Teaching people to prepare healthy food

Last week I had an opportunity to visit and learn about the many services provided by the Charter Oak Health Center in Hartford, including the new teaching kitchen.  The kitchen was furnished with equipment through the help of Foodshare's Partnership Program.

Volunteer chef and instructor Bob Page now runs cooking classes twice a week using foods that the clients might actually receive from the Mobile Foodshare truck.  In the photo, he is preparing delicious sandwiches which have substituted slices of eggplant for the bread!

According to nutritionist Lorie Reardon, she can tell that the cooking classes are working because it shows in patients subsequent improved blood tests!

Congratulations to everyone at Charter Oak Health Center for taking the next step to help people to learn how to best prepare all of the delicious produce delivered by the Mobile Foodshare program.

Cereal donations

Last Wednesday, Total Cereal (a General Mills brand) had a breakfast event at State House Square in Hartford. When the event was over, they donated the excess inventory to Foodshare.  A total of 1,079 lbs of cereal and 155 lbs of milk was donated.

Thanks to General Mills for the donation and to our team for the extra effort to pick up product at an unusual location without a loading dock.

MACC Charities has added a blog

Check out MACC Charities new blog at http://maccblog.com/ and stay up to date with their services to Manchester residents!

First aid training for Foodshare staff

Over the last two weeks, about half of Foodshare's staff has taken part in first aid training.

A special thank you to Ronald Gideon and the American Red Cross for coming to Foodshare. Ronald helped staff learn about Adult First AID CPR/AED.   And thank you to all of the employees for making the time to do this!

Map the Meal Gap research released today

MarketWatch, Map the Meal Gap 2012 Documents the Continued Pervasiveness of People at Risk of Hunger in Every County in the U.S.
April 27, 2012


Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, today released “Map the Meal Gap 2012,” which provides estimates of food insecurity at the county and congressional district level. Food insecurity is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members.

The report found that even though food insecurity rates have remained relatively stable across the nation, those communities that were previously known to have the highest rates of food insecurity have continued to climb. There are 75 counties in the U.S. that had statistically significant increases in food insecurity rates. For example, in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, the rate of food insecurity rose from 23 percent in 2009 to 27 percent in 2010. Tensas Parish County is on the boarder of Mississippi and has a poverty rate of 32 percent and an unemployment rate of 15 percent.

In addition to rates of food insecurity, “Map the Meal Gap 2012” estimates the relative cost of a meal by county, showing a range in meal cost as low as $1.80 in Zavala, Texas and as high as $5.51 in Union, South Dakota. The national cost per meal that food secure people report spending on an average meal is $2.52. This illuminates the challenges faced by people at risk of hunger in the many counties where food prices are high. 
The findings were released at a press conference in Washington, D.C and can be viewed here. This is the second year the data has been compiled.

“Map the Meal Gap 2012” is based on an analysis of statistics collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and food price data and analysis provided by Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN), a global provider of information and insights. The study is supported by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and Nielsen. The lead researcher is Dr. Craig Gundersen, Professor of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at the University of Illinois, Executive Director of the National Soybean Research Laboratory and member of Feeding America’s Technical Advisory Group.

Sam's Club supports Foodshare

Last Wednesday, April 18^th , was the first time for volunteers Angel, Rick and Chris (pictured from left to right) but it won’t their  last.  The team from the Sam’s Club of Newington (under the leadership of their general manager, Kevin Lawrence) has decided to volunteer every month!  Kevin will schedule his team of five with John Weedon so they will  join the growing list of employers who support their employees’ desire to help Foodshare by volunteering some time each month.

This Sam’s Club has not only been responsible for recovering over 207,000 pounds of unsalable food last year, providing almost 160,000 additional meals for our food insecure neighbors, but now are volunteering with Foodshare; but it doesn’t there.  Chris Desrosiers, their Perishable Department Team Leader, shown holding their plaque,  also told me that by fielding a team of 5 volunteers each month, their Club is eligible for grant money from corporate that will be donated to Foodshare this year.

No wonder this club is so successful, they are always thinking!!  Thank you Kevin, Chris, Rick, Angel and all the others who are work so hard, everyday  to help us and their community.

Big Y employees volunteer at Foodshare

Every year our friends at Big Y World Class Markets celebrate community through their Annual Community Service Day, when they encourage their employees to volunteer.  This year associates (Yaschel, Sean, Dawn, Forrest, Carole, Anna, and Jen) from the Avon Big Y arranged with our volunteer coordinators John and Edna decided to help Foodshare by spending the day sorting and repacking donated food recovered by our friends at Kellogg's Snacks.

Thank you Big Y!!

Food companies support the Walk Against Hunger

The Connecticut Food Association, a trade association of food retailers and other food companies in the state, is busy promoting the upcoming Walk Against Hunger with their members and encouraging local stores to organize a team for the Walk.  In addition, the Association has formed their own team, so if someone in the food industry wants to walk, but doesn't have a team at their own place of work, they can join the Association's team.

The ShopRite of Enfield, operated by the Miller Farms Family Markets, is one store that has accepted the challenge and is organizing a team for the Walk Against Hunger and raising money for the Enfield Food Shelf.

Church youth group gets involved

This evening, I headed into work, yes, even though it's Sunday!  The senior high youth fellowship from First Church in Simsbury was coming to Foodshare for a Hunger 101 presentation and a tour of our building.  Their were 32 people here and it was great to both share with them about Foodshare's work and hear about the exciting projects these young people are undertaking.  They are regular tutors for elementary school aged children in Hartford, which is way more important that volunteering at Foodshare.  By tutoring and mentoring a child, they might well help break the cycle and change that child's life forever!

Their trip to Foodshare was in preparation for their participation in the Walk Against Hunger, coming up in just two weeks!  I look forward to seeing this enthusiastic group of young people there!

Raising money for food in the summer months

I had breakfast this morning at a pancake breakfast in Enfield to support the "Lunch Bunch."  This program provides lunches for children from low-income families in the summer months when school is out.  It's put together by a coalition led by the Enfield Food Shelf and their tireless volunteer Board chair, Roger!

It was good to have a chance to support them and I look forward to annother successful summer for the Lunch Bunch.

Feeding America Donor of the Year

This week, I'm at the Feeding America National Summit in Detroit.  At last evening's dinner, we honored the Feeding America Donor of the Year, The Howard G. Buffett Foundation.  The Buffett Foundation has granted more than $5 million to benefit the Feeding America network since 2010.  Most notable was the funding of Map the Meal Gap, which provides county by county data on hunger.

In addition to the Foundation's support, Mr. Buffett has been a vocal advocate for food banks' work to end hunger in the US.  He has testified before Congress and paid for ads in major publications.

It was great to hear Mr. Buffett speak last night about combining his first passion, farming, with his passion for fighting hunger.  Mr. Buffett has created a new national campaign, Invest an Acre, and is asking America's farmers to each donate one acre to their local food bank.

New Ways to Volunteer

This week we celebrate National Volunteer Week. National Volunteer Week is about inspiring, recognizing and encouraging people to seek out imaginative ways to engage in their communities. It’s about demonstrating to the nation that by working together, in unison, we have the fortitude to meet our challenges and accomplish our goals. National Volunteer Week is about taking action, encouraging individuals and their respective communities to be at the center of social change—discovering and actively demonstrating their collective power to foster positive transformation.

Here are two exciting and interesting ways you can volunteer and help create social change in Hartford:

SNAP Outreach - With one-quarter of Connecticut's residents who are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) not receiving this important benefit, volunteers can make a huge difference.  Through Foodshare you can be trained to screen people to see if they are likely eligible and to help them apply for this benefit.  Learn more by visiting Foodshare's website or by contacting Sarah Santora.

Budget Coach - You can volunteer  as a Budget Coach in the United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and Co-Opportunity’s new program, MyBudgetCoach_tm. The MyBudgetCoach_tm program is designed to raise awareness regarding the challenges faced by low-income working families and to provide volunteers with the opportunity to assist families in becoming more financially stable, culminating in the development of a realistic budget and spending plan.  Coaches receive a 8 hours of professional training, split over two sessions. Coaches are then matched with a member who needs assistance on their path to financial stability. The coach and member schedule a convenient time for a monthly two-hour session based on their availability either on-line, in-person, or on the phone – the total commitment is 12 months. Coaches will support their member’s efforts between meetings with a phone call or email to check status. Members and coaches work together to define financial goals, identify barriers, and formulate a working budget. Once a member’s goals are completed, the member graduates and coaches can choose to be assigned to a new client.  For more information, go here or contact Laura O’Keefe.

Donors starting young!

Tommy from Burlington decided to have a really meaningful 7^th birthday.

He invited his friends to a laser tag party and asked them not to bring him gifts- just donations to Foodshare. He raised $100 to feed hungry people!

Tommy is wise beyond his years, realizing that there are people without jobs who can’t get food for their families. His mom and dad were very proud of his efforts. He came to Foodshare to drop off the donations and to have a tour of our Bloomfield facility with his whole family.

With activists like Tommy coming up, the future is looking much brighter!

Donate and get a free iced coffee this Thursday!

While the first heat of summer may be coming today, this Thursday, April 19 from open until 4 p.m., Connecticut residents will be the first to get a taste of summer at Bruegger’s, when the bakery-café chain hosts Free Iced Coffee Day at its three Hartford-area locations. Guests are invited to stop in for a free 16-ounce iced coffee, and are asked to make a donation to Foodshare via collection canisters, located next to each bakery’s register, to help the organization alleviate hunger in the state.

“We wanted to start our summer early and give our loyal Connecticut customers the chance to enjoy our iced coffee for free,” said Bruegger’s Chief Marketing Officer Scott Colwell. “As longtime supporters of food banks in Connecticut, we are also aware that summer is the hardest time for some families, so we developed our Free Iced Coffee Day fundraiser to help those in need in the upcoming months.”

No coupon is required to receive a free iced coffee on April 19. Participating bakeries in the Hartford area are located in Avon, West Hartford and Glastonbury. Further information is at http://www.brueggers.com/.

Windsor Hunger Action Team Walks Against Hunger

The Windsor Hunger Action Team has organized a Walk Against Hunger Team.  The Walk team is called Windsor CARES and Windsor residents are urged to join this group and designate a portion of the money they raise to the Windsor Community Service Council for the Windsor Food Bank.

One of the great things about the Walk Against Hunger is that it truly is a Walk Against Hunger, not a Walk For Foodshare.  Each person who takes part in the Walk can designate a local anti-hunger organization to receive a portion of the proceeds.  If your favorite food pantry is not on the list, there is even a write-in line to add them!

The Windsor Hunger Action Team brings together town government, the school system, the faith community, the business community, and local volunteers to identify gaps and needs and find better ways to help Windsor families be self-sufficient.

Churches support the Walk Against Hunger

Earlier this evening, I made a presentation to the Board of Deacons at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford about the Walk Against Hunger.

The church calls themselves, "a church in the heart of the city with a heart for the city" and is clearly demonstrating it with their work on this year's Walk Against Hunger.  They've designed this walking church logo, set up a team page online, and are actively recruiting members to take part in the Walk as walkers or donors.

Since the church is near The Hartford, where the Walk starts, and many members live in the suburbs, they are making plans for a picnic lunch after church and before the Walk, as well as planning for T-shirts and other prizes for their members who take part.

We look forward to seeing you there on Sunday, May 6!

Freshplace, a new kind of food pantry

Earlier today, I joined Foodshare's partners from Chrysalis Center, the Junior League of Hartford, UConn, and the United Way for a discussion about our progress at Freshplace, a new kind of food pantry we have developed in Hartford.

What sets Freshplace apart?

• Food is offered in a setting that looks like a grocery store and the clients are allowed to choose their own food, rather than being handed a pre-packed bag.
• Most of the food is fresh, including meat, vegetables, fruit, bread, and eggs.
• To get food from Freshplace, a person has to commit to work with the Freshplace case manager to create a Freshstart plan designed to move them toward self-sufficency.

Today, we heard from Maria, a client at Freshplace (where actually the clients are called "members").  Maria said that her frist reaction to Freshplace was "Wow!"  She couldn't believe the variety of food that was available to her household.  She talked about taking cooking classes, learning how to read labels and shop more effectively, using the computers to do job searches.  The team at Freshplace helped connect her to a program at Capital Community College that would help her get a certificate in medical billing.  She takes the final test next week.  I wish her much luck!

And we heard from Susan, a volunteer, whose primary role is to accompany a member as they shop.  Susan said she volunteers on the same day each week so that she gets to know the members.  She said that as they shop through the pantry together, they often discuss food and how to prepare it and that more often she is the student!  Susan spoke powerfully about the relationships she has built with the members, talking with them, supporting them in their challenges, weeping with them in their trials.

It's these kind of caring, compassionate, one-on-one exchanges between people that, I believe, can help someone take the next step to move out of poverty toward self-sufficiency.

Thank you to everyone who has made this program work!

Religious schools organizing for the Walk Against Hunger

The Walk Against Hunger has always drawn participants from a variety of faith communities ... churches, synagogues, religious schools, and for the last few years a large contingent from the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut.  This year, we're please to hear about the efforts of Madina Academy to support the Walk.

Located in Windsor, Connecticut, Madina Academy has been encouraging its students to give back to the community and to those less fortunate.  The school motto:  “We raise children.  Higher.”  is demonstrated in the efforts and positive attitudes of the school’s students, faculty, and staff.  The students of Madina Academy’s Upper School have been especially eager to participate in this year’s Walk Against Hunger, as they work to raise $2,000.  The students were deeply affected by the idea that right near their own school, hunger was a real issue that is faced even by members of their own age group.  Rayyan, a ninth grade student, shared that he felt that as Muslims, the students should be committed to supporting their neighbors and those who are in need.  The students have been organizing various fundraisers including a cupcake sale and a raffle.  They have also been promoting the Walk around the school, speaking with younger grades about the importance of helping others and the significance of the Walk Against Hunger.  This year the school will be walking with the Muslims Against Hunger team from the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut.

PHOTO:  From left:

Girls:  Aden, Usra, Aasiya

Boys:  Rayyan, Haarith, Shakeel

Not Pictured:  Hamna, Haya

It's tax time

Foodshare is a nonprofit and tax-exempt organizaiton, but did you know that we still have to file a tax return?

The return for nonprofit organizations is the Form 990 and Foodshare's Audit and Finance Committees reviewed ours this morning - a total of 44 pages - in preparation for filing the return with the IRS.  The Form 990 includes a variety of information about Foodshare's programs and governance, not just financial information.

Preparation of the return is part of Blum Shapiro's annual audit of Foodshare's financial statements.  The volunteer Committees also saw the results of the audit this morning and learned that the auditors had provided an unqualified or "clean" opinion on the financial statements.

In addition to providing copies of our audited financial statements to various funders, Foodshare posts them on our website for all to see.  The 2011 statements will be there soon!

Giving back

Ali, one of our Administrative Assistants sent me this e-mail this morning:

"Yesterday while I was covering the front desk a man came in to make a cash donation of $1,000.  Arelys came up to help me write him a receipt, and while she was writing it up, he and I were chatting.  He said that a few years back, he lost his job and Foodshare helped him make it through and feed his family.  Now, he’s back on his feet and had extra money to make a donation.  He was going to donate half to us and half to Breast Cancer, but then read online and saw that $30 can feed a person for 30 days and said he was just amazed by that, so he donated all of the money to us.  It’s great to see how someone that Foodshare once helped is now helping Foodshare and other families in our area.  He was so thankful to us and so happy to be helping the organization.  It was very touching and I am so glad I was at the front desk when he came in!"

Price Rite donates

Foodshare's Food Sourcing Manager, Ernie Pitti, sent me this e-mail this morning:

"Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of meeting with Bill Britton, VP of Human Resources, Melinda LaChappelle, VP of Operations, and Kathy Freedman, of their regional Human Resources Dept. in Price Rite's regional office in Wethersfield.  We met to discuss an opportunity to recover unsalable food from their stores. Concerned for the health and welfare of the many Connecticut residents who are food insecure they met with me to learn how to pursue this objective while ensuring that all the food recovered would be handled safely and redistributed quickly.

"Within a short time, they agreed to start with a test store, leaving Melinda and I to hammer out the details of the project which should start in May.  To further add to the excitement, and to underscore Price Rite's commitment to helping Foodshare in our mission to end hunger, Melinda and Kathy (pictured from left to right)presented me with a check for $1,000.

"Thank you Price Rite for initiating this test and for your very generous donation!"

Partnership

This morning, I was pleased to represent Foodshare at the Faith Seventh Day Adventist Church for their Community Guest day.  The Church operates 3 Angels Community Services, which, among other services, runs a food pantry for Hartford residents.  When their pantry opens each week, they sometimes serve as many as 300 households each time.

The Church wanted to recognize Foodshare for the support we give to them in this ministry.  I was especially happy that, in presenting the plaque, they talked about all of the dedicated Foodshare staff and volunteers.  So I really did accept this award on behalf of all of you.

And I reminded the members of the congregation that this really is a partnership.  Foodshare exists to support those local food pantries like 3 Angels.  And they are the ones on the front lines of doing the work to end hunger.  So, even while they were thanking Foodshare, I couldn't thank the church, its members, and the 3 Angels volunteers enough for what they do!

Gardening

It's spring and the gardeners, like me, are itching to get our hands in the dirt and things planted.  In fact, here's a photo of the seedlings I have started in my dining room!  And I'll be planting peas and lettuce outside this weekend.

I was pleased to learn earlier this week about a new gardening project in West Hartford that's intended to help provide fresh produce to local emergency food programs.  While these programs can't come close to providing the 5 million pounds of produce that Foodshare distributes each year, they are important parts of the work to provide healthy food to people in need and engaging the community in this work in meaningful ways.

Here's the e-mail I received about the West Hartford project:

"Jessie's Community Gardens is a project established through the Greater Harford Jewish Federation by Dane and Michelle Kostin in memory of their daughter who died very unexpectedly in her 20's a few years ago and who loved to cook.  The project provides start-up funds for community gardens at Jewish institutions in the Greater Hartford area.  The gardens are supposed to produce fresh home grown produce for those in need.  

"The beauty of the project is that each garden is also designed to meet the needs of the institution and its volunteers.  For example, Beth El Temple and the Jewish Community Services garden (which has a Kosher food pantry) are typical vegetable gardens.  The garden at the Hebrew Home and Hospital has raised beds, so that residents in wheel chairs can tend the garden.  The Beth El Temple garden is now also self sustaining (after the initial "seed" money from the project), because we planted and harvested horse radish, then produced and sold bottled horse radish for Passover with the children in the Hebrew School (and also had a label contest), sold out, and raised enough funds to pay for next year's supplies.  A garden is planned at one of the day schools which will not yield produce in the summer (when no one would be around to harvest) but only in the spring and the fall.

"All very small scale but very meaningful."

It's time! Plan to join us at the Walk Against Hunger!

Please take a few moments to register online for our 29th Annual Walk Against Hunger. There is plenty of time to organize a team and help us reach our goal of $600,000! Or, if you prefer, register as an individual - either way, you can support Foodshare or any one of our 300 partner programs. Every dollar you raise will provide financial support for programs like Mobile Foodshare, which offers those in need with access to the nutritious food they require to stay healthy and strong. Maureen is one of the people benefiting from Walkers' efforts:

"Very recently I learned about the Mobile Foodshare program.  It has made such a positive impact for my husband and me, and I want to thank you directly for that.  We’re slightly above income for most types of assistance, like SNAP, and are struggling to meet all of our needs right now. Rest assured that we truly appreciate the fruit, veggies, and delightful miscellaneous items that have been so cheerfully shared with us, as we visit our local Mobile Foodshare site.  It has been an uplifting experience."

You can become a part of this signature fundraising event and help our neighbors, like Maureen. Hope you’ll sign up soon and hope to see you on May 6!

New Directors

At last week's Annual Meeting, five new Directors were elected to the Foodshare Board of Directors:

Mary Kate Cox is a fundraising/development professional who currently serves as the Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Saint Joseph College.  She has previously worked in the development offices at the University of Hartford and the University of Connecticut.  Mary Kate has expressed a desire to help Foodshare strengthen our fundraising and development programs, particularly in the area of major gifts.  She has experience with campaigns like the one we are considering.  Mary Kate has a real passion for Foodshare’s work and an understanding of the larger issues around creating a hunger-free community. 

Brian DuPerre is the Chief Privacy Officer and Senior Legal Counsel at United Healthcare Group in Hartford.  Brian worked with Foodshare two years ago through the Pro Bono Partnership as part of our  evaluation of privacy concerns, policies, and procedures.  Brian worked specifically on the HIPAA compliance question.  For the last year, Brian has served on Foodshare’s Finance Committee as a volunteer, a role he plans to continue to play if elected as a Director.  Brian has been very active with the Somers Housing Authority, including serving as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners.  Last year, Brian helped Foodshare staff connect with the right people in Somers, resulting in our providing food to a pantry in town and establishing a new Mobile Foodshare site in Somers.

Judy Greiman is President of the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges.  In this roles she handles public relations, research, public policy development, government relations, and purchasing coordination on behalf of sixteen member colleges.  Judy has experience on a number of Boards of Directors, including the Wadsworth Atheneum, where she serves on the Finance Committee.  Judy has been an active volunteer at Foodshare for several years, including working at our Regional Market facility and helping with the Turkey and a Twenty campaign.  For the last year, she has been an active member of the Strategic Implementation Committee.  

Gina Collopy O’Connell is the Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance, at The Phoenix Companies.  She recently completed a term on the board of the Hartford YWCA, where she served as Treasurer and chaired the Finance Committee.  She also had some experience with fundraising both through that Board and the board of the Manchester Community College Foundation, where she is still active.  Gina noted that her passion for Foodshare’s mission runs in the family, as her father was a founder of the food pantry in Westbrook.   She looks forward to keeping Phoenix connected with Foodshare.  

 

Stephanie Stone is a marketing and public relations professional.  Stephanie’s expertise is in grassroots public relations including social media, in relationship building, media relations, and writing.  She is interested in helping Foodshare better use social media to promote a conversation about our work.  Stephanie has worked at the Capital Region Education Council, Carmody & Torrance, Pepe & Hazard, Whittlesey & Hadley, and Day, Berry & Howard, all in marketing and communications.  She does not have a lot of prior Board experience, but does bring volunteer experience with several organizations, and a real passion for Foodshare’s mission.

Nine years of volunteering (and counting!)

Name: Craig Anderson

Employer:  United Healthcare

Role at Foodshare:  Honorary Director and member of the Governance and Nominating Committee

How long have you been with Foodshare?  9 Years on the Board of Directors, including serving as Treasurer and Chair, was elected as an Honorary Director at the 2012 annual meeting

How you first became involved with Foodshare:  Knew other Board members who recruited me to volunteer on the Finance Committee

Why I support Foodshare: Because hunger is a pervasive and significant social issue in our community and across the country

Last read: Micro by Michael Crichton and Richard Preston - Crichton, who died in 2008, was one of my favorite authors and this book was based on a partially completed manuscript discovered after his death.  Richard Preston completed the novel.

What was the hardest thing you’ve had to learn while volunteering with Foodshare? That so many children are impacted by food insecurity.

What has changed the most at Foodshare in your time with us? The technology used in the warehouse and shopping functions and the number of different channels through which donated food is collected and distributed.

What has stayed the same? The dedication and commitment of the staff.

What are you most proud of?  My family

If you were an animal what kind would you be?  Why?  A dog, because they are compassionate and unconditional to all.

If you could trade places with anyone for a week, who would it be?  Why?  Warren Buffet, because he has such an interesting perspective on the world.

  

What is your favorite movie or book or song? Book = Harry Potter, Movie = National Lampoon Christmas vacation (at the Holidays)

If you were a superhero, what would your power be? Time Travel

Starting young

From the mailbox:

"Dear Folks at Foodshare,

"Five-year-old Joseph receives a small allowance each week.  He divides the money into three jars - Save, Spend, and Give.  After receiving a Foodshare holiday ornament celebrating his grandparents' donation in his honor, he became very concerned about the idea of hungry children in our area.

"He recently volunteered at his first food drive at a local grocery store and decided to give the contents of his "Give" jar to Foodshare.  He had accumulated $9 and we are giving his donation a small boost, as well.

"I think that he has a a long line of volunteering ahead of him!  Just wanted to let you know that he is also considering asking his friends for donations instead of gifts at his upcoming birthday party.

"We are already on your mailing list, please keep the newsletters coming!

"JW of Farmington"

Taking the pledge to help end hunger

At last week's annual meeting, Foodshare rolled out our new goals in our work to end hunger and asked those present to take a pledge to help with at least one of the goals.  Many people did!

Engage 30,000 people in a movement to end hunger in greater Hartford.  To end hunger we need a vibrant partnership of individuals and organizations.  An army of at least 30,000 caring, committed, passionate people can change the conversation about hunger by engaging in efforts that truly end hunger.

  

Ensure that everyone has enough by reducing the need for families to visit food pantries and community kitchens.  Foodshare is able to meet about one-half of the need. Closing the gap in available meals, for each community, meets the need while keeping us focused on actually ending hunger.   We’ll keep maximizing donations of healthy food. But, without the ability to double in size, it’s critical that we help people become independent if we are to ensure that everyone has enough.

Increase by 20% the number of qualified families that are enrolled in the core nutrition programs: School Breakfast, Summer Food, & SNAP.  These nutrition programs provide the majority of the food that hungry people receive, with remarkable efficiency. Yet, many families, including those with young children, do not receive these meals that they need and deserve.  Connecticut is a small state, with plenty innovation: we should be able to figure out how to make these kid-centric programs the best in the nation!

Swimming to end hunger!

Mike O'Hara heard me speak about hunger and Foodshare's work at the Simsbury-Granby Rotary Club and decided that he had to take action and do something to support the work to end hunger.

So, he committed to his own personal "Swim-a-thon."  Over four days in March, Mike swam 2,500 yards each day, for a total of 10,000 yards.  He asked his friends and family to make donations to Foodshare to support his effort.

He has raised almost $2,000 to date and stopped by to present Foodshare Vice President Alicia Flynn with the proceeds of this efforts.

In The Spotlight: Gerri Evans

Name: Gerri Evans

Occupation: Retired in January 1997 from VNA as a Medical Records Assistant

Role at Foodshare: I began as a volunteer sorting food drive food in the warehouse before joining salvage. I also help in the accounting room at the Annual Walk Against Hunger.

How long have you been with Foodshare? Approximately 14 years

How did you first become involved? It's possible I read an article in the paper about Foodshare shortly after I retired. I wanted to be a part of giving back to the community and I had the time to make this commitment, so I phoned and made arrangements to begin.

Why you support Foodshare: It looks like the need for help will continue. "When Hunger Stops, So Will We" and I will be a part of this continuing effort.

A personal/professional goal: To continue supporting Foodshare's mission. It's good to know my efforts will help close the gap on hunger.

Share something about yourself that few people know: For five years from 2005-2010 I also volunteered in the recreation department at Riverside Healthcare and provided sandwiches for homeless people at the Cathedral of St. Joseph on weekends.

If you won $20 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money? Feed the world.

Where does your inspiration/motivation to volunteer come from? From caring.

What are you most proud of? My family.