Welcome to our December newsletter! As we close out another meaningful year, we’re filled with gratitude for the energy and support that this community continues to share. This month brings a chance to reflect on what we’ve accomplished together, celebrate the lives we’ve touched, and look ahead to the opportunities that await in the new year. Last month, we received $8,442 worth of dry goods, produce & supplies, which we supplemented with our own resources to create $12,245 worth of donations, bringing our grand total to 2,065 ready-to-eat meals delivered to our neighbors in need in the month of November. Thank you for being part of our mission and for helping us create lasting impact. Your involvement truly makes all the difference!
With the help of local food pantries and supporters like you, we turn compassion into action. Every dollar donated can help us create up to five meals for someone who needs them most. This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to support the TAPTF Society’s mission: to rescue what would otherwise be wasted and to redistribute to anyone who needs it. For us, that takes the form of food rescued from a variety of sources and cooked lovingly in our volunteer kitchen, ready-to-eat. As a non-profit, we rely completely on donations and while we are incredibly efficient at what we do, no kitchen can operate for nothing. If you are able, please consider the TAPTF Society for a fully tax deductible donation this holiday season whether that be a one time donation or monthly support and feel good knowing that you are maximizing your contributions to your local community when they need it most. Thank you!
Thanks VegRehoboth!
Last month, VegRehoboth hosted the VegFilm Fest featuring a selection of films from the Climate Future Film Festival Series. A big thanks to VegRehoboth for hosting this incredible event and a special thanks to Grandpa Mac for helping us to provide refreshments. We received over 70 lbs of plant based food donations from moviegoers and supporters, which was just the icing on the cake for this informative occasion. We hope to see you at the next one!
Follow VegRehoboth’s Events here.
Paintings by Aysha Akhtar, is a London-born artist of Pakistani immigrant parents, available to view or purchase at Granpa Mac through December.
The Buy Nothing Movement
At a time, probably before the internet, before cell phones, before the 24 hour news cycle, that if you had baked an extra pie or needed a cup of sugar, you might stop by your neighbor’s house. Dropping by unannounced wasn’t a problem and you would give or accept little extra items without being worried that your neighbor wanted something in return, it’s simply how you live in a community, sharing what you have. Well, maybe the circumstances have changed a little bit, we have 24 hour access to groceries, toys, clothes, Amazon Same Day Delivery, everything is mostly accessible… assuming you have that access. But do you always need to access those things so immediately? Probably not. And does it lead to a lot of impulsive purchases that will spend more time in the landfill than it took you to order them? Absolutely. But there’s a lot of people out there doing their best to keep that feeling of community living and giving, even in a digital age. Enter the Buy Nothing movement.
Buy Nothing groups have been popping up on social media communities since 2013 and encourage the giving of goods and items, or services (“gifts of self”). The stated aim of the Buy Nothing Project is “to build resilient communities where our true wealth is the connections forged between neighbors.” And they often fill the gap between traditional thrift stores and community members offering items that would typically not be accepted at other donation centers. Basically, if you’ve got something extra, or if you’re looking for something extra, this is where you would find your neighbors who are likely to help. Extra balloons from a baby shower that still have helium? Offer them on Buy Nothing, there might be a child’s birthday this weekend in need of some decorations. Opened a craft kit, used it once and didn’t care for it? Offer it on Buy Nothing, someone might be interested in a new hobby. Conversely, are you looking for something specific? I had a neighbor looking for a small bookcase for their child’s bedroom, guess what I had taking up space in my garage? Extend the enjoyment of your items, keep perfectly usable items out of the landfill, share what you have with community members who need it. Maybe a neighbor has something in their home, taking up space, that would be useful to you; I often check in with my local Buy Nothing group before ordering things, chances are that food dehydrator I’ve had my eye on is sitting in someone’s cabinet kitchen collecting dust and ready to go to a new home.
They’re also profoundly practical. Buy Nothing groups help households save money at a time when budgets are tight for many families. This mirrors a broader cultural trend, especially among Gen Z, who are increasingly choosing secondhand shopping to stretch their dollars. With Gen Z holiday spending projected to drop 23%, secondhand and gifted items have become a smart alternative to buying new, and it’s fun! People love finding unique, story-rich pieces you won’t spot in a mall window.
Buy Nothing groups this holiday season are a great way to connect neighbors through generosity, an easy way to strengthen community and a positive way to reduce your environmental impact while saving money. Wins all around!
Read More Reasons to Love Buy Nothing Groups
Local Buy Nothing Groups in the Rehoboth Area:
Pay Nothing Rehoboth/Lewes/Dewey Facebook Group
Or download the Buy Nothing Project App or search for Buy Nothing or Pay Nothing groups in your local area on Facebook.
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