Rustic Love Vienna yard signs project blossoms, helping feed more Northern Va. families
VIENNA, Va. (7News) — Reporter’s Notebook: One of the great challenges of the past year has been feeding those in need and keeping our beloved local restaurants open. 7 News On Your Side has been with you every step of the way, featuring stories about where you can get help and how you can help food-insecure families. After exploring the issue of hunger for more than a year, I wanted to update everyone on one of my favorite success stories of 2020: Rustic Love Vienna. Part Two I'm calling Rustic Love Blossoms.
On a busy Sunday at the Vienna Open Air Spring Market, most of the patrons waiting in a very long line were there for one reason: the colorful offerings of one vendor.
“I’m looking for one of the Rustic Heart signs. I’ve been in line before trying to get one and they ran out so and I’m so excited I’m here. I’m looking for the bright ones so it will pop," says Vienna resident Kari Govan.
These signs, with their simple but poignant heart design, are in high demand because they represent a movement of empathy in Vienna that’s prevented restaurants from closing and families from going hungry.
Skorpio’s Maggio’s Greek Family Restaurant owner Sherry Maggio says, “It exploded. It just went crazy. People saw the signs. 'Oh, I want a sign. I want to give money.' It was beautiful. They circled the wagons. They just said nobody in Vienna is going without.”
“I’m totally surprised. A year ago, this didn’t exist. If you had told me a year ago that this would have happened, I would have thought you were completely crazy,” says Rustic Love Vienna founder Michelle Davila.
Last June, Davila’s kids and friends started making and selling these signs. They called the neighborhood project Rustic Love Vienna. The project took off, in part, due to the Facebook group Vienna VA Foodies. The people who run this page have dedicated themselves during the pandemic to helping local restaurants.
Initially, all the money raised by selling signs went to Vienna VA Foodies who then gave the money to eateries that then turned around and made and delivered meals to food-insecure families. Davila continues to work with Vienna VA Foodies and is also expanding her outreach to support food suppliers and food pantries.
Since June, they’ve raised more than $100,000.
Sherry Maggio feared for her livelihood. She’s not sure what would have happened without the support of Rustic Love Vienna and the Vienna VA Foodies.
“I’ve put all my time, all my money and my life and my blood into that business. How am I going to pay for my house, my kid’s college, my bills? Rustic Love saved us. They saved all of Vienna.”
Rustic Love Vienna signs became so wildly popular, Davila started a non-profit. They're also partnering with local businesses to offer even more heart-themed merchandise. We caught up with Trish Alexander of Vienna Sports while she put heart logos on t-shirts.
“For me, when I’m printing, it takes just a few seconds on that shirt, but it’s got such a lasting effect. Little did we know that this was going to be this big thing, right?” says Alexander.
Vienna Vintner owner Victor Mendes traveled to California to bottle two Rustic Love Vienna vintages he’s now selling.
Mendes says, while surrounded by bottles of Rustic Love Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, “It’s been just an amazing collaboration to see what Rustic Love has been doing for the community for food insecure and first responders. For those who obviously want to support the cause, please support the cause, but the wine is actually pretty fabulous.”
For every bottle sold, Mendes donates 10 dollars to the cause.
“There’s a lot of people out there who don’t have food to eat. They don’t have money to support themselves. People are losing jobs,” adds Mendes.
Rustic Love has blossomed so brilliantly that the very teenagers who started this project, like Michelle’s son Lucas and daughter Lia, are now instructing volunteers who make and help sell Rustic Love Vienna signs.
Members of Vienna Moms were there one recent weekend. Lorien McGreevy with Vienna Moms says, “My dad owns a small business and has struggled through the pandemic, so this is really important to me. I hope what we do helps. I hope that we provide a little bit of help in a dark time because it isn’t going to go away.”
Rustic Love Vienna has created and sold in less than a year more than 2000 signs. Davila believes people want so desperately to help that all you have to do is create the smallest of openings and they’ll jump right in.
“It makes feel great that we did something as a family and as a town together to improve people’s lives through an incredibly difficult time,” adds Davila.
Before the last sign was snagged at the Vienna Open Air Spring Market, we met Bonnie Campagnuolo in line.
Campagnuolo says, “I’ve been waiting for months to get my Rustic Love Vienna sign so I’m here today and can’t wait.”
Her excitement is about more than celebrating her town’s compassion. It’s about personally giving back after she endured her own, unexpected hardship.
“Well, I was furloughed from my job and it was a little crazy. Just to be able to help. We’re good now but it was rough for a little while. It’s good to help other people,” says a teary-eyed Campagnuolo.
We often return to the simplest things to get through the toughest of times. In the case of a town with a lot of heart, two colors on a few slabs of wood.