SUMMER 2012 Leading the Charge to Relieve Hunger for our Miami Valley Neighbors

The latest study released by Feeding America titled, Map the Meal Gap reports there are 132,200 food insecure people in our service area of Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties. Help us close this gap

by making a secure, online donation at thefoodbankdayton.org

feedwireA sk Barbara Wysong how long she has volunteered for the

Camden FISH food pantry and she will tell you, “It seems like it’s always been a part of my life”. Barbara has been serving her

neighbors in the small, rural village of Camden for more years than she can remember. Since 1953, the FISH food pantry has been a beacon of hope for struggling families living in southern Preble County. Barbara, along with four other volunteers, assists 80 families each month from the tidy little pantry located in the Camden United Methodist Church. Many folks who rely on the pantry are elderly or families with small children. “As long as there are people who need food, I’ll be here to help”, says Barbara.

CAMDEN FISH 100 S. Lafayette Street | Camden OH 45311 Hours of Operation: Last Tuesday & Wednesday of month 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

A pril 28 was an exciting day for clients, volunteers and supporters of Community Action Mission Program

(C.A.M.P) Food Pantry. A newly renovated facility was dedicated at the site that once housed the fire department of the village of Farmersville, located in southwest Montgomery County. Pantry coordinator Pam Morneault and intake volunteer Sheryl Schmidt are proud of the new food pantry where 20 families are served each week, a 30% increase from last year. “We couldn’t do what we do without The Foodbank”, says Pam. The biggest increase has been in the number of elderly, single women on Medicare and Social Security. Pam stated that some women are widows of former GM workers who have lost their widows pensions. They have also seen an increase in the numbers of working poor. In addition to the food pantry, C.A.M.P. is an Ohio Benefits Bank site where clients can access other resources to help them thrive and lead a healthy life. C.A.M.P. is a lifeline for the most vulnerable residents of the small village of Farmersville.

One client was moved to show her appreciation by writing a poem that was presented at the dedication (excerpted below).

Who and what is C.A.M.P.?It’s the last hope for many of us who have fallen through safety nets and cracksWhen we came to C.A.M.P.’s doorNo longer were we ignored

We were greeted with a smile and open armsA feeling finally we had found a place safe from harmNo one ever looked down on us for desperate pleaWe were wrapped up in their love and that love set us free

Thank you CAMP for being hereKnow that in my heart you will always be dear

COMMUNITY ACTION MISSION PROGRAM (C.A.M.P.)

50 Jackson Street Farmersville OH 45325 Hours of Operation: Thursday 1:00 p.m. –2:00 p.m.6:00 p.m. –7:30 p.m.

NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOODBANK

C.A.M.P. and Camden FISH Food Pantries Serve Rural Populations

Sheryl Schmidt and Pam Morneault in the newly dedicated C.A.M.P. Food Pantry

Barbara Wysong

The Foodbank Mobile Farmers Market April 27, 2012 / UD Arena

Help The Foodbank continue to provide nutritious food to our hungry friends and neighbors in the Miami Valley. Visit our website at thefoodbankdayton.org to make a secure, online donation.

In the last issue of Feedwire we posed the questions below to you, our readers and supporters, to help guide us through our strategic planning process. The Foodbank belongs to the community. We are in partnership with each and every one of you to serve the most vulnerable citizens in Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties. Your feedback will enable us to identify areas of strength and to focus on opportunities to improve our processes in areas that need to be strengthened. Our thanks go out to all of you who responded and shared your ideas and insights.

What do you feel is the role of The Foodbank in the community?

The Foodbank provides a unique service that is essential to hunger relief in our community. The only one of its kind, The Foodbank is the primary source of food for 85 non-profit agencies that feed the hungry in Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties. Our role is to serve and support these member agencies by acquiring, storing and distributing food and related supplies to organizations that operate more than 100 emergency feeding programs in the Dayton region.

Is The Foodbank a pantry or a distribution center?

The Foodbank is a distribution center rather than a food pantry. We have recently introduced new modes of delivery to increase people’s access to nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables with a Mobile Food Pantry, indoor farmers market at St. Vincent de Paul, and public food distributions.

Do you know how you can help?

Hunger is closer than you think. It is no longer an issue we can all wait for somebody to do something about. It’s a real problem in our community – and it’s going to take each one of us to help solve it. Join us in the fight against hunger and protect hunger relief programs in our area.

• Organizeafoodandfundsdrive• VolunteeratTheFoodbank,alocalfoodpantryorcommunitykitchen• Talktoyourfriendsandfamilyabouttheissueofhungerandfoodinsecurity• Advocateforthehungrybycontactingyourelectedofficialsandrepresentatives.Urgethemtoprotect and strengthen hunger relief programs.

Visit our website at thefoodbankdayton.org to learn more about ways to help or to make a secure, online donation.

2 hours

800 cars

37 volunteers

19,000 pounds of

fresh fruits and vegetables

4,000 pounds of

frozen chicken 2,500 pounds of bread

2,500 people served

1 VERY GOOD MORNING

427 Washington StreetDayton, Ohio 45402

Phone: 937.461.0265Fax: 937.461.3828

www.thefoodbankdayton.org

OUR MISSION:The Foodbank is committed to relieving hunger through the

acquisition and distribution of food to hungry people

throughout the Miami Valley.

Kroger Customers Provide 70,000 Meals to Feed the Hungry Dropping some spare change in the coin boxes at Kroger checkouts can really add up! Randy Eldridge, Manager of the Centerville Kroger store recently presented a check to The Foodbank for $9,979.00, providing 70,000 meals to local families. Thank You to Kroger, their customers, and employees for working together to feed our friends and neighbors in the Miami Valley.

20th Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive a Huge Success!The Foodbank was bustling with activity on May 12 during the 20th Annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Letter carriers all across the Dayton region picked up non-perishable food donations as they delivered the day’s mail. Postal trucks filled with nearly 105,000 pounds of donated food began streaming in at 3:00 p.m. The last truck pulled away at 8:30 p.m. marking a 38% increase in donations over last year. A lively group of volunteers from the National Association of Letter Carriers Local Branch 182 were on hand at The Foodbank to help unload the heaping canvas hampers of food. Thanks to everyone who participated in Stamp Out Hunger this year. Your contributions will help stock the shelves of member food pantries throughout Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties. They are especially needed at this time when summer is approaching and area children do not have access to school breakfasts and lunches.

To learn more about ways to help feed the hungry, visit our website at thefoodbankdayton.org and click on How to Help.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

Tony Alexander, Chair Burton Law, LLC

Donna Rosenbaum Cooper, Community Volunteer

Marilyn Horton, Catholic Social Services

Michelle KayePNC

Teresa Marrinan, DP&L

Jennifer McCormick, Lion Apparel

Cathy PonitzCareSource Foundation

Beth Redden,The Dayton Foundation

Jeff Soule’ UPS

Local Farmers Give 1.5 Million Eggs to Feed Hungry Ohioans

T he Foodbank received 43,200 eggs from a generous donation made by Hartford Farms in

May during National Egg Month. The donation was coordinated by the Ohio Poultry Association and the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks (OASHF). The eggs were distributed to member agencies that have refrigeration units in their pantries and feeding sites. Eight Ohio egg farmers, and the family farmers who grow for them, participated in this year’s statewide donation of 1.5 million eggs to the 12 regional Feeding America Foodbanks. The contribution confirms their commitment to giving back to the communities in which they live and solidifies their longstanding, 11-year partnership with OASHF’s hunger relief providers.

Klosterman Bakery Donation

T he smell of freshly baked bread filled the air at The Foodbank on May 9 when Klosterman

Bakery wheeled in several racks containing 600 half-loaves of assorted sliced breads. Klosterman pledged to donate a half-loaf for every half-loaf purchased in our service area during the month of April. This is the second year The Foodbank has received the donation. Sliced bread is a popular and much-needed staple item for our network of 85 member agencies. The loaves were quickly picked up from The Foodbank warehouse and distributed to hungry families in Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties.

81907

427 Washington StreetDayton, Ohio 45402

www.thefoodbankdayton.org

GET INVOLVED! MAKE YOUR SECURE

ONLINE DONATION TO THE FOODBANK AT

THEFOODBANKDAYTON.ORG

MEET THE FOODBANK TEAM:Michelle L. Riley, Chief Executive Officer

Terry Bernard, Food Procurement ManagerTashira Collier, Program Services Manager

Deborah Combs, Grants ManagerRosemary Dannin, Community Relations Manager

Robert Fennell, Warehouse ManagerSarah Wiseman, Warehouse Manager

Amy Woodall, Office ManagerErnie Bailey, Warehouse/DriverRachel Hilderbrand, Bookkeeper Mark Holloway, Service CenterScottie Jones, Warehouse/Driver

Keith McCall, Program Services & Volunteer CoordinatorDominick North, Warehouse

Ellwood Riesing, Data Specialist Manager/ITKathi Sweeterman, Administrative Assistant

Johnny Whitaker, Warehouse/Driver

Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage

PaidDAYTON OH

PERMIT NO. 248

3rd annual DLM Dash to Benefit The Foodbank Sunday, June 24

D o you like to walk, trot, jog or run? Don’t miss out on the fun! Put on your walking shoes and head on over to Dorothy Lane Market at Washigton Square for the 3rd Annual DLM Dash 5K Run/Walk to

benefit The Foodbank. You can register at any Dorothy Lane Market location or by visiting dorothylane.com/the dash. Register today!