We’re excited to kick off our “Give the Gift of a Mini-Grant” Giving Tuesday Campaign! We want to share with you all some great updates on last year’s projects, while also announcing our newest awardees.
🌿Mini-grant project update! 🌿
Last Fall, we awarded a Neighborhood Mini-Grant to Danby Food and Drink, a community hub that serves local goods, like hot drinks, craft beer, groceries, artisanal sandwiches, and baked goods. It is run by Kartik Sribarra, who has developed strong connections with many farmers, distributors, growers, producers, and customers over the last 10+ years.
Their project was to install shade sails to make their outdoor space more welcoming and comfortable for gatherings. The sails served a dual purpose to also collect rainwater, so the water could slowly permeate through the ground instead of being manually pushed out.
They collaborated with the Danby Resilience Group, which got its start here at the store, to install the sails on the posts.
Kartik shared, “We’ve received countless comments of praise about the shade sails, with many noting that they really help define the area and look gorgeous, independent of their functional use”.
Sustainable Finger Lakes has awarded more than 242 mini-grants and over $100,000 in funding for projects just like this one. Recently, we’ve expanded our program to Seneca, Yates, and Schuyler counties with plans to expand to Chemung, Steuben, and Tioga counties. This year, our campaign is raising funds for the 2026 grant cycle.
Know anyone with an idea to help out the community? Share this story with them if they would benefit from a gift of a mini-grant!
Any donations made until Dec. 2 will contribute directly to our mini-grant fund. To support us, go to: sustainablefingerlakes.org/support-us/
