Blog Post

Teaming Up to Ensure Everyone Eats Here 

Blog » Community » Teaming Up to Ensure Everyone Eats Here 

Dublin Food Pantry new building rendering.

We are proud to be working with the Dublin Food Pantry and Cramer & Associates on the Everyone Eats Here – #FeedDublin capital campaign to raise $3 million for the purchase and renovation of a new home for the Pantry. 

This project holds a special place in our hearts since Dublin is and always has been our home. Making this partnership even more special is that MJ2 Marketing and Cramer & Associates both call Historic Dublin home. 

Getting Started 

Developing the plan for how to execute the campaign was a joint effort among MJ2, Cramer & Associates, and DFP Executive Director Dinky Youngsteadt-Parrish. A truly collaborative effort, the campaign was approved by the Dublin Food Pantry Board in early July and the MJ2 Marketing team quickly jumped into action.

“There are a few decisions I’ve pushed for in my life – mostly big, huge mistakes – but this time you all are absolutely perfect for our campaign. Thank you for listening to us and being so committed to making this a huge success. I’m so glad you are on this journey with us.“

– Denise “Dinky” Youngsteadt-Parrish

Working hand-in-hand with Michelle Cramer and Dawn Robinson of Cramer & Associates, the MJ2 team began the discovery process by conducting research, key stakeholder interviews, and working closely with the Steering Committee. 

A Few Things We Discovered

So why is this project so important? While we already recognized the need for the Food Pantry here in Dublin, a few things caught even us off-guard and the magnitude of the need surprised us. Consider the following:

  • In 2019, the Dublin Food Pantry served 769 residents. 
  • As a result of the pandemic and an uncertain economic climate in 2021, this number increased by 92% when the pantry served an average of 1,762 Dublin families. 
  • 2022 has already shown an additional 30% increase in families and individuals served from 2021, and this is only going to grow. 

Hunger continues to grow in our community, and in Dublin, it is much more prevalent than most realize.

  • In Dublin, over 4,700 households live on less than $35,000 annually. 
  • The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Dublin is Caucasian, followed by Asian and Hispanic.
  • The Food Pantry currently serves an average of 2,500 individuals and families each month living in Dublin, with a monthly average of
    • 600 households served
    • 300 seniors served
    • 900 children served
    • 1,300 adults served

Beyond Discovery 

As a result of the discovery process, the MJ2 team developed the campaign theme, Everyone Eats Here, along with the creative to go with it, and the overarching message and voice of the campaign. These pieces will be put together to create a campaign landing page, marketing collateral, and brand assets to help the Steering Committee publicly launch the campaign.

Dublin Food Pantry Everyone Eats Here campaign design.
feeddublin stylized hashtag.
Dublin Food Pantry new building rendering.
Come to the Table capital campaign promotional image featuring Denise Dinky Youngsteadt-Parrish.

What’s Next 

As we launch the campaign, we will do what we do best – set out to build awareness, tell the story of the Dublin Food Pantry, and engage the community in this important initiative. We hope that you will join us in supporting this project that truly gets to the heart of what it means to be a part of the Dublin community – caring for our neighbors. 

While we begin working on the design and development of a new website for the Dublin Food Pantry, we have started with a landing page to begin telling the story of the Everyone Eats Here campaign. We invite you to take look, learn about the essential work of the Food Pantry, and get involved. 

Be sure to follow the campaign on the Dublin Food Pantry’s social platforms on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter #FeedDublin

More from MJ2