Hi Unknown, 

We know that the first year of starting a chapter can be exciting and challenging. You're one of 23 new chapters we've welcomed since November 2024. We’re always thinking about how to provide the support, information, and resources you need to be successful. That’s why we created this email: to give you practical guidance to start and grow your chapter today while setting you up for success tomorrow.

We’re glad you joined PORCH Communities. 

Zakiya, Alyssa, and Jen 

Monthly collection report details

• Pounds of food can be reported as bags or boxes. Brown bags are 20 pounds, plastic bags are 10 pounds. If you enter bags and boxes, we can do the math. Just make sure we know you're reporting 'bags' vs pounds. 
• Neighborhood Coordinators organize food drives in your or another neighborhood (they can be counted as donors)
• Volunteers help with food collection, organization, distribution, or other non-organization/leadership duties (they can be counted as donors.)
• Donors give food, cash, gift cards, or in-kind gifts (they can be counted as coordinators or volunteers).

Questions on how to enter or fix your monthly impact survey info? Ask Zakiya.

Your story is our inspiration

Your stories inspire us and strengthen PORCH Communities. When you share your journey, you help us celebrate successes, learn from challenges, and show supporters the real impact of their generosity. 

Every month, we'll ask a different set of questions to keep it interesting. This month, we'd appreciate learning how excited you are to start or grow your chapter, and what excites you most about the impact your chapter can have in your community. 

Thank you for helping all new chapters learn, lead, and make a difference together.

Storytelling in photos

Photos bring the PORCH story to life. They capture the energy, joy, and impact of your chapter. Sharing images of volunteers in action and community moments helps everyone see the difference PORCH is making. Take a picture of your collection with your yard sign, PORCH t-shirt, and green tote bags.

Thanks to Kris in Cold Spring, MN, for their photo. "When I dropped contributions today, the women at the St. Joe Food Shelf were blown away by the 140 lbs of food. No doubt, the ROCORI workers will be equally excited."

Make your 'Get Involved' form work for you

• Set notifications to your PORCH and/or personal email so you don't miss a submission.
• Respond promptly: Reply within 2–3 days to keep potential volunteers or donors engaged. 
• Manage contacts: Use the sheet to organize your neighborhood coordinators, donors, and volunteers. 
• Add questions: Contact Zakiya if you’d like to add a new question. Maybe you want to learn something specific about those contacting you or track whether someone signs up after an event or news article. We review form entries to gather data on how people find PORCH, the roles people are seeking to support, and other trends to strengthen our outreach and impact.
• More details are in the August forum, slide 32 

Zakiya also receives notifications, so during your first couple of months, she will follow up with you to confirm that you’re receiving them and feel comfortable reaching out to new contacts.