Cultivator Circle Donors

“My mother was a generous person and cared a lot about her community,” Laura Stackhouse says of Elinor Ogden. “She supported and volunteered for many organizations throughout her life. She understood how hunger was at the root of many issues.”  

Elinor was a donor to The Food Group for more than thirty years. “We never imagined that she would leave us such a generous bequest,” says Emily Eddy White, director of advancement. Yet in 2023 a check arrived from Elinor’s estate. “Her gift makes a difference in so many ways!” Emily says. “It helped us carry out our mission of fighting local hunger and working toward change.” “Elinor was like many of our donors,” She was a faithful supporter for many years and quietly chose to designate part of her estate to us. We are so grateful!”  

Legacy donor is passionate about making positive change 

Sanford “Sandy” Berman has been a supporter of The Food Group for more than thirty years, just celebrated his 90th birthday, is a humanitarian and social justice advocate, and an author and editor. To top it off, he has included The Food Group as a contingency beneficiary in his estate plan. A retired librarian, Sandy is still working to make the world “a little better” and raising the consciousness of the community around issues he is passionate about. 

“Of all the issues in the world that need to be addressed, food relief is the most immediate,” he says. Sandy says, “I would like my legacy to be that no matter how awful things may seem at any moment, they may be surmountable, and we can’t take the chance to not act.  

I admonish my neighbors to never give up, to always consider who needs what and to get those basic needs fulfilled.”  

Sandy knows that change takes time but is worth the effort. He worked for decades to eliminate library fines that were a barrier and deterrent to low-income patrons. He continues to campaign for change and inspire others to join him in creating a more just and equitable world. Thank you, Sandy, for your lifelong dedication to community service and your legacy commitment to The Food Group! 

Members listed below have named The Food Group as a beneficiary in their estate plan.