Cypress Creek team recognizes anniversary of COVID-19 by raising $23,008 to address hunger
Cypress people recently came together (virtually) to launch a matching campaign benefiting seven organizations in our communities working to end hunger. Together Cypress people raised $23,008 in just two weeks, including the Cypress Creek match.
This COVID-19 relief campaign is a follow up to our team-driven campaign last Spring and was a way for Cypress people to recognize the grim anniversary of the global pandemic. We decided to again collaborate with organizations in our communities working to address food insecurity because we’ve seen that while government support and economic conditions are improving, there is still an incredible need. Feeding America projects that 42 million people (1 in 8), including 13 million children (1 in 6), may still experience food insecurity this year.
In Orangeburg County, SC where Cypress Creek operates 317MW of solar projects, we supported Into the Mouth of Babes, a volunteer-run organization. Each Friday, this nonprofit puts food into the hands of students in the local public school system. Executive Director Melissa Cain said, "Your donations and match will pay for over 1,300 bags of food for the elementary children in the Orangeburg School District... We rely totally on the donations of caring people like you and your employees to fund our mission. We are proud to say 100% of all funds donated are used to purchase food. All administrative costs are donated by our very committed board.”
Cypress team members identified the following organization that are either close to our offices or our solar projects to support: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Mountain Area Nutritional Needs Alliance Food Bank of Asheville, Foodbank of the Hudson Valley, South Texas Food Bank, Into the Mouths of Babes: The Filling Station (SC), Farmer FoodShare (NC) and Growing the Table (CA).
Featured from left to right: Farmer FoodShare in Durham, NC and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Headline photo provided by MANNA
Here’s what some of the organizations said about our collective impact:
Craig Lloyd, Executive Director of Farmer FoodShare, a Durham, NC-based organization, said, “The economic crisis has not only increased the demand for food assistance across North Carolina, it has also limited traditional access for farmers to distribute their produce. Farmer FoodShare's COVID-19 Food Box Program has distributed over 14,900 lbs of local produce and meat to 539 households in the last three and a half months, as well as generated $22,500 for NC farmers. We look forward to growing each of these numbers.” Farmer FoodShare’s mission is to reshape the disconnected food system by removing barriers to growing and accessing local food. This is accomplished by purchasing from small and mid-sized farms represented at 44 farmers markets across the state, and distributing to individuals and communities lacking access.
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Chief Development Officer Roger Castle said, “Thank you to Cypress Creek Renewables and its employees for generating enough funds to provide the equivalent of more than 15,000 meals. The collaborative nature of this gift shows what a difference people can make in their communities by working together."
Growing the Table, a California-based organization, shared, “Cypress Creek Renewables recent donation will help provide over 1,600 lbs of fresh produce boxes to over 130+ families in low income, food insecure communities of color. Each box also comes equipped with instructions on how to prepare the fresh produce for meals. The donation will also help pay CA farmers their asking prices as they continue to fight to stay afloat during the global pandemic.” Growing the Table helps select farmers and ranchers achieve economic viability and sustainability through profitable market alternatives, and to increase access to food aid for the food-insecure by creating distribution sites that are open to all people in need.
Food Bank of the Hudson Valley said, “We are so grateful for the generosity of the staff at Cypress Creek Renewables for their gifts to the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. Together, we are moving closer to achieving our mission to alleviate hunger and prevent food waste. We were able to provide 22 million pounds of food in 2020 because of people like those at Cypress Creek Renewables.”
MANNA Chief Development Officer Mary Nesbitt said, “The incredible partnership and support by Cypress Creek Renewables is needed now more than ever... We are extremely grateful for Cypress Creek Renewable’s recent corporate and employee matching campaign which raised $2,995 equipping MANNA to provide 11,980 meals for people in need through your generous collective support.”
Cypress Creek Renewables
Cypress Creek Renewables is powering a sustainable future, one project at a time. We develop, finance, own and operate utility-scale and distributed facilities across the country. With more than 10.9 gigawatts of solar developed and more than 3.6 gigawatts under management, Cypress Creek is one of the country’s leading solar and storage companies. For more information about Cypress Creek, please visit www.ccrenew.com.
