WEN FEATURED NONPROFIT
The Root Cellar
Photo courtesy of The Root Cellar
OUR ROOTS…
The Root Cellar was started 35 years ago on Munjoy Hill by a small Mennonite church. The community converted their ramshackle basement (or traditional root cellar) of their three-story apartment building into a teen room where youth gathered one night a week.
Fast forward to today where we are in a beautiful facility at 94 Washington Avenue, where we run roughly 40 programs a week with the aid of over 100 local volunteers.
HOW WE TICK…
Our mission is very simple: love your neighbor, or for the millennials out there: #LoveYourNeighbor.
We have always been a community minded organization, limiting our service area so that we can grow deep roots within a particular neighborhood. Our longevity in East Bayside has fostered a family atmosphere between us and our neighbors impacting not just the community, but all of us who have the joy of serving here.
We create programs with our neighbors’ feedback and sustainability in mind. Since we are supported almost exclusively by individuals and businesses, our programs are not bound to the restrictions of federal or state support and can adapt in short order in ways that best serve the community.
Our neighbors are invested in the programs they benefit from. From our food co-op, where all the neighbors who receive the food run the program, to our Kids Store Program, where kids do odd jobs around the building to earn “Root Cellar Bucks” they can spend on new items in the store, there is an investment from the community.
A FEW PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS…
We average roughly $75,000 of free dental care annually. But here is the catch, we have a year-long wait list! So, if you are dentist (or visit one) and you are reading this, we need you!
We have a vibrant after school program for kids ages 6 to 18 that includes one-on-one mentoring with volunteers and community members.
We have assisted over 125 people with training and placement in a job in the last two years.
Our longest running program, Ladies Breakfast, has met for over 20 years with some of the original founding volunteers still serving some incredible eggs!
Our clothing store takes in clothing and small household items to distribute once a week to an average of 20 families. For just $2 our neighbors can shop for all they need.
WEN Featured Nonprofit
The WEN Featured Nonprofit is brought to readers with support from Benchmark Residential & Investment Real Estate.
