In this episode of the Be The Good Podcast, Christy sits down with Eli Moraru, the visionary founder of The Community Grocer, to explore how one neighborhood’s struggle with food access sparked a nationwide conversation on equity, policy, and community care. Eli shares how the idea emerged during the pandemic when he witnessed firsthand how broken the food system was, especially for people living in areas without full grocery stores and relying heavily on SNAP benefits. What started with delivering food quickly revealed deeper systemic problems: food deserts, ultra-processed corner-store dependence, and federal policies that make it nearly impossible for families to access hot, healthy meals.

Eli breaks down the complexities of SNAP’s “no hot food” rule, the history behind it, and why it no longer serves communities the way it was intended. He introduces the innovative “two premises” model that The Community Grocer uses to legally provide hot meals to SNAP recipients, bridging a gap that has existed for decades. Eli also highlights the voices of residents who made it clear that they wanted fresh options and culturally relevant foods, not more processed items that contribute to long-term health issues.

The episode goes deeper into the realities of funding, real estate barriers, and the skepticism that nonprofits often face when trying to build grocery stores in low-income neighborhoods. Eli walks us through the challenges with lenders and how his team eventually found their home in Southwest Philadelphia, earning the trust of residents and sparking national attention. From meetings with USDA leaders to partnerships with his local Congressman, the story captures how persistence, community involvement, and policy innovation came together to build a first-of-its-kind model.

Eli Moraru:

Website: thecommunitygrocer.org

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro and welcome

1:06 – Where It All Began: Community Expertise & Environmental Justice

1:50 – Supporting the Community Through the Pandemic

4:18 – Corner Stores & SNAP Realities

5:25 – The Spark: Why Skittles Are Eligible, but Scrambled Eggs Aren’t

6:06 – Understanding the SNAP Policy Gap

10:51 – Introducing the Community Grocer Model

12:55 – How the Two-Unit Model Works

14:15 – The Chipotle-Style Meal Pickup

18:15 – The Viral Inquirer Article

24:03 – Entering the Food-as-Medicine Space

25:27 – Community Advisory Board, Ages 12–89, Shaping Research Questions

31:05 – Daily Hurdles, Faith, Federal Policies, Workforce Systems & Vision

31:36 – Discovery of the Hidden Bible in the Wall, Jeremiah 29:11

34:53 – Food Insecurity, Poverty & Systemic Inequality

37:35 – Civic Engagement & Rebuilding Hope Through Community Space

43:43 – Step-By-Step Vision: Open → Strengthen → Expand → Replicate

44:30 – How to reach Eli Moraru

46:01 – Episode Summary

In this episode of the Be The Good, Christy sits down with  Michael Butler, Philadelphia Site Director of the Fountain Fund, a national nonprofit expanding economic opportunity for people returning home from incarceration through low-interest loans, financial coaching, and reentry support. The organization has distributed over $1 million to help more than 120 citizens in the Philadelphia area transition back into society.

Michael shares inspiring stories and the mission behind the organization, discusses the impact of its work, his personal journey, and the importance of community and compassion in successful reintegration.

Discover how the Fountain Fund is breaking down barriers and giving people a second chance to thrive, not just survive.

Where to find the Fountain Fund.

Website: www.fountainfund.org

Instagram: @fountainfund_philly or @thefountainfund

Facebook: The Fountain Fund Philadelphia or The Fountain Fund

Time stamps:

0:00 - Introduction to Be the Good Podcast

1:15 - The Mission of the Fountain Fund

2:50 - Michael's Personal Journey and Passion

4:35 - How the Fountain Fund Supports Reentry

8:48 - Challenges Faced by Returning Citizens

13:24 - Success Stories: Transforming Lives

18:32 - The Ripple Effect of Economic Opportunity

24:00 - Future Vision for the Fountain Fund

25:56 - How to Support the Fountain Fund

27:30 - Conclusion and final thoughts

In this episode of the Be The Good Podcast, host Christy McCaffrey sits down with Sarah Todd, co-founder of Well Rooted, to explore the deeply human realities inside the foster care and reunification system. Sarah shares how her friendship with co-founder Katie evolved into a shared mission after they both became foster parents during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What began as a desire to support vulnerable children quickly revealed the overwhelming gaps facing not only foster families but also biological families working toward reunification and young adults aging out of the system. Through raw and honest storytelling, Sarah walks us through early placements that opened her eyes to trauma, instability, and the challenges families face when they are doing everything they can with very limited support.

As Sarah explains, their firsthand experiences exposed a heartbreaking truth: many families are desperately trying to rebuild, yet lack access to basics like meals, transportation, safe housing, and meaningful community. She shares transformative moments, such as witnessing a young adult aging out of care when she arrived at his apartment with almost nothing but the clothes on his back, and how the community rallied to furnish his entire home overnight. Stories like these helped shape the core mission of Well Rooted: to wrap practical and relational support around foster children, reunifying parents, and young adults who are stepping into adulthood without the safety net most people take for granted.

Throughout the conversation, Sarah highlights how Well Rooted now provides mentorship, essential resources, monthly support groups for caregivers, and “wish list experiences” that give young people opportunities to thrive beyond survival. She also speaks candidly about the emotional weight placed on foster parents, the appointments, court dates, trauma responses, and ripple effects felt by biological children and extended families. At its heart, this episode is a testament to the power of community, reminding listeners that while fostering and supporting vulnerable youth can be hard, it is profoundly good, and there are countless ways to get involved even if you’re not able to foster yourself.

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro and welcome

1:15 – How Sarah & Katie’s Friendship Evolved into a Mission

2:20 – Beginning the Foster Journey (2019–2020)

3:10 – COVID Disruptions & First Foster Experiences

7:20 – Realizing the Gaps in Support for Foster Families

10:00 – Challenges Reunifying Families Face

11:05 – Supporting Young Adults Aging Out of the System

15:10 – Launching the One-Year Mentorship Program

16:05 – Why Well Rooted Was Created

17:10 – Understanding the Realities of Foster-Care Trauma

22:05 – Meeting Immediate Needs: Food, Transit, Phones, Rent

26:10 – Understanding the Demands on Foster Parents

28:10 – The Emotional & Environmental Shift Inside the Home

29:05 – The “Hard” vs “Good” of Fostering for Families

34:00 – Changing Futures Through Relationship, Not Resources Alone

35:10 – Misconceptions About Foster Children

36:00 – Misconceptions About Foster Parents

37:00 – Ways to Help Without Fostering

38:00 – Episode summary