Hunger has no Home Here
We are blown away by the innovative ideas and relationships we develop because of our community supporters. One long-time donor and volunteer, Swati Narayan, always thinks creatively about how we can support survivors in our community. A few years ago, Swati initiated "Diyas for Daya" - a Diwali fundraising campaign that focuses on bringing peace and power to survivors at Daya. 2020, of course, brought a new set of barriers to traditional fundraising. While she couldn't throw her annual Diwali party in honor of Daya, Swati decided to go digital!
Like years past, she sent her Diwali party invite, but this year asked for her friends and families to join her in raising funds for groceries for Daya clients. Swati did not purchase groceries directly or ask for canned foods. Instead, she thought deeply, "How can we make this campaign part of a broader goal to bring power and dignity back to survivors?"
The answer was simple. Survivors must balance a multitude of barriers associated with food banks and benefits including transportation, dietary restrictions, and eligibility requirements for benefits. Swati and her friends decided that they could build power for clients by disbursing these funds in a simple to use, no strings attached gift cards. They raised $4,000 in gift cards purchased from HEB! Here clients could buy the culturally specific, nutritious foods of their choice for themselves and their families. We all can relate - food creates comfort, safety, and a sense of home.
Going a step further, Swati knew that Daya could deeply benefit from a relationship with HEB. Being the ultimate community connector, Swati set up a virtual meeting so we could share the stories and statistics of our work. HEB, a local leader in nutrition and food security, was incredibly moved by our mission. They ended our conversation by awarding Daya $2,500 in gift cards to continue to give survivors the power of choice when shopping for their families.
We love working with our passionate and generous community to build new relationships with local stakeholders that strengthen our work. Thank you to Swati, her friends & family, and HEB!