Food Bank of East Alabama 375 Industry Drive Auburn, Alabama 36832
FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. Postage
PAID
Auburn, AL PERMIT NO. 128
THE HOLIDAYS. 1 in 6 Americans struggles with hunger
DURING HURTS MORE HUNGER
FEEDING
HUNGRY
the
THE NEWLETTER OF THE FOOD BANK OF EAST ALABAMA
Thank you for supporting the fight
DECEMBER 2013
against hunger
Your generous support does more than provide nourishment to our hungry neighbors in need, it offers HOPE. Because of your generosity, we have provided food for more than 3.5 million meals so far this year to children, seniors and working parents struggling to make ends meet. THANK YOU for joining with us as we continue to work toward our shared vision of a hunger-free community.
Making an IMPACT!
“I know that the food I am packing today will be on the tables of food insecure families in East Alabama,”
IMPACT is an organization on Auburn University’s campus that exists in the Center for Community Service that serves to promote volunteering in our area to students. The name of the organization stands for ‘Individuals Moving People And Community Together’ and the student leaders known as Project Coordinators embody that by leading their peers in 42 volunteer opportunities each week of the semester. “IMPACT is one the easiest ways for a student to take a little bit of their time – Tera Stone and give it away to the Lee County community that supports them so much,” says Tim King, Coordinator of AU Center for Community Service. “Time and time again, I hear stories of students who volunteer because they truly love being able to give of their time to this community and get to know those they work with. It really gives them an experience like no other opportunity on campus.” Tera Stone, a senior majoring in Chemical Engineering said: “Every week I take up to 10 volunteers to the Food Bank on Thursdays from 8-10 in the morning. And although it’s early and recently very cold, it’s great to see students get up in the morning to come volunteer. When we get there we are usually sorting the donations onto tables for the first hour and then the second hour we pack them by category into boxes that will be sent to families. It’s a short two hours, but we can accomplish a lot when 10 college students work together.” “I have volunteered with almost every IMPACT project over the past four years, but the Food Bank has become one of my favorites because I can see the difference I’m making each week. I know that the food I am packing today will be on the tables of food insecure families in East Alabama.” “IMPACT is a great organization on campus, because as a college student it is very easy to get overwhelmed by tests and homework, but every week for two hours I get the opportunity to step back and serve the Lee County. I’m an out-of-state student and I have made Auburn my home for the last four years, so I love giving back to the community that has adopted me and does so much for Auburn University.” In 2013, IMPACT recorded a total of 811 hours at the Food Bank. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, the value of this volunteer time is more than $14,500!
On Yom Kippur, members of Beth Shalom in Auburn collected food and funds to feed the needy. Their donations to the Food Bank were the equivalent of 1,021 meals. Pictured is Michael Friedman, president of Beth Shalom, with Martha Henk of the Food Bank.
The numbers are in—this year’s Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day raised the equivalent of 34,888 meals! Many thanks to Sydnee Cleveland for all her hard work to make this possible and to all who ran or walked in the event at the Moores Mill Country Club.
Not that we encourage overdue library books, but the Auburn City Library offered patrons an opportunity to clear their tab through donations to the Food Bank. “This is a unique opportunity for our patrons to settle up their accounts while also helping hungry families in east Alabama, especially during the holidays,” said Auburn Public Library director Chris Warren. Patrons responded with 631 pounds of food!
Savana Etris, a kindergartener at Jeter Elementary, wanted to help with her school food drive in support of the “Beat ‘Bama Food Drive.” Savana had saved up $20 from birthday gifts and by doing chores for her grandparents, and her goal was to get 40 cans for people in need. This savvy shopper filled a buggy (with a little help from Mom.)
Ten Girl Scout Troops “Trick-or-Treated” for food and brought in more than a TON of donated food – a total of 2,362 pounds! Special thanks to the Auburn High School Key Club who helped weigh, box and sort the food.
Mandatory cuts to food stamps (SNAP) took effect on November 1st and additional cuts of $4 billion annual cuts are currently under consideration by Congress. These cuts far exceed the total annual meal distribution by Feeding America food banks across the country. In Alabama, 19% of our population relies on the program and it is projected that 910,000 recipients (423,000 children) will be impacted by this loss in food assistance. Principals in public school systems are already noting a rise in food insecurity among their students, according to State Superintendent Tommy Bice. For more information visit www.feedingamerica.org and click on “SNAP: Facts, Myths and Realities.”
Opelika Native’s Contribution Allows the Backpack Program to Expand Visit any public school and ask a teacher if hunger exists – especially on Monday morning when children have been without access to their free or reduced school meals over the weekend. Hunger is real, it’s right here in our community and it’s affecting how our children learn and grow. Opelika native Norton Bond recently made a generous donation to the Backpack Program in honor of his late mother Myrtle Bond. Mrs. Bond was a local teacher who taught sixth grade from September 1949 through June 1973 at Morris Snower and Miriam Brown Schools in Opelika. She is remembered as a good disciplinarian and an excellent teacher. This lovely tribute to a dedicated teacher is truly having an impact on vulnerable school children. “Teachers impact the lives of their students in many ways. They are not only educators, but act as role models and caregivers,” said Dr. Mark Neighbors, Superintendent of the Opelika City Schools. “The legacy they leave continues to mold and shape children long after they have left the classroom. Mr. Bond’s generous contribution honoring his mother, Myrtle Bond, and ensuring that children in the Opelika City Schools are well taken care of through the Backpack Program, is a true example of that legacy.” The program currently serves nine schools for a total of 370 children. In Lee County, 21% of the children are considered food-insecure and lack a reliable source of food – this equates to – Dr. Mark Neighbors 6,320 children. Other partners include: The Charter Foundation, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, the Chizik Opelika City Schools Foundation, the Hudson Foundation, and many individual contributors.
“Teachers impact the lives of their students in many ways. They are not only educators, but act as role models and caregivers.”
Distributing More Nutritious Food Providing a healthier mix of food is a key component of our strategic plan. Produce, meats and grains are the key categories. Produce distribution has already grown by 311% this year—lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Our distribution of meats and proteins has risen by 34% and healthy grains increased by 118%. The most significant way we’ve been able to access more nutritious food is through our retail store program where we receive short dated produce from grocery stores including Walmart, Sam’s, Earth Fare, Kroger, Publix and Winn-Dixie are the biggest participants in the retail program. We also have a dedicated team—from staff members who interact with donors to our guys who move food through the warehouse—and it’s a tremendous effort to make sure this food gets to local recipients.
Note from one of our faithful donors:
“Thank you for what you do in our community —I personally know what hunger is and how welcome even a bowl of grits can be.”
Everyone Wins!
When the final pound of food was weighed in the biggest food drive of the year, the University of Alabama came out victorious with an amazing total of 299,398 pounds to Auburn University’s 169,702 pounds. While we hope for a victory in this food drive, we truly understand that the real winners of this year’s competition are the people who are fed by the donated food. A huge thanks to AU’s Center for Community Service who coordinated this drive. We’ll get ‘em next year!
GREAT RESULTS FROM THIS YEAR’S
“FEDS FEED FAMILIES” FOOD DRIVE
– THE EQUIVALENT OF 2,148 MEALS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED!
PARTICIPANTS INCLUDED USDA NRCS, SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE IN ALEXANDER CITY, SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE IN OPELIKA, TUSKEGEE NATIONAL FOREST, AND THE USDA AGRICULTURE RESEARCH
