Pop-up Popcorn Charity Provides Windfall For Port Chester School

PORT CHESTER, NY — Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Westchester Alumnae Chapter (DSTWAC) has maintained a mission to help the region’s most vulnerable for more than three generations, but for the first time since its founding in 1959, the group struggled to find a safe way to raise funds for those in need of help. Chapter President Kanika Morgan explained that the group was in the process of cancelling a new calendar of in-person events, including a popular annual Delta Sigma Theta fundraising gala previously held at an event space that has shuttered permanently due to the pandemic.

The coronavirus-related economic downturn and record unemployment also meant some of charitable donations the sorority counts on were reduced or eliminated. Meanwhile, the association of college-educated women committed to public service with a focus on the Black community, was desperate to help address an emerging crisis among students at Westchester schools.

“The digital divide is something we wanted to help bridge,” Morgan told Patch. “Remote learning has become the rule, rather than the exception, but there are families with two or three children and only one computer to share. That doesn’t work if more than one family member needs to be in class at the same time.”

With its traditional fundraising avenues blocked by a global pandemic, the sorority turned to a Chicago-based firm with a delicious way to help charitable organizations raise cash. Double Good has found a way to spin its beloved gourmet popcorn into gold for charities and non-profit organizations in need of a funding boost. The organization sells 13 popcorn flavors, including the popular and punny Easy Peasy Caramel Cheesy and In Queso Fire. The charity keeps fifty percent of the profit with no fees or minimum orders.

Through the partnership with Double Good, the leadership at the Delta Sigma Theta chapter saw an opportunity to redirect their fundraising activities to the virtual world. No one could have guessed how successful the endeavor would end up being.

“We had a goal of making maybe $20,000,” Morgan recalled. “We couldn’t believe it. By the end of day four we had raised more than $100,000 … The DSTWAC is now the all time top seller working with Double Good. We hope other good causes will pass us, but right now we’re the top fundraiser.”

The sorority took a novel approach to the tasty fundraising campaign. Members were encouraged to film short videos to promote dozens of online “pop-up” popcorn shops. Had the pop-up popcorn carts not been online, crowd control might have been needed. The Delta Sigma Theta chapter earned a whopping $108,880 during the 4-day-long drive.

The group’s tenacity and creativity paid off big for a number of Westchester schools, including Port Chester Middle School. This week, DSTWAC leadership and representatives of Double Good were on hand to facilitate the purchase of hundreds of personal computing devices for the use of PMS students.