‘Tis the season of giving, and on Saturday, November 22nd, over 75 Women United members, family, and friends came together to do just that at our third annual Pie it Forward event! This event stems from our yearly Stone Soup event, inspired by a story of strangers stumbling upon a village, finding no food to eat, and coming together to add different ingredients into one big, boiling pot – creating a hearty soup for all to feast on and the overall sense of community.
“This is easily one of my favorite Women United events that we have,” said Jill Queen, Joan P. Brock Endowed Director of Women United. It captures the spirit of giving back at the start of our season of giving and brings together family and friends sharing laughter and making something meaningful (and delicious) together. The sights, smiles, and smells alone have you leaving the day fulfilled.”
With the help of this hardworking group of innovators, we successfully assembled 355 pies and desserts, as well as 320 cookie kits.
These sweet treats were distributed to the following nonprofit agencies in the South Hampton Roads area just in time for Thanksgiving:
- Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia
- Coastal Serve
- Edmarc
- ForKids Inc.
- HER Shelter
- Judeo-Christian Outreach Center
- LGBT Life Center
- PIN MINISTRY
- The Genieve Shelter
- Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia
- Seton Youth Services
- StandUP for Kids, Hampton Roads
- Village Family Outreach
- YWCA South Hampton Roads
We express our gratitude to our generous sponsor, Sysco. This event wouldn’t be possible without the help of our Women United members, as well as our partners: YMCA at JT’s Camp Grom, and Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, for helping to make this wonderful volunteer event and distribution possible.
“It was a thrill to be a part of Pie It Forward,” said Elizabeth Chupik, Women United member. “I loved getting to meet some of the new members of Women United, and was so impressed by their call to service. The event is a great opportunity to see our community in action, and a perfect example of the season of giving and of gratitude.”
Volunteers are essential to United Way of South Hampton Roads and the surrounding community. The estimated national value of a volunteer hour is $34.79. In just three hours of the Pie it Forward event, the value of the volunteer hours added up to $7,827.75.
Thanks to Women United, a powerful force of more than 800 innovators and visionaries in the South Hampton Roads area who continue to advance solutions that empower women to transform lives.
To learn more about becoming a Women United member and attending future events, please email womenunited@unitedwayshr.org.