Our Story
In 2013, we started our initiative to improve the community. The group was called Ignite Wooster and consisted of a handful of young adults that set out to help the less fortunate and clean up the neighborhood. Five years later, our founder, Marquise Merriweather, shifted the focus to combating food insecurities within our community and created The Giving Plate. The Giving Plate would anonymously deliver nutritious meals to the less fortunate.
The evolution of this organization would not have been possible without the influence and mentorship of Marquise’s Auntie Seph, Persophenea House. In her honor, we changed the name of the organization from The Giving Plate to Persophenea’s Giving Plate.
About Auntie Seph
Auntie Seph was an amazing woman and a true embodiment of a servant leader. She was empathetic, selfless, had a strong sense of awareness and commitment to others, and was dedicated to the growth and development of those around her. Auntie Seph was an active member of the Ignite Wooster initiative and helped connect the organization with some of the most influential people in the community.
At the kick-off meeting for The Giving Plate, Auntie Seph was the only one in attendance, but she encouraged Marquise to continue with his presentation. During the presentation, an elderly homeless woman stumbled upon the meeting and became the first recipient of the organization’s meals. Auntie Seph’s commitment to the cause, encouragement, and guidance continue to inspire us to carry out our mission today.
We are forever grateful for Auntie Seph’s impact on our organization, our community, and us. Her legacy continues to drive us forward in our efforts to combat food insecurity in our community.
Our Mission
Our mission is to reduce food insecurity rates in Wayne County, Ohio, through education and providing nutritious meals. We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
What we do
Our organization delivers healthy, freshly cooked meals discreetly to our clients’ homes on a weekly basis. In addition, we provide educational seminars for both our clients and the community, covering a wide range of topics such as urban and community gardening, as well as financial education.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
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