“See a need, meet a need.” That has been the mindset at Extraordinary Charities since its formation in 2013. Time and again, organizations reach out to us when they need help tackling a particularly difficult problem or solving a unique challenge. That’s precisely what happened in late 2018, when we learned of a commercial property whose tenant was unable to continue its operations – and they were leaving behind a HUGE freezer and refrigerator full of food. The challenge presented to us? How do we get this food and get it out into the community?
While we weren’t initially able to secure the food due to a lien on the inventory of the business, through a series of circumstances, and the generosity of the Rose Marie and Ted J. Miller Family Foundation, we were able to acquire the building.
Today, this same building houses the Extraordinary Charities Nonprofit Center. Our vision was to create a space where nonprofit organizations could share not only physical office space, but also enjoy a creative, collaborative, and cooperative environment while keeping their overhead costs low. Since we opened our doors in the summer of 2019, we have been hard at work developing relationships, building partnerships, and working together to effect positive change in Palm Beach County.
Our Center is currently home to the following organizations as well as the Extraordinary Charities offices:
- aZul Fashion, Art & Design
- Digital Vibez
- Family Promise of North/Central Palm Beach County
- Feed The Hungry Pantry
- Meals on Wheels of Palm Beach County
- Morningday Community Solutions
- Sea Turtle Adventures
- Side Project
- The Green Baker Foundation
While the COVID pandemic has certainly changed the way we do business, it has also served to strengthen the partnerships formed at the Nonprofit Center. Over the past year, Extraordinary Charities has partnered with local businesses to distribute over 12 tons of food from our Center, provided toys and toiletries to several food distribution sites, and supported the efforts of our organizations as they tackled the challenges faced in shifting to virtual work and service delivery models. We have watched new partnerships form and old ones flourish as organizations work together to overcome the seemingly insurmountable challenges COVID has presented.
We look forward with optimism to working together with our organizations to develop unique and collaborative ways to make a difference!