Rustic Love's Work To Address Food Insecurity Spotlighted By Costco

VIENNA, VA — Vienna-based nonprofit Rustic Love got some national exposure for its efforts to address food insecurity through a Costco magazine feature.

Rustic Love is featured in the February edition of The Costco Connection, the magazine of the popular membership-based bulk retailer. The magazine has an international readership of over 15 million subscribers.

"We are thrilled to be featured in The Costco Connection and give readers a glimpse into the work we do to help the food insecure in our community," said Rustic Love founder and executive director Michelle Connors in a statement. "Rustic Love has flourished into a respected nonprofit in northern Virginia, and we hope to inspire others to follow in our footsteps."

The spotlight feature on Rustic Love noted how Connors and her family started Rustic Love as a fundraiser to address food insecurity during the pandemic. It started with a few people making Rustic Love's signature wooden heart signs using scrap wood.

In the following months, more people joined the effort. Businesses like Ben & Jerry's, Vienna Vintner, Caboose Brewing Company, Achikian Goldsmiths, the Vienna Arts Society and the Freeman Store collaborated to offer their own products with Rustic Love's heart.

To date, Rustic Love has made over 5,000 signs and raised over $380,000, helping 19 Northern Virginia groups. The benefiting groups are largely under-resourced school food pantries helping students in need. Rustic Love continues to increase its impact with monthly sign builds and pop-up sales.

Rustic Love's signs can be frequently found around Vienna. They've also appeared in places as far as the West Coast and Europe, according to Connors.

To learn more about Rustic Love, visit rusticlove.org.