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Nantucket Meals on Wheels backed by $25,000 grant; council approves QR-code pilot at three restaurants
Summary
The council learned that a $25,000 Community Foundation grant underwrites Nantucket's Meals on Wheels program and approved a one-week QR-code donation pilot at three local restaurants to supplement funding.
Council member Robert Kucharavi reported the Meals on Wheels program on Nantucket benefits from a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation that specifically underwrites Meals on Wheels and congregate lunches on the island.
Kucharavi described a trial fundraising initiative using table cards with QR codes at three restaurants—Kitty's, Town and Queequegs—starting this week through Mother's Day as a one-week pilot. He said customers can scan the QR code and donate; he noted one example amount of $13 would buy a meal. "It's a 1 week trial to see what happens," Kucharavi said.
Laura confirmed the cards are table cards to be placed by participating restaurants and that restaurants were asked to simply place the cards. Lisa and other members urged expanding the pilot beyond three restaurants and suggested keeping the QR-code option year-round if successful. Kucharavi said Sherry Hunt used her connections to recruit the initial three restaurants and that the trial may be expanded depending on results.
Council members discussed the local program's relative strength: Kucharavi said Nantucket's Meals on Wheels and congregate lunches are successful because of the restricted $25,000 Community Foundation gift but cautioned that reliance on one-time grants and uncertain federal/state funding means the council must consider other revenue sources if federal support declines.
No formal vote to change program policy was recorded; members offered to help distribute cards and to press restaurants to participate if the pilot continues beyond the trial week.
