Community Effort Funds New CMI Trailer
01/03/2025
Community Markets Inc. is extremely grateful to the local organizations, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals who contributed towards the purchase of its new, energy-efficient mobile cold storage trailer.
In August 2023, the City of Charles Town awarded CMI $10,000 in ARPA funds to kick off the fundraising effort to purchase the trailer on the condition that the other $30,000 could be raised within a year. The CMI Team lost no time soliciting for support and donations, which came from many private individuals making small donations. Companies like Brentwood Industries donated towards the effort. The City of Ranson and Town of Bolivar at separate times donated a few thousand dollars respectively.
By January of 2024 the trailer was already fifty-percent funded! Several State Delegates and Senators pitched in to help raise additional funds to push towards the $43,000 needed to fully fund the trailer.
The CMI Cold Storage Trailer in action at the October 2024 Food Box Giveaway in Shepherdstown, WV
Community Markets Inc. participated in the United Way of the Eastern Panhandle Unity Campaign for the first time in 2023 with the goal of securing the remaining funds needed to purchase the trailer. Through the Unity Campaign, donors not only fully funded the trailer, but surpassed the fundraising goal a few times over the course of the 15-day campaign! One donation of $26,000 by an anonymous donor made large strides towards surpassing CMI’s initial fundraising goal.
“It is thanks to the generous support of the cities, small businesses, and community funders that CMI was able to expand its cold storage capacity. We could not have accomplished everything that we have without the involvement of so many partners, and we know that with such strong community support Community Markets Inc. will be able to expand and serve thousands more West Virginians in the years to come,” said CMI Program Manager Ellie George.
The trailer is a Polar King, 6′ x 16′ refrigerated trailer with top-of-the-line fiberglass walk-in cooler technology. The interior of the trailer is lined with restaurant-grade Regency stainless steel shelving. The cold storage trailer has proven to be a critically necessary infrastructural piece to expanding CMI’s programming and ability to feed underserved West Virginian families.
To learn more about Community Markets Inc., make a tax-deductible donation, or to volunteer, please visit www.communitymarketsinc.org. Like and follow CMI on Facebook at facebook.com/CommunityMarketsInc.
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Community Markets Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Charles Town, WV whose mission is to connect locally grown food to families in need. All of CMI’s programs and activities increase food security and access to healthy and affordable food