Exciting New Evolutions at We Give A Share!
The little chrysalis of an idea that we all had when we began We Give A Share in March 2020 has not only managed to weather the pandemic storm (thanks to our wonderful donors and partners!!), but also to metamorphize into a truly beautiful new iteration.
First of all, WGAS has acquired our own 501 (c)3 status and we have committed to taking on the fiscal responsibility of running the operations of Southside Kitchen. We’re shifting our focus to providing more and more healthy, fresh-produce based meals for a broader community, including the students and staff at the new PEAK Academy. We’ll also be doing food for Verner Early Learning Center as well as for Food Connections.
All of this terrific change instigated more terrific change: We have hired our first Executive Director! JP (Juan Pablo) Chalarca moved to Asheville with his wife Diane in December 2020, relocating from Phoenix. He was born in Colombia, grew up in Miami and graduated from the University of Florida. He studied culinary arts right out of college in Milan, Italy.
He also has a master’s degree in leadership from Pfeiffer University and co-owns (with his wife) Bryce Ashe, a management consulting firm that specializes in providing expertise in accounting, risk management, strategy and HR to entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profits.
JP is working with Kikkoman Shaw as head of the kitchen as well as with our farming partners to coordinate and plan meals. We were extremely fortunate lately to have the invaluable assistance of Chefs Gavin Baker and Mark Sternal who worked with the team to put plans together for the start of school at PEAK. We are also grateful, as ever, for the many volunteers who continue to support our work.
We started WGAS as a way to support local farmers and connect their good work (and good food) with the greater community through the creation of fresh, healthy meals. In the process, we got this crazy idea that we believed all plates should be equal. EVERYONE should have access to nutritious, delicious food that’s been thoughtfully and lovingly prepared.
And now? Well, it’s happening!
A very heartfelt and enormous thank you to all of you who have believed in this effort. We couldn’t do it without you.
