Shifting Gears

TGNCK prides itself on its custom website and all of the great features it provides our community. Effective immediately, TGNCK will shift from a heavy social media presence to utilizing our website to disseminate events, projects, current events, images and our product line. While we love our social media family, as a non-profit organization with a website, we want to utilize all features associated with our website to keep the community informed, connected and with direct access to our office. 

Thank you for your understanding and support! Please pass the word out about our website www.tgnck.org

Be sure to browse our product line available in our Good News Store. 

THANK YOU!

TGNCK v Treeline Ministries Water Gun Showdown

This Memorial Day we chose to celebrate our Fallen Service Members and community servants with a twist. Two extremely active non-profits came together to have an ultimate water gun fight! Diversity, togetherness and service to others brought us together to pour into one another, in the name of summer fun, so that we can recharge, refuel and refocus on our mission: helping others!

What's Up Prince William captured our Director's Duel and cookout festivities...check it out!

two-local-non-profits-gather-community-celebration-water-gun-fight

Adam of iEdit_Projects brought his drone out to capture part II of our Director's Duel...yes I was victorious...check it out!

Director's Duel (click)

Community Committee

If you haven't caught on, we like to stay busy here at TGNCK! We are looking for local community members interested in serving as our Community Committee. This Committee will be charged with coordinating and implementing TGNCK's first community cookbook. 90% of all profit from the cookbooks will go to our Mobile Meals program (which consists of EMUs, Serving Lines and our Meals 2 Go Kits for Childhood Hunger). 10% will go back into the Cookbook Committee Fund for future projects the Committee will take on. 

Responsibilities:

Review and Select Recipe Entries (per category)

Organize Professional Photoshoot of all Creators of Selected Recipes (finished product as well)

Organize Layout of the Cookbook

Select Title of Cookbook

If you would like to be a part of this project please contact info@tgnck.org today!

 

HELP WANTED!

We are looking to expand our TGNCK Family with dedicated volunteers who want to rebuild and strengthen communities by fighting hunger one meal at a time. 

Volunteer Positions:

Office Automation - Adult (9 hours per week) managing the office to include minor clerical duties, elite customer service skills, receives donations, organizes supplies, logs volunteer hours and manages office calendar 

Student Lead - High School Student (6 hours per week) conducting inventories, quality assurance and distributing flyers to local business areas (responsible for all games during Back to School Community Cookout)

Fundraising Lead (2) - Adult/Student (two meetings per month and fundraising events) coordinate, market and host TGNCK fundraising events

Social Lead (2) - Adult coordinate TGNCK socials for team building initiatives on a quarterly basis in the local area

*Each year TGNCK will award its Volunteer of the Year Award to one volunteer who has demonstrated various noble traits that focus on the accomplishment and growth of our mission*

Contact info@tgnck.org Subj: Help Wanted

Your Help is Needed

We have taken on the demanding challenge of Childhood Hunger. With community partnerships established and continuing to grow, we need YOU to ensure our efforts make an impact. 

For $10 or $20 per month your contribution will guarantee the acquisition of three to five kits for school-aged children. These kits consists of flavored oatmeal, saltine crackers, peanut butter, Chefboyardee and vegetable soup. 

As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization your monthly or annual contribution will receive a contribution slip for tax purposes. Please help us help others. 

*You will receive an electronic bill on a monthly basis for 12 months for the monthly option amount selected.*

         $240 Annual

         $20 Monthly Option #1

         $10 Monthly Option #2

We were Featured by The Renewal Project!!

Do you believe in Vision Boards? Well I do. I believe in them so much that last year, at our Moving Forward Makeover Vision Board workshop, I placed a goal on mine. This goal consisted of being featured by The Renewal Project and competing for their Renewal Awards. Well ladies and gentlemen, half of that goal has become reality. The Renewal Project featured us on their website and Social Media sites! It was with great pleasure that I marked through that goal on my vision board. I was quickly reminded that the entire goal had not been fulfilled but my focus is still set on being a candidate for their Renewal Awards. 

I hope that if just one of you read the below article, you take from it the importance of embracing your past and taking "that leap" with regard to your goals/dreams. I was once embarrassed of my past. I mean, my friends either had a working mother or both parents and my grandparents were my head of households for a significant portion of my life. I always dreamt of what it would be like to have a Dad and to have always had my mother physically with me. At the young age of 34, I realize that had I not experienced that void, I wouldn't know what today's child is going through and wouldn't be so driven to be their backbone. 

It is not fair for a child to sake their innocence because of decisions made by adults or because of an adult's shortcomings. My heart desires to help as many unsheltered and underserved individuals as I can but the needs of our future leaders have a priority. They deserve balanced meals, adequate sleep, clean clothing and people who believe in them in order to perform and advance in their academics and social settings. I will help as many children as I can and only ask that you assist me with helping them. 

Read our feature in The Renewal Project!

A Day in the Life of TGNCK - DC Outreach

As we grow we are always looking for new and innovative ways to share with the world the work that we are doing. Today we had the opportunity to conduct one of our outreach initiatives in the presence of a very talented videographer, I Edit Projects! He was able to catch a snapshot of the process we go through to accomplish our mission. Today was rather eventful but also realistic. What you will see is a combination of dark side to the unsheltered lifestyle surrounded by the beauty of those who want to make a difference, despite the dark side. Our organization covers much more than hunger relief. Our Core Four programs consist of: Mobile Meals, Hygiene Heroes, Trends to Transition and Warm Winters. Take a look...

A Roaring 20's Event

We did it! We coordinated, implemented and hosted our inaugural charity gala. This was such a learning experience. While, I believe I have added a grey hair or two, it was all worth it! People supported our mission buy purchasing sponsorship packages, tickets, silent auction items, pictures and beverages all to pour into our overall mission "to rebuild and strengthen communities by fighting hunger one meal at a time". Everyone dressed up in 1920's attire and enjoyed the roulette and Blackjack tables! Supervisor Ruth Anderson and the Lake Ridge Rotary Club attended the gala and gave me very inspiring and encouraging words. I truly love my team and community. Thank you all!

See you next year!

Capricorn Season is Here!!

Capricorn season has arrived and with my 34th birthday around the corner I want to offer our supporters and volunteers a special gift, from me to you! Our inaugural charity gala is February 3, 2017 at Harbour View Events in Woodbridge, VA. Tickets are on sale [NOW] for $90 individual and $175 couples (total price online will include a service fee). Get your tickets now to enjoy your 1920's themed charity gala in YOUR community, TODAY! On this evening, as you support your local non-profit, you will enjoy a casino-style cocktail hour, live jazz band, dual-entrée plated dinner reception, dance performance, professional photographer and more! 1920's attire is encouraged. All of this fun in one night to help "rebuild and strengthen communities by fighting hunger one meal at a time".

Ticket Type

TGNCK is now able to receive donation incentives through Amazon Smile!

If you love shopping on Amazon as I do, I invite you to chose The Good News Community Kitchen as your charity of choice on Amazon Smile. Click the banner for more information! Thank you for thinking of our mission and assisting us!

Looking Back at an Amazing Year!

I was always conditioned never to look back. Its acceptable to look back briefly to appreciate your current position and promising future but the keyword here is "briefly". Today, I choose to reflect a little longer than usual because 2016 has been a great year for TGNCK! Lets see here...what happened:

We formed in 2015 and received our tax-exempt status. We opened a brick-and-mortar and celebrated that by having a packed ribbon cutting ceremony where all guests donated school supplies that went to three elementary schools. We prepared over 2,000 meals throughout our region, distributed just as many hygiene packages, provided blankets and coats for three elementary schools, local families and the unsheltered homeless. We coordinated two Moving Forward Makeover workshops. We established a partnership with the men of Kappa Psi and Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. We were featured in several magazines and newspapers. We received numerous contributions and grants. We held team building functions to strengthen the morale of our most important resource...our volunteers! Last but not least, we received the support and assistance of our amazing community! Feel free to view our Gallery page to see exactly what we've been doing!

We cannot THANK YOU enough for the amount of support and encouragement you give us. Just to give you a hint of what we are working on for next year: we have our inaugural charity gala coming up in February, each program will be lead by a Committee Chair, we are actively looking to secure two volunteer Office Managers to manage the office and we are looking to roll out our much anticipated Resume Writing 101 Workshop for Veterans! This workshop will also include interactive interview tips and ideas! We are looking to engage our teenage youth volunteers with students in need of tutors to help strengthen academic confidence and performance!

If you haven't submitted a volunteer application yet...it is never too late to submit one! We are always looking for dedicated team members to help rebuild and strengthen our community!

A Roaring '20s Event...A Night of Fundraising, Dancing & Jazz

Guess What? We will be hosting our very first charity gala...1920's style!

What: A 1920's themed Charity Gala (Dinner, Jazz Band, Auction, Casino-Style Cocktail Hour and DANCING)

Where: Harbour View, 13200 Marina Way, Woodbridge, VA22191

When: Friday, February 3, 2017, 7:15pm to Midnight

Tickets:

Individual Guest $90

Coupled Guests $175

VIP Table $1,500 (Only 4 Tables - 2 Bottles of Wine, $200 Casino Chips, Framed 5x7 and Gala T-shirts for VIP Guests)

Register TODAY to help raise funds for an amazing cause in YOUR community.

Ribbon Cutting Time!

We did it! On August 10, 2016, the Lake Ridge Rotary Club sponsored our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, hosted by The Prince William County Chamber of Commerce! The entire day was filled with a million emotions. I feared a small turnout, but would have still been completely appreciative of anyone who decided to take time out of their schedule to come down and support our event. We had well over 45 guests to attend our ceremony. Our office was filled with laughter, words of encouragement, delicious food provided by The Blue Arbor Café, Firebirds, and Not Your Average Joes. Honorable Gerald Connolly, Delegate Richard Anderson and Chairman Gerald Wittman sent representatives, Occoquan District Supervisor Mrs. Ruth Anderson, Occoquan Mayor Elizabeth Quist, Occoquan Events and Community Development Director Mrs. Donna Brown, The Lake Ridge and Woodbridge Rotary Club, Prince William County Chamber of Commerce, The Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, Woodbridge High School JROTC leadership, Omega Psi Phi Pi Lambda Lambda Chapter, Game 7 RIders and King's Knights Motor Club, The Law Offices of Sheyna Nicole Burt, PLC and Stratford University were all in attendance. What's Up Woodbridge even conducted an interview (in front of EVERYONE...SO NERVOUS). This was by far one of the best nights of my life. The Town of Occoquan gave us a warm welcoming! I am more than excited, eager and ready to rebuild and strengthen my community!

Check out the interview conducted by What's Up Woodbridge

Status Check

Wow! So much has occurred since my last post. Allow me to share with you the great accomplishments of our TGNCK team. To start things off, we secured our very own headquarters location in the beautiful historic Town of Occoquan, VA. We hosted our first "coming out" Social Mixer/Fundraising event (June), Not Your Average Joe's hosted a month long Cause Night to raise awareness and funds for our organization (June), The Home Depot, located in Dale City, VA, donated all manpower and equipment necessary to completely renovate our headquarters office (June-July), and we published our very first edition of The Good News! our quarterly newsletter (visit Documents to take a look). We have been moving at a rapid rate to establish our foundation and I cannot stress how appreciative I am to have the support of our community businesses and households.

We are gearing up to prepare for our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, on August 10, 2016 from 5pm to 6:30pm, sponsored by The Lake Ridge Rotary Club, with catering provided by The Blue Arbor Café and FireBirds Wood Fired Grill! During this groundbreaking event, we will begin accepting school supplies to prepare for our Back to School Blast Community Cookout to raise and donate 100 fully supplied backpacks to the students of a local Elementary School. If you would like to help prepare our future Leaders for the upcoming school year, bring your donation to 308 Poplar Alley #B, Occoquan, VA 22125, during our daily hours of operation.

TGNCK is excited about rebuilding and strengthening our communities. We are always looking for volunteers who foster the same charge: rebuilding and strengthening communities through Outreach, Unity, Compassion & Selfless-Service. If you are interested in volunteering with us please take a look at our Volunteer Application (Volunteer Page) to see how you can make a difference through our various outlets.

As always, I am truly glad that you support our initiatives and are on this journey with us! Stay tuned to see the work we are doing in our community.

The amount of success and community support we have been shown, thus far, is confirmation that we are truly walking in our passion. There is no greater feeling...truly...honestly!

Turning a Dream into Reality, pt I

Ever since I have been a little girl, I have dreamed of being active in my community. Years later, as an adult, I still have those dreams but decided to journal about it and share my thoughts with individuals I felt would be interested in these dreams of mine. Well, one day, nothing major about this day, I felt a nudge and had the bright idea that TODAY IS THE DAY I would take actual steps into making this dream a reality. I researched "Starting a Non-Profit Organization in The Commonwealth of Virginia" and took notes. Within minutes I had completed my Articles of Incorporation and dedicated a few hours to compiling every process, related to TGNCK's operations. This document would soon become my Bylaws. Ironically, those key individuals, I had shared my vision with, through the years, all agreed and voted to become my Board of Directors and Executive Officers. This step in the process affected me emotionally because, to me, this meant I wasn't the only person who believed in this vision or this cause. Now I'm really motivated.

The Commonwealth of Virginia recognized us as a non-stock corporation on March 4, 2015. A year later, the IRS awarded us our tax-exempt, 501(c)(3), status on March 15, 2016. If you're wondering why it took one year and 11 days, its because [well] the application fee is $400 and it is at this point ALL of your substantiating documentation must be complete: business plan, proposed budget, mission/vision statement, formation documentation, Bylaws, etc.. Once we received our award letter from the IRS, we submitted our application to receive Charitable Contributions (which comes with a $100 application fee). We needed a mailbox (fee), logo (fee), website (fee), business cards design (fee), business cards (fee), and lets not forget the time it takes to ensure these documents are completed accurately. We all have full-time lives that we are "balancing" to make this organization, amongst other goals, occur. Soon, we will begin writing grant proposals and hosting our own "FUN"draising events. This is quite the learning experience for each member of the Executive Committee; nevertheless, this is a worthy experience we each have committed to.

I truly hope that you are committed to enduring this wonderful journey with us as well. I think it is most rewarding when people can come together, in support of something positive, that helps others. The fellowship, bridges and partnerships built are priceless. Frequent my "Corner" to read about this process and other encounters while turning this dream into reality! I look forward to growing before you and helping others beside you.

*Pictured you have myself and fellow public servants, of religious-based outreach programs, touring the Virginia office of the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB).

Thank you!

 

 

I'm so Happy!

This evening had to be one of the best evenings I've experienced while pursuing my outreach initiatives. We prepared barbeque chicken, yellow rice, and cabbage for the families at our adopted shelter. Typically, there are more adults than children but this time the children's table outnumbered the adult's table. We were a bit nervous when thinking about how the children would embrace the cabbage. Within minutes of everyone saying grace they overwhelmed us with much appreciated accolades. Of course I smiled from ear-to-ear, showing all of my gums. My moment came when one of the pre-teens asked if he could help wash dishes..."uh YES grab that towel and dry". Personally our wanting to make a difference in our community comes from moments like this. Yes. We want to strengthen our community and we want to end hunger but we also want to reinforce effective communication, active listening skills, and family-like experiences that will shape our younger generation [now] so that they value "family time" in the future. He could have went outside with the other guys but instead he helped, got to know us and why we do what we do. Hopefully the "thing" that intrigued him about us will push him to do the same, if not something more impactful, for his community.