Farewell Community Crunch: The End of an Era
In March 2020 over the course of 24 hours, our small family business, Fresh Crunch, lost all of its annual revenue when the travel industry collapsed and the farmers' markets closed. For a hot second, we panicked. Then we pivoted.
We launched Community Crunch to help feed families in need when the worldwide pandemic hit.
The Community Crunch 3+1 Meal Kit concept was 100% grounded in the necessity, both for our family's livelihood and for the needs of the community. Our chefs carefully prepared wholesome and nutritious meals to ensure families were fed during food supply shortages. We structured our meal plan in a 3+1 model: for every three meals purchased, one meal was donated and delivered to families in need and workers on the frontline.
For the majority of 2020, leaving the house seemed risky and the outside world was literally doomsday. The fear of the unknown was a pandemic in itself. When going to the grocery store was a nightmare and cooking dinner after WFH was a struggle... Community Crunch stepped in to help.
"With all the crowding and stockpiling we're seeing at the grocery stores lately, their contactless delivery is just what we needed this week."- Sara, Falls Church, VA
Community Crunch was committed to providing healthy, ready-to-eat meals to families in the northern Virginia area. We did that... and much more.
We organized delivery logistics and dropped off meals on your doorstep, contactless. We upgraded our sanitization practices, wore masks.. a lot of masks... and gloves, and sourced insulated bags to beat the summer heat. We partnered with local farms and suppliers to minimize handling and support fellow small businesses. We dropped new menus each week with a fresh variety of meal offerings. We created a Pantry and stocked it with cookies, noodles, frozen meals, pickles (of course), meats, sides, sauces, and more.
“Community Crunch is a game changer for families in need right now, or for those who are extremely worried about the current volatility of the food supply chain,” said Michelle Schafer, a Great Falls resident who purchased Community Crunch last week for her family. “The meals are delicious and ready to eat! As someone who is working full time right now from home, I need hassle-free dinner options for my family. I am grateful for the Community Crunch team who is making a major difference by alleviating this stress factor for me during this uncertain time in our lives.”
With your help, we donated hundreds of meals to NOVA families in need and frontline workers at Reston Hospital Center, Inova Fairfax, Inova Alexandria, and Virginia Hospital Center. THANK YOU for helping us give back to our local and medical communities.
Oh and the meals.... the homestyle, farm-to-table, family-sized meals were DELECTABLY DELICIOUS.
You all loved our special menus like our Easter Feast, Memorial Day Cookout, Thanksgiving Feast, Cinco De Mayo Mexican Fiesta, Mother's and Day Boxed Lunch Picnic. We also made a Saturday Night Sleepover Party Kit, Earth Day Vegan Menu, Traditional Saint Patrick's Day menu, and a winter holiday menu. You all enjoyed ordering the 3+1 meal kits every week. Your favorite meals were Turkey BBQ Meatloaf, varieties of Tacos, and the Swedish Meatballs!
"It helps simplify meal planning and the family enjoys the food, the "real meals" as my husband calls them."- Pam, Fairfax VA
So, Thank YOU
Thank you, COVID for allowing us to come together and serve our local communities and for birthing Community Crunch out of need.Thank you CRUNCHERS for allowing us to serve you and for supporting our small business. We did it all with smiles behind our masks, and we couldn't have done it without you.
We are committed to opening up and returning to normalcy with the rest of the world. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming… pickles. Stay tuned for some really big news of what we have in the works. In the meantime, see you at the farmer’s markets!
Love,
Matt, Jenn, Ashby, and AJ