzie in our Partner Hub. In the meantime, here’s what else they’ve said about working with Farewill: "Farewill’s platform is such a powerful tool for us. It’s really helped us expand our legacy income, and offer supporters a new way to support our work. The free will package allows us to give back to our members, while also helping us protect the ocean for decades to come. Plus, we’ve been so supported by Farewill’s team throughout – and the will-writing journey is super streamlined." Surfers Against Sewage have been campaigning to protect the ocean for more than 30 years - they’ve delivered new legislation to protect marine ecosystems and empowered communities everywhere to fight for our seas. With the help of gifts in wills, they can continue to defend and champion this vital life source, and leave a thriving, protected ocean for every generation to come. 💙 #legacygiving #charityfundraising #legacies

The government claims that 90% of the revenue from the carbon tax is rebated, but they don't talk about the impact on non-profits like schools, municipalities and charities. There are no rebates for them, but the costs are high. The Calgary Food Bank says they pay up to $4,000 A MONTH in carbon tax on their energy bill for just one distribution centre, not including fuel tax for their trucks. The plastics ban is also hurting as they now must purchase reusable bags - the cost has escalated from $3,000 to as much as $70,000 per year. They aren't even legally allowed to use Co-op's compostable bags. (I understand they may soon be accepting clean surplus canvas bags, in good repair, from donors). The Calgary Food Bank is feeding 700 families a day because the cost of living and cost of food has risen so sharply. The federal government not only contributed to this hardship, but is intent on making that service harder and more expensive to deliver. Please donate if you are able: https://lnkd.in/gzekHBDY #calgarycentre #yyccentre #cdnpoli #foodbank #carbontax #plasticsban

A project at Pete’s Garden in Kansas City aims to double prepared food donations from the food service sector, validating ReFED data and creating a playbook to help other cities turn surplus food into meals for families. https://lnkd.in/gDnHb6MT

At the Midwest Food Bank, an Atmos Energy community partner, 99% of every donation goes directly toward providing food to people in need. The remaining 1% of income is used for fundraising, costs of leadership, oversight, and other administrative expenses. Midwest Food Bank serves over 100 nonprofit partners in Texas by providing bulk food free of charge. These agencies embrace our communities by serving those in need, such as: Children. Senior citizens. Single-parent families. Veterans. In observance of Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about food insecurity and inspire action to combat hunger, Atmos Energy has donated $2 million to food banks to help provide food security for our neighbors in need. As Atmos Energy continues Fueling Safe and Thriving Communities, we are extremely proud to partner with these local food banks and further their mission in the areas we serve. The following food banks are among the local organizations Atmos Energy is supporting. • 6 Stones, Euless, TX $30,000 • CEC (Community Enrichment Center), North Richland Hills, TX $10,000 • Midwest Food Bank, Haltom City, TX $5,000 Hunger Action Month, a national campaign established by Feeding America in 2008, aims to educate the public about the widespread issue of hunger and encourage individuals, communities, and businesses to act by volunteering, donating, or advocating for policy change. Hunger Awareness Month is an important opportunity for communities to come together and make a positive impact on the lives of those struggling with hunger and food insecurity. #NaturalGas #AtmosEnergy #Partnership #CorporateSocialResponsibility #FuelingSafeAndThrivingCommunities #Energy #FoodInsecurity #Foodbank #CommunityImpact

Check out a couple of ways to help, below.