Charleston Basket Brigade
The secret to living is giving.
Close friends Pam Hartley (Momentum Founder) and Michelle Scarafile began The Charleston Basket Brigade (A non-profit 501-3C) in 2008 with a commitment to bring the community together to provide Thanksgiving meals for families in need in Charleston, SC. “When we found out that there were children going to bed hungry right here in Charleston, we knew we had to do something about it,” said Hartley.
The Basket Brigade concept was inspired by Anthony Robbins, whose foundation feeds more than two million each year. In the first year, the duo fed 75 families. In 2009, they recruited more volunteers and the effort raised over $12,900 to feed 430 families. In 2010, the effort more than tripled raising $48,840 and feeding 1628 families at Thanksgiving. In 2011, $75,000 was raised and 2,506 families were fed, exceeding the non-profit’s goal. Overall, with the help of thousands of volunteers and donors, the group has raised $138,990 and fed over 27,000 people in the Lowcountry.
Hartley and Scarafile met in 2006 during a leadership seminar held by Robbins and became fast friends. In 2008, Scarafile brought the idea to create a basket brigade to Hartley and they both quickly got into action. “I knew that Pam and I could really make a difference here in Charleston. When the recession hit, we knew that so many were impacted here locally,” Scarafile said.
CBB Founders Pam Hartley (L) and Michelle Scarafile (R)
This fundraiser would not be possible without the commitment of Carolina One Real Estate, Communities In Schools, Piggy Wiggly, Momentum Marketing and many caring friends, families and community members. “It only takes $30 to feed a family of 4-6 at Thanksgiving and we get donations from many sources, including friends and family members that live out of state,” Scarafile said, “$30 goes a long way.”
The $30 meal includes a 10-12 lb. turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, corn, green beans, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, cranberry sauce, a pumpkin pie, fresh rolls and butter. Each family receives an anonymous letter inside the basket that only states “This comes to you from someone who cares about you. All we ask is that you take care of yourself well enough to be able to do this for someone else one day.”
2010 was a bench mark year with the introduction of the Piggly Wiggly Facebook fundraiser, initiated by Hartley. Piggly Wiggly agreed to donate $1 per new fan for one week and the response was overwhelming. After seven days, Piggly Wiggly had 3,898 fans – more than double the company’s preset goal. The Facebook fundraiser created a groundswell of support from folks across the globe – even as far as Australia.
“We’re so grateful to Piggly Wiggly and everyone across the globe that participated in the Facebook Fundraiser,” added Hartley, “It’s social proof that when a company gives back to the community, people truly ‘like’ that company for it.” Christopher Ibsen, Director of Marketing for Piggly Wiggly Carolina Company said, “When you combine a grassroots fundraiser with a compassionate community and put it all together into the social media blender, great things can happen!”
In 2011, The Charleston Area Convention Center donated 25,000 sq. ft. of space for meal assembly for the group. Piggly Wiggly also donated $10,000 in food in addition to their generous support of the brigade. “Thanks to The Convention Center, Piggly Wiggly, our many ‘Change for Change’ retailers, Benefit Focus, Scientific Research Corporation, many local area businesses, generous friends and family members, we were able to exceed our outrageous goal of 2500 families fed at Thanksgiving in 2011″, said Hartley.
Hartley, Scarafile, and more than 800 Carolina One staffers, agents and event volunteers raise money, assemble the meals at The Charleston Area Convention Center the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Communities In Schools, a non-profit organization with 28 counselors in schools throughout Charleston and Berkeley County, locates the families that will receive donations based on need and maps out directions for delivery. Piggly Wiggly provides discounts on food, boxes, and coordinates delivery of the food to staging areas throughout the Charleston area. Momentum Marketing (Hartley’s company) provides public relations and event coordination assistance.
The response from families that receive a basket from the group are overwhelmingly appreciative and oftentimes tear-filled. One parent said emphatically, “Oh thank you, thank you so much, prayers really do get answered.”
To visit the official Charleston Basket Brigade website, click here.
