Ways to Join
Becoming a member of The Bernie Smith Legacy Society is easy. Simply add Community Servings as a beneficiary in your will, retirement plan, life insurance policy, trusts, or other estate planning vehicle. As a member, you’ll receive special recognition and invitations to annual donor events, and know that your commitment and dedication to the mission will continue on as your legacy.
GIFTS DURING LIFETIME
Charitable Gift Annuities: This is a simple contractual arrangement between you and Community Servings that produces an annual fixed income at a rate determined by you at the time the gift is made. We carefully review and approve each Charitable Gift Annuity agreement to assure our ability to honor the contract.
Charitable Trusts: Charitable lead trusts or charitable remainder trusts offer a way to provide for yourself and loved ones during your lifetime, lower your taxable estate and also support Community Servings. These may also be structured as testamentary trusts.
GIFTS AFTER LIFETIME
Bequests: Including Community Servings in your will allows our meals to continue without you sacrificing any of your assets while you may need them. Adding a bequest to your will is easy and can be done with a single sentence:
“I give and devise to Community Servings, or its successor, federal tax identification number 22-3154028, currently located at 179 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, (written amount or percentage of the estate or a description of the property).”
Life Insurance & Retirement Plans: Naming Community Servings as the owner and irrevocable beneficiary of your life insurance policy may allow you to claim an immediate income tax deduction. In many cases, you may also elect Community Servings as a beneficiary of your IRA or other workplace retirement savings plans.
Real Estate or Property: Gifts of real estate or other property can make a significant impact on Community Servings. We would be pleased to discuss the possibilities and benefits of such a gift with you and your advisors.
medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling, Bernie understood the strong connection between healthy food and managing illness. Determined to do his part to bring our vital services to more people, Bernie made the first planned gift to Community Servings, which we received upon his passing. 
