GREENFIELD — A collaboration between Gill CC Woodworks and Stone Soup Cafe raised $11,700 through a raffle that will support operations at the pay-what-you-can meals program and community store.
The raffle was organized by Gill CC Woodworks owner Sam French, who provided two handmade tables as raffle prizes, along with gift cards, goods and services from numerous local businesses. Nineteen winners came away with raffle prizes.
Prizes included gift cards to The Gill Tavern and Blue Heron Restaurant, services like photography sessions from Time Bandit Photography and online guitar lessons with Colin Ward, and goods like a hand-carved bowl from Nartowicz Tree Service and a Pura smart fragrance diffuser, among others. Tickets ranged from $10 to $30 for the various prizes.
French said the idea for this raffle arose during the period when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) wasn’t funded due to the October and November government shutdown, and as the holiday season approached. He felt there was a sense of helplessness that he wanted to alleviate by contributing to a local food organization.
“I was just reflecting on feeling very fortunate myself, and how to pay it forward,” French said. “Franklin County is such an incredible community in such a tight network of businesses, which is one of my favorite things about being a small business. Everyone’s always willing to help somebody else.”
With this goal in mind, French and Stone Soup Cafe teamed up to offer this raffle. French said it took three weeks to put the raffle together, and the drawings took place on Monday, Dec. 1. The funds raised exceeded French’s expectations.
“It just feels really, really good, just bringing all these different like-minded businesses together for one common goal,” French said, reflecting on the raffle, “and just feeling incredibly empowered.”
Stone Soup Cafe Executive Director and Chef Kirsten Levitt said she owes it to French for his effort in organizing the raffle, and thinking of Stone Soup Cafe as the beneficiary.
“Quite frankly, Sam got all of the donated items. He’s so well-connected,” Levitt said. “This is a beautiful way of creating a fundraising event where somebody just says, ‘I’m going to do this thing for somebody else,’ and we had to do very little on the list whatsoever. So, we’re just eternally grateful.”
Levitt explained that the money is unallocated for a specific cause at Stone Soup Cafe, which means that under their nonprofit status, it is available for all uses. She said it could help fund a salary, or be put away for future use when something unexpected arises, or if they want to give back to the community in some way monetarily.
“I think it has everything to do with [Sam French’s] belief in taking care of the community and using local services and artistry to create funds for another organization. It was just so magnificent and so philanthropic of him.”
Kirsten Levitt, executive director and chef at stone soup cafe
Already, Levitt said they are eager to have another raffle next year. French is also on board to make it happen again.
“I think next year will be even bigger,” he said, suggesting doing radio interviews to get the word out, and having more preparation time. “[It] could definitely raise a ton more money.”