It takes many people to be pieces of the puzzle
Community member helps build a foundation
(More on pg. 6)(More on pg. 3)
SUMMER 2021
What is next?
Our team has pulled together this last year to make a difference in so many ways. We raised awareness to the issue of food insecurity and hunger and responded in ways that two years ago would have not been imaginable. We continue to ensure that people who need food have access to it. Your support and partnership are so appreciated through this journey and have helped us make this happen.
Four years ago, we announced that we had a goal to Close the Meal Gap in northeast Iowa. Later this summer our stats on this goal will be released, however despite the pandemic we have made great strides on this goal. While continuing to meet the need that is in front of us, we have identified longer term priorities that we are starting to work towards. They include:
• Addressing situational and chronic hunger by ensuring people have access to food no matter where they live in northeast Iowa • Evolve our food distribution by maintaining and growing partnerships that will enable us to provide services and re sources to those we serve • Leveraging legislation by continuing and growing our advocacy efforts • Ensure we are promoting hunger awareness throughout northeast Iowa • As we move forward, we must also ensure that we sustain our organization for the future
This fall we will recognize our 40th anniversary. The sad part of food insecurity is that no matter what we have done in the past, this issue isn’t solved. However, there is beauty in that there is a resource in northeast Iowa, that has many partners, which put food on the plates of many and those impacted lead productive lives because they have that food.
As you had a voice in our past 40 years, you will have a voice in the next phase of the life of the Food Bank. Your voice could look like volunteering, donating, being a partner or providing input into how we operate our programs. It takes all of us working together to make a difference. There are many ways to be involved.
We are close to Closing the Meal Gap and we have a strong foundation. We must now move forward and build an even stronger foundation for our future where everyone who needs food, has access to it. It will take all of us working together and I have no doubt, with your assistance we can do this.
On behalf of those we serve we thank you.
Barb Prather, Executive Director Northeast Iowa Food Bank
Our Staff Barb Prather, Executive Director
Alisha Rulapaugh, Director of Engagement Michelle Sullivan, Director of Impact
Kaytlyn Anzivino, Grant & Storytelling Coordinator Jordan Barrow, Culinary Programs Coordinator
Shannon Bass, Partner Capacity Manager Dan Bohnker, Volunteer Engagement Coordinator
Angie Boreman, Director of Human Resources Jeff Bowman, Driver/Warehouse
Devin Davis, Receiving & Inventory Coordinator Jeff Eastman, Warehouse
Susan Entriken, Community Outreach Manager Jared Feigenbaum, Community Events Manager
Jim Flood, Warehouse Foreman Carlin French, Technology Services Manager
Stephanie Graham, Admin Assistant Brent Groomes, Warehouse
Tia Gutierrez, Partner Capacity Supervisor Nikki Hahn, Culinary Programs Manager Dan Hofer, Partner Capacity Coordinator
Melissa Hicok, Financial Controller Becca Huber, Food Sourcing Manager Erin Kedrowski, Operations Manager
Mary Keiffer, Garden Coordinator Libby Klauck, Food Recovery Coordinator
Scott Knudtson, Fleet Supervisor Rhonda McBride, Service Insights Manager Shelby Miller, Pantry Services Coordinator
Andrew Mohr, Warehouse Kelsey Mumm, Partner Capacity Coordinator
Cayla Rasmussen, Digital Communications Coordinator Caren Rhoads, Janitor
Blais Richards, Warehouse Custodian Tyson Roberts, Exec Team Assistant
Spencer Rodriguez, Product Sort & Repack Coordinator Tom Roschen, Fleet Coordinator/Driver
Lisa Spitler, SNAP Outreach Manager Doug Stufflebeam, Warehouse/Driver
Tom Swalin, Facility Manager Mara Warnke, Pantry Services Manager
Leo White, Food Room Coordinator Freddie Williams, Receiving Coordinator
Our Board Kirsten Juhl, Chair
Ken Cutts, Vice Chair Paul Jungen II, Secretary
Corey Lorenzen, Treasurer
Cheryl Erb Paul Garcia
Emily Girsch Grant Gubbrud
Phil Jones Justin Kasuske Barb Kramer
Mike Messerer Jeanne Miller Jennifer Peters Reggie Schmitt Chris Schwartz
Louise Scott Daniel Winn
Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact Presidents’ Community Partner Award
We held our annual Empty Bowls fundraiser which was virtual this year. We greatly missed being in person, but the community showed up in big ways and over 60,000 meals were raised through live and silent auction, raffle, and donations.
Volunteers and staff packed and delivered over 700 lunches for our spring Sack Lunch fundraiser. These efforts helped us provide over 24,000 meals to those in need in northeast Iowa! We will be back this fall for our next Sack Lunch fundraiser on September 23rd & 24th
March 22nd-March 26th
April 22nd & 23rd
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
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Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact honored us with the President’s Community Partner Award this April. This award recognizes a community-based partner or organization that has enhanced the quality of life in the community in meaningful and measurable ways and has engaged in the development of sustained, reciprocal partnerships with the college or university. Thank you, UNI Dept of Community Engagement for nominating us for this award!
Personal Care Drive: July 1st - August 8th Ragbrai: July 28th Hunger Action Month: September 1st - 30th Stone Soul Picnic: September 12th Fall Sack Lunch: September 23rd & 24th
Getting Involved | Past & Upcoming Events
YOUR DONATIONS GO FURTHER HERE INVEST IN OUR MISSION TO IMPACT RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES IN NEED
A Mother Giving Back Building Blocks
By remembering our mission for nearly 40 years, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank has become a place where those in need can come and receive food. Food, a simple thing for most of us, however those who don’t have enough, it can make all the difference. Anna’s story is one of hardship and triumph. Anna became a mom at a young age, and with no support from her family, Anna found herself struggling to make ends meet. “I had great friends who stepped up and would help me when they could, but I was struggling to pay all the bills,” Anna states. That is when a friend suggested she check out the Cedar Valley Food Pantry.
Having to swallow her pride and admit she needed help was hard, but not having food to feed her children was worse. “I am not one to ask for help but as a parent, I had to do what I could to take care of my kids,” Anna said.
At the Cedar Valley Food Pantry Anna was greeted with a warm welcoming face and instantly she felt the worry of having enough food to feed her kids slip away. “The Food Bank and the Cedar Valley Food Pantry helped me to stay on my feet while I was job hunting and juggling all that life threw my way,” Anna says.
She was able to find a job, go to college and is now excelling in her own career. Anna is also the proud mom of three kids who are pursuing bachelor’s degrees and she is excelling in her full-time role while receiving benefits.
Her appreciation was expressed through her statement “once I was able to give back I did; saying “thank you” just wasn’t enough for all the support the Northeast Iowa Food Bank provided me and my family.”
The NEIFB’s foundation was built for people like Anna and with Anna’s help, she is building a foundation for those who may be in a similar situation for years to come.
Ingredients | Volunteers, Donors, & Advocates
Ingredients | Honorariums and Memorials
Honorariums & Memorials Honorariums and Memorials are some of the most special Ingredients we have.
HONORARIUMS
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Rachel Rough Riders by Judith Morris Rachel Goings by Shirley Magalsky Hudson United Methodist Church by Edward & Marlys Smith Danielle Hildebrandt by Mary Grosse Sophie Perez by Shirley & Kendra Williams-Perez Doris Roatz by Nancy & John Kelting Solglimt Lodge Sons of Norway by James & Vivian Miller by Jon & Gloria Tehven by Keith Jorgensen by David & Clare Palmer by Eunice Becker Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church, Decorah, IA by Betty Davie Ken & Perri Earnest, 55th Wedding Anniversary by Priscilla Earnest Denise Hanson by Gayle Denkinger Staff & Volunteers by Diane Spencer A. Mary for Mothers Day by M.D. & J.L. Scarbrough Mother’s Day by Judith Morris by Larry Skiles by Barbara Vanarsdale & Rosalind Mendoza Those who have, are, or will serve to protect our great Republic. by Anonymous Jennifer Seward by Patricia Shaw Rhea Carlson by Robert Theisen In honor of my parents, Roger and Doris, and their generous spirit by Karen Howard Lee & Amy Lindgren by Rachel Evans Anne Scott by Heather Field Rayla Lovell by Tanner Lovell Janice Halverson by Lori DeVries First Presbyterian Church by Kirk & Susan Eastman Different Drummer Organization by Travis Wilson Verle & Everlyn Nickerson by Douglas Nickerson John & Lorraine Mochal by Douglas Nickerson Rayla Lovell by Tanner Lovell Shravanee & Soumya Bhaltadak Family by Nitin Bhaltadak Our Mother! by Stephen & Carol Pierce Jim & Gretchen Kullmer by Richard & Marcia Bechthold Kory Alan Moorman by Anna Moorman Tiffany & Margaret Zheng by Grace Hao Gary & Gerda Lane by Mary Martin Lane
Rachel Goings by Judith Morris by Shirley Magalsky by Charles & Alice Shirey by Richard & Cheryl Jensen by Joann Parker
by Joyce Kohn by Vivian Johnson Lance Wilson by Mark & Melaine Miller by James & Frances Waring by Janice Reinicke by Dennis Krueger by Patricia Shipley by Cynthia Wilson by Lynette Claeys by Judith & Randall Richardson by Curtis & Ann Baumgartner Catherine Edwards by Kate McElligatt Jay Ginther by Ann Ginther John Maitland by Diane & Bob Peterson Arnie Averhoff by James & Barbara Prather Sally Hartley by Carol Hazel John Schaefer by Susan Schaefer Alex Davies by James & Nancy Davies Aaron Berns by G.F. Berns Mark David Ribich by Fred & Patricia Ribich Donald A. Vouk by Mary Meyer Irvin D. Kazda by Mary Meyer Judy Chelle by Jon & Wendy Foote Ray Stanley by David & Susan Feltman Robert Reiter by Shirley King Ione Harms by Steven Prescott Bill Roberts by Keith Kaspari & Donna Kitrick Kaspari Eva & Scott Eberling by Lee Allan Eberling Carol J. Schneck by Ronald Schneck Marcella Bryant by Pam Dohrn Bob & Marie Brennan by J.H. & K.B. Hall Donald & Regina Beenken by Robert & Jean Bellis Betty Hansen by Kenneth Cavanaugh Ray & Mildred by Richard Dullard Mike by Richard Dullard Tim by Richard Dullard Tony by Richard Dullard Kathy by Richard Dullard Linda Sue Dullard by Richard Dullard Richard Chamney by Dennis & Susan Chamney Steven Thorpe by James & Barbara Prather Mike & Lynn Millar by Ruth Millar Jack Farris by Cleo Farris Ronald Messingham by Bonnie Messingham by P. Lee & Barbara Miller by Jerome & Jill Boesen by Don & Diane McNamara by John & Kathleen Weber by Michael & Karen Jones by Melodie Cummings by Nicholas & Terie McNamara
MEMORIALS
by Chad & Tracy McNamara by Aaron & Kristine Martin by Karen Jessen by Marlys Messingham by Norma Byrd by Paul McNamara by Sandy Jo Messingham by Stephen Riley by Mariam Einfelt by Claudette & Donald Brandt by Lorna Eaton by Jim Ehmen & Barb Ritchie by Nancy & Joseph Moothart by Blake & Sally Hollis Gary Dorhout by Joanne Dorhout Arnold Averhoff by Sheila Bouck by Brenda & James Clark by James & Denise Bouska by Mary Averhoff by Michael & Judith Tripolino by Glenda Slack by Eugene Averhoff George Oluf Stokker by Kathleen Stokker Carolyn K Stammeyer by Frank Stammeyer James Reicks by Shari Reicks Jessica Krull Stoffregen by Brenda Worrell Jim Thompson by Dean & Marcia Olson Bruce A. Gustavson by Jack & Patricia Erickson Dostal & Michael Family by James & Mary Jo Michael Irina Drobat by Lane Lenth & Oksana Bondarenko Lewis Hanna by Opal Hanna Celia Stoen by Harold Stoen Eric Miller by Joyce Kohn Delbert & Gladys Timion by John & Delberta Fisher Robert Brandhorst by Ellen Brandhorst Marcia Murray by Irvin & Molly Myron Earl & Mary Bellis by Robert & Jean Bellis Donald & Regina Beenken by Robert & Jean Bellis Cathy Edwards by Patricia Carlson Lucille James by Denise Brown Cliff Carey by Pat Carey Craig Holmlund by Robert & Sandra Holmlund Ace & Florence Fogdall by James & Judy Fogdall Robert Reiter by S.King, Security Tax Service Bonnie Mae Leitz, Happy Mother’s Day by Charlotte Leitz Sandy by Dean & Laurie Payne Bill Ottesen by Georgia & George Tierney Barb Schrage by Darwin Schrage Steven Thorpe by Joe & Mary Boutott Erl Schmiesing by Teresa Schmiesing Miriam Peters by Brenda Buseman James A. Hutchins by Dorothy Hutchins Laurel Whitcome by Scott Whitcome
Roger & Lola Whitcome by Scott Whitcome Val Lerma by Gary & Jeanie Sieck Lucas Knebel by Dianne & Bob Peterson Mary DeBower by Russell DeBower Nancy W. Clayton by Maureen Clayton Scott Toppin by Carol Toppin Dale Robbins by Brenda Robbins Paul and Ardith Goings by Susan Koppmann Jackie Link Scott by Marian Link Jerry Palmersheim by Mary Palmersheim Sharon Cory Dunbar by Dorothy Wright Nedra Sparland by Barry & Jane Wilson Frederic and Shirley Fisher by Jim Ehmen & Barb Fisher Mr. & Mrs. Paul Bagby by John Bagby Robert Macon by Cathy Macon Pat and Jim Friedl by Mary Nadeau Ron Parks by Anonymous Jerry Palmersheim by Mary Palmersheim Don & Marge Gobeli by Steve Prescott Charlotte Nelson by Juliann Nelson- Duffy Sue Armbrecht by Randy & Patrice Pilkington Jan Urbanek by James & Debra Knudson Roger Dettmer by Wesly Foundation Students Debra Ann Granneman by Lowell & Bonnie Granneman James Anderson by Michael & Nan Quesinberry Frances Marse by Janice Kirchgatter Bill Davis by David & Susan Feltman Jim Walser by Andy James Walser Jerry Palmersheim by Mary Palmersheim Don & Marge Gobeli by Steve Prescott Paul L. Meyeraan by Betty Tovar Justin P. Koenen by Nancy Elliott Jackie Link Scott by Marian Link Marilyn Moose by Jean Bacon Larry Lamborn by Jean Bacon Janna Helmers by Nancy Helmer-Stiner Joan C. Osmundson by Jerold Osmundson Judy Chelle by Jon & Wendy Foote Ann Seavey by Marcia Van Deest
Taking Opportunities Utensils – The Tools We Need to Close the Meal Gap
While some people get excited about new cars or boats, here at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank we get excited about new semi-trucks. In April, the Food Bank was thrilled to welcome a new semi-truck to our fleet of vehicles. This new semi-truck and trailer was purchased through grant funding received from our partner, Feeding America, in response to helping the over 200 food banks in America to continue to feed the overwhelming number of those in need due to the pandemic.
We took this opportunity to look at lessons learned and look forward towards our future needs. Knowing the need in our area was increasing and wanting to ensure we had the ability to meet this need, our focus for this grant moved from program related costs to how to distribute more food. This included looking at our equipment and what we would need to upgrade or add to distribute food to the growing need.
We didn’t have to look much further than last May when the National Guard used their vehicles to help us distribute more food to our rural communities. Due to this partnership with the National Guard, we were able to see the gap in our fleet of vehicles and how a semi-truck would help in the increasing amount of food that needed to be distributed. Given the generous amount of funds available through this grant, the Food Bank was able to dream big and take the opportunity to distribute more food now and well into the future.
What the future holds for those still recovering from the pandemic and economic downturn is uncertain, however, the Food Bank is strategically building on our foundation in new ways to continue to serve our neighbors where they are at for as long as the need is there. The Food Bank is in it for the long haul.
IT’S EASIER THAN EVER TO BECOME A RECURRING DONOR
Utensils | The Tools We Need To Close The Meal Gap by 2025
YOUR DONATIONS ALLOW US TO KEEP DOING THE JOBS WE LOVE. CONSIDER BECOMING A RECURRING DONOR!
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The Northeast Iowa Food Bank is an equal opportunity provide. Focus on food is a quarterly publication of the NEIFB. For more information, please contact 319-235-0507 or check us out online at northeastiowafoodbank.org
NORTHEAST IOWA THANKS YOU!
Serving Size | 52,000 Hungry Northeast IowansUtensils | The Tools We Need To Close The Meal Gap by 2025
TIP: EVERY $1 YOU PROVIDE CAN HELP US FEED 4 MEALS TO NORTHEAST IOWANS IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE
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A Community Stepping Up Serving Size: 52,000 Hungry Northeast Iowans - Pieces of the Solution
An 8th grade English class from South Winneshiek School showed that making a difference in the lives of our neighbors can start with a homework assignment. When they received an assignment to make a difference in their community, a group of these 8th graders decided they wanted to help their local food pantry. The group fundraised $500 and volunteered their time to pack 10 boxes of food which all was given to the Greater Area Food Pantry in Calmar, IA.
This homework assignment shows that it isn’t too early to learn about giving back to your community. These donations made an impact in life of a local gentleman who came to the Greater Area Food Pantry.
He entered the pantry with his head hung in defeat, and when he approached the pantry coordinator, he said “I hate to have to come here and ask for help, but it was one expense after another this month, and I am out of food.” The pantry coordinator gave him a soft smile and nodded, then walked him through the pantry. They made small talk as he picked his items as he was leaving another person was waiting to shop for their food. The gentleman, holding his head a little higher now mouthed “thank you” to the coordinator as he walked out.
Helping our neighbors starts with a group of teenagers getting involved or a volunteer a kind smile and ends with those in need receiving the food they need. We all have a role and voice in the fight against hunger no matter if its past, present or future.
Thank You FOR SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY
Introducing: Employer Matching Does your employer match charitable donations? Find out instantly on our website!
www.NortheastIowaFoodBank.org/
Ashley Home Store Black Hawk County Farm Bureau CBE Companies Cedar Falls Construction Company, Inc. Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church Centene Corporation Chickasaw County Community Foundation Feeding Communities Initiative Community Foundation of Grundy County Feeding Communities Initiative Community Foundation of Howard County Feeding Communities Initiative Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa Community Garden Community Foundation of Tama County Feeding Communities Initiative Community Foundation of Winneshiek County Feeding Children Initiative Feeding America Subaru Loves to Help Campaign American Express Pampered Chef Walmart – Fight Hunger. Spark Change. Fertilizer Dealer Supply