It was just about a year ago that Kelmarna Community Farm faced – and overcame – one of the biggest challenges in its 44 year history. With the sudden withdrawal of a major grant, Kelmarna turned to its community for help and the community responded in spades (pardon the pun!).
Part of the drive to become less dependent on a grant system that is under increasing pressure was the revamping of the Friends of Kelmarna Membership Scheme which now has nearly 180 members and a host of community business partners.
Friends of Kelmarna (FoK) donate a regular amount to Kelmarna Community Farm each month and in return receive discounts and benefits from local businesses.
‘Part of our kaupapa is to have a more connected community and the Friends scheme is a key part of this,’ says Grant Mouldey, Fundraising and Relationships Lead.
‘Becoming a Friend of Kelmarna is one of the most powerful ways to be part of the Farm’s mission - connecting people with the Farm, with local businesses and with each other.’
By taking advantage of the benefits offered by Kelmarna’s like-minded business partners, Friends are supporting not just Kelmarna but also sustainable businesses in the community.
‘It’s an ecosystem of support,’ says Grant. ‘We are all moving forward together with a shared vision of a better food future in this linked up sustainable business network that Kelmarna Community Farm has with its partners.’
Partners such as Daily Bread and Ozone Coffee as well as refilleries Good For and Eco Store offer all sorts of generous benefits to Friends of Kelmarna. For as little as $8 per month, Friends can access discounts and free stuff knowing they are supporting multiple good causes.
‘We could not do what we do without our Friends,’ says Katya Old, Marketing and Events Lead. ‘We really appreciate that our donors choose to support us when there are so many charities to choose from and so we are thrilled to be able to offer this amazing range of benefits.’
The Friends scheme operates on a sliding scale pricing structure so you choose the rate you feel you can afford. All members of the scheme receive the same benefits.
‘We became supporters during a fundraiser,’ say Friends Toni and Greg. ‘It's a wonderful community resource that we value for its urban green space, gardens, education and farm shop. We just did an inspiring, fun workshop on making art materials from plants and it was fantastic to learn and connect with other local people . At a time of turmoil in the world, taking a minute among the flowers and bees felt restorative and gave us some simple ways to be creative with accessible materials from nature.’
There are also opportunities for more businesses to get involved. ‘We are seeking like-minded businesses who share our values and vision to partner with us,’ says Katya. ‘We welcome not just your financial sponsorship but also your professional expertise and experience.
‘Plus, we are cooking up something special for our Friends later in the year so watch this space!’
#ponsonbynews #iloveponsonby #loveponsonby #ponsonby #auckland #aucklandshippestrip #onlyponsonby #ponsonbyroad #Greylynn #freemansbay #westmere #ponsonby #hernebay #stmarysbay #archhill #coxsbay @followers #followers @everyone #everyone #waitematalocalboard @highlight
