Sept. 2023 Update
We cannot believe what the last quarter has brought Belong Co. It was our first summer putting on Belong Co. socials and to say we had a blast is an understatement!
We kicked off the summer with a mini golf social, we spent July at Quinn’s Pond and then hosted an awesome pool party, and then ended the summer with water balloons and cornhole at the park. We loved meeting new Belong Co. friends this summer and also connecting with friends that have been recurring attendees. Thank you for spending your summer with us at Belong Co.!
On the coffee cart front, we hosted 16 interviews in early August. We ended up hiring 7 individuals with disabilities who are getting all trained up and ready for our coffee cart launch party (more details on that below). We are excited to be serving the local community a great cup of coffee this fall! To stay updated with the coffee cart, check out the “Where’s the Coffee” tab on our website. This will be updated with our whereabouts so you all can support our small business by staying caffeinated.
Some have been asking “What are your current needs as Belong Co.?”
WELL, as we go into our second year of operation we would love to develop additional sponsorship relationships and start to build a recurring donation base. If you know of any local businesses that may be interested in sponsoring Belong Co. social events, please connect us with them. If you feel inclined, please participate in recurring donations. Through our new giving portal, you can give any amount on a monthly basis!
And lastly, some shoutouts to our anonymous Idaho Gives matching donor and Six One Six Vision Center in Eagle ID for their recent donation to Belong Co. These large donations keep Belong Co. operating and possible.
June 2023 Update
It has been a whirlwind for us the last few months!
In April, we hosted our largest social event yet: TACKY PROM! We had over 40 individuals with disabilities attend! We danced all night long and had a great time!
Shortly after Tacky Prom, we rolled right into Idaho Gives week. We received a very generous (and anonymous) $5,000 donor match which helped us significantly in raising funds. Thank you to all that donated during Idaho Gives week.
We also attended the BFF Park Party where we got to connect with other non-profits and people in the community at large.
In the end, we raised $16,366 this year for Idaho Gives!!
A few weeks after Idaho Gives week, we hosted our first give back event. Participants from Belong Co. built, painted, and decorated flower planters for some of our donors and sponsors.
That week Patrick, Samuel, and Gabi delivered ten planters to our supporters to share our appreciation and to say thank you!
As of a couple of days ago, we are fully funded for our mobile coffee cart business. So what’s next you might ask?
Well, our president, Kendall Peake, is creating a team to build our coffee cart starting mid-June. We will also be spending the summer applying for city permits, getting employment insurance in line, solidifying regular placements for our coffee cart business, and then hosting a hiring fair! Kendall is also taking a Boise State grant writing class and plans to apply for additional grants throughout the summer.
We are so excited for what the future holds for Belong Co.!
March 2023 Update
Since launching in Sept. 2022, Belong Co. has hosted 10 different social events. Our social events are free to all participants; and we have seen the enthusiasm of our participants through their excitement to continue coming. Belong Co. has seen 73 unique visitors, of which 26 have been to 2 or more events. We have seen 10 unique volunteers and have even taken one on as an intern. We sold 41 bags of coffee beans during our December coffee fundraiser and have loved seeing the enthusiasm from the disability community as our non-profit has grown. It’s been an unbelievable 7 months.
The first three months of 2023 have been packed with a Belong Co. gathering and event each month. In mid-March, we also organized a photoshoot for the purpose of boosting our website brand, getting merchandise photos for our T-Shirt sale, and getting video content for our Idaho Gives campaign. Shoutout to SS Photography and Design for the amazing branding photos and interview videos!
We have loved adding monthly gatherings to our event schedule and integrating into the community and local businesses. This aligns with one of our values of local integration. Belong Co. strives to be a part of our local community, not self-isolate or hide away, but be a part of what is going on in the Treasure Valley at large.
Idaho Gives/Coffee Cart Update
Belong Co. is participating in Idaho Gives May 1-4, and we hope that you consider giving to our cause. Through our Idaho Gives campaign, we hope to raise the majority of our funding goal for our mobile coffee cart business.
As many of you may be curious or wondering, here is an update on the employment side of our non-profit organization. Our Belong Co. team has worked hard to finalize our funding goal for our mobile coffee cart business that will employ adults with disabilities. To begin building and operating this business, our team needs to raise $20,000. Once this funding goal is met, we hope to be operating our small business within 3-6 months.
Below shows a basic breakdown of where the our funding money will go and a mock-up draft of the future Belong Co. coffee cart:
As always, we would not be able to operate without the generosity of our donors and sponsors. If you feel led to donate or sponsor an event, connect with us on the website!
December 2022 Update
We were founded in September 2022 with a strong vision to capture the attention of adults with disabilities in the Boise community by creating social opportunities and providing employment in the future.
Since the launch in September, we have put on three social events:
September Social Night in the Park: 25 participants
October Pumpkin-Themed Party: 30 participants
December Holiday Movie Night: 20 participants
Along with social events, we started organizing smaller-scale get-togethers for additional opportunities to get to know each other better. (These are called "Gatherings") On November 8th, our Belong Co. friends gathered to sip coffee and hang out with one another at the District coffeehouse.
Our coffee fundraiser through Basecamp Coffee Co. sold 41 bags of beans. Also, Foothills Christian Church has chosen us to be one of the recipients of their end of year giving funds. We are very appreciative of these opportunities and are excited to see how they help us get closer to meeting our goal.
Volunteer Spotlight
Meghyn Parker has been a reliable, fun-loving, and consistent volunteer for Belong Co. these first three months. Along with being a full-time student at BSU and working, she has chosen to dedicate her time to our Belong Co. friends and be at each and every event. We appreciate all that you do Meghyn!
As always, we would not be able to operate without the generosity of our donors and sponsors. If you feel led to donate or sponsor an event, connect with us!