As November approaches, we celebrate another successful semester of Anabel’s Grocery! We could not continue without the support of YOU our lovely alumnus, so here are some updates. Thank you again for all of the continual support, as it helps us thrive as a community.
New Additions
Via’s Cookies: LGBTQ+, black-owned cookie business that gives back to the community and ensures food accessibility for all. Via’s Cookies provides delicious cookies with gluten-free varieties and donates 5% of their profits to struggling students to promote academic equity.
Cramp bites from Aunt Flo's Kitchen! This business is run by Armita Jamshidi, a Cornell '25 undergraduate student! They produce gluten-free and vegan snacks made entirely with whole ingredients (dates, walnuts, pistachios, sesame seeds, etc.) designed to help alleviate menstrual cramps.
Apple Juice and Hibiscus Rosehip Tea from NaturAO: We have started selling from NatureAO which makes juices and teas from the Aronia berries grown on their farm in Warners, New York!
Enforcement of Re-usable Containers! Anabel’s is now implementing charges for plastic containers and bags to encourage customers to bring their own bags and decrease out plastic usage!
Succulents from Cornell Hydroponics Club! Anabel's is now partnering with the Hortus Forum to sell assorted potted plants and succulents in the store. Many customers have added a pop of green to their rooms with one of these cute plants
A Look into AEM 3385
Our work at Anabel’s goes far beyond the store. During our time in class, we have gotten the amazing opportunity to chat with local vendors who work with Anabel’s! In talking with local business owners about their missions, students got the chance to discuss their roles in our larger food systems. Some highlights were talking to Dilmun Hill Farm, Wide Awake Bakery, Via’s Cookies, Finger Lake Farms, Tompkins Food Future, and Fort Baptist Farms! Students heard firsthand about the experiences of changing our food system on a local scale.
As for our work, we are crafting our Social Impact Report to measure the immense growth Anabel’s has seen this semester!
One of the ways we measure our social impact is monetarily. Here are some financials to show our progress in the past couple of semesters:
Total Sales in First Week:
September Week 2024: $6,319.73
February Week 2024: $6,424.40
September Week 2023: $5,318.87
Difference in 2024: -$100.67 (Note: This includes only 30 loaves of Wide Awake bread)
Total Orders:
September Week 2024:703 orders
February Week 2024: 644 orders
September Week 2025: 550 orders
Increase in 2024: 9%
This means that more people are coming to opening week every semester!!
Financial Gains/Losses:
First Week in September 2024:
Gain: $455.02
First Week in February:
Loss: -$567.09
First Week in September 2023:
Loss: -$269.40
So we are tracking better financially (even though losses aren't necessarily a bad thing since our mission is to keep prices low and to use our subsidy fund to make that possible).
Events!
The CollabEdu committee has put on some great projects this semester to not just further Anabel’s mission to the students who shop here but to bring the mission onto the further community.
On October 27th, CollabEdu hosted the Toast-a-Thon. This event featured poetry, art, education, and toast provided by Wide Awake Bread (with gluten-free options). Participants learned about the Alternatives Library’s Prisoner Express program, where they wrote letters and made art to send to prisoners. Anabel’s impact spreads far beyond our grocery store.
We held a Community Dinner with Dilmun Hill on October 5th! It was a lovely gathering that included farm harvest, pumpkin picking, flower pressing, perfume making, and a free community dinner with produce sourced from Dilman Hill and Anabel’s Grocery. Everyone came together to learn, meet new people, enjoy good food while listening to live music!
We held a Goshen Kimchi pop-up on September 27th! We had a great turn out with students and other Cornell members being able to try a variety of Kimchi. Now students can come buy their own kimchi with the knowledge of what they like and how to incorporate it into their meals.
Photo Library
Each year Anabel’s grows more and more. Take a look at some of the new projects and changes at Anabel’s.
If able, we are endlessly grateful for our alumni and the impact they have had on the organization, we would love for any and all alumni to stop by the fast changing Anabel’s Grocery. These pictures are only a smart part of all the amazing additions we would like to highlight.
Support Anabel’s Grocery
As we close out another incredible semester, we urgently need your support to keep Anabel’s Grocery thriving. Your contributions are essential in helping us expand our offerings, support local vendors, and provide critical educational programming to students. Every dollar you give directly impacts our ability to make healthy, affordable food accessible to the Cornell community.
Now, more than ever, we need your help. Whether through a one-time donation or ongoing support, your generosity allows us to reach even more students and community members, creating lasting change. Every dollar counts in driving our mission forward.
If you're ready to make a difference, please contact us directly or use the link below to donate!!
https://www.givegab.com/donations/new?group_id=anabel-s-grocery
Thank you for considering a gift to Anabel’s—your support means everything to our mission of promoting food equity, sustainability, and community!
Thank you again to our lovely alumni. None of this would be possible without the unwavering support you provide. We hope you enjoyed our updates!
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