Tony and Dolly Ellis

 

Donation Arriving at the Greater Boston Food Bank

We got word from our friends at the Greater Boston Food Bank that the second of two truckloads of product generated by the comment-for-food effort in Boston arrived safely at the food bank yesterday.

Thanks to Beth Kanter for connecting us with Bob Collins and the folks from Boston's Social Media Breakfast. Thanks, Beth, for all you do to educate people on the use of social media for social good.  

Thanks to all of you who took the time to comment.  Please continue to get involved with hunger relief.

And most of all, thanks to the hard workers at the Greater Boston Food bank and all in our world who devote their lives to feeding those in need.  Happy New Year to you, and may the blessings you bestow on others be doubled back upon you in 2009. 

by Andrea Sherwood
It seems the buzz around the issue of hunger and helping others increases during the holiday season. Let’s share our creative ideas and get the conversation started while the momentum of caring is getting into full swing.
What traditions do you have of helping other people around the holidays? Do you involve your family? How do you involve your children and others?

Here are a few hunger tips to get us started:
• 2008 Treats for Santa. Have your children leave a box of mac & cheese or other shelf stable items for Santa. Have them write a note to Santa asking him to drop the food off at the local food bank for hungry kids.
• Santa Delivers Food. In addition to stocking stuffers Santa leaves a bag of food with a note asking your children to please deliver this food to the food bank to help those who are hungry. Then take your kids to the food bank to donate the food and take a tour.
• Cookie Delivery. Take a plate, a tin or pan of cookies you have baked and deliver to the food bank staff saying thank you to them for making sure other kids get food to eat. While there take a tour and ask about hungry kids in the community.
• Serve a Meal. Contact your local food bank for contact agencies who will be serving a holiday meal to those who are hungry. Sign up for you and your family to volunteer.
• Help Distribute Gifts. How about signing up to help distribute gifts that have been collected for families who are in need? Contact your local agencies to see how you and your family can help.
What are you traditions or ideas?

by Ed Nicholson

We at Tyson  Foods were fortunate today to have been visited by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and co-founder of Millennium Promise. Dr. Sachs is in Northwest Arkansas to discuss a partnership between Tyson Foods and Millennium Promise to address hunger and food production in Africa.

His address to an assembly of Tyson team members was extremely compelling, touching on the Millennium Development Goals, and how their realization is made ever more important as it also becomes increasingly challenged by a faltering world economy. 

My takeaway: We're all in this together folks.  We can't isolate ourselves from the rest of the world, and expect our country to remain free, prosperous and powerful.

Dr. Sachs is the author of Common Wealth--Economics for a Crowded Planet, which the New York Times tells us today, President-elect Obama is currently reading in his study of national security issues and foreign policy.

We're honored that Dr. Sachs and the rest of the team from Millennium Promise visited us, and are looking forward to a productive partnership.

by Andrea Sherwood

Tyson Foods, Inc. donated 36,000 lbs of protein to Harvest Texarkana Food Bank on December 11, 2008. As part of that day, Carolyn Box, Hope Complex HR Manager, Donna Duggan, Grannis & Broken Bow Complex HR Manager and I toured the food bank. We learned about local agencies, programs, and the food bank’s wish list. I am always amazed with each food bank tour the amazing business each food bank operates and the impact they have on each of our communities. It was an eye-opening day for each of us.
How far away are the vast majority of Americans from needing assistance from a Feeding America Agency? Listen to Michelle Harutunian, Executive Director, Harvest Texarkana to find out and hear two other stories of hunger in America!
What stories do you have of Hunger in America?

By Ed Nicholson

Thanks to the efforts of people who came to this site and commented, two truckloads of food are to be donated to the Greater Boston Food Bank.  This happened in less than 4 hours.

Again, a big thanks to Beth Kanter for getting us involved in this effort. Beth's responsible for teaching so many (present company included) about using social media for social good. 

Thanks also to Bob Collins and Boston's Social Media Breakfast.  Should anyone doubt the incredibly powerful community among you, point them to this effort.

Hunger is a silent epidemic. 
Each year, more than 320,000 people seek food assistance in eastern Massachusetts alone.  They are the most vulnerable among us:  children and seniors.  They are people we know: our friends, neighbors, and colleagues.  They live in each and every one of our communities, and are quietly seeking help from the more than 600 member hunger-relief agencies in the nine counties and 190 cities and towns of eastern Massachusetts that receive food from The Greater Boston Food Bank.  

 

Hunger is a growing problem.
This fall, The Food Bank conducted a survey of some of its member food pantries and soup kitchens to assess the need for emergency food assistance in eastern Massachusetts. The survey revealed disquieting results, showing that the region's hunger-relief organizations are struggling with the burdens of increased client loads and fewer food and monetary donations, among other challenges.  About 90 percent of the agencies have seen demand for food increase since September 2007, 60 percent of those saw demand increase 10 percent to 30 percent, and another 15 percent saw demand rise by up to 40 percent.

Hunger is solvable. 
There is more than enough food available, and The Food Bank is the critical link between those who have food to give and those who need it most.  More than 83,000 people benefit from the stable supply of nutritious food that The Food Bank distributes each and every week. 

Everyone has a role in ending hunger. 
All that The Food Bank does depends on the combined support of compassionate financial contributors, food donors, and more than 16,000 volunteers.   You can help today!   For every comment this post receives indicating it has been read, Tyson Foods, in partnership with Boston's Social Media Breakfast, organized by Bob Collins of  SHIFT Communications,  will donate 100 pounds of food (up to a truckload full with 35,000 pounds) to The Greater Boston Food Bank.  Help fill the truck.  Comment here (even one-word comments are acceptable – BTW, since the comments are moderated, it might take a bit to get them up, but the comments WILL be posted). 

UPDATE:  The first truck was filled in less than two hours.  We've added another truck to the mix (probably can't do more than that this time).  But if you continue to comment, we'll donate up to two truckloads of food)

For more information about other ways you can become involved in the fight to end hunger, please visit www.gbfb.org or www.newfoodbank.org. 
 

Thanks to Beth Kanter and Bob Collins for bringing Tyson Foods into this effort.

 UPDATE #2.  The 2nd truck is full. Wish we could do more, but we need to help some other food banks around the country, too.  Thanks to all who read this post. Now go out and help your local food bank. In the Boston area, go to the Greater Boston Food Bank, or elsewhere around the U.S., visit Feeding America.

By Ed Nicholson

 

 

It's always inspiring to see food industry pros engaged in the fight against hunger.  Joni and Wally Doolin had already been long-time supporters of Share Our Strength when we arrived on the scene in 2000 (and still are).  Joni's the Founder and CEO of People Report, a group that takes a progressive approach to HR challenges and opportunities in the foodservice industry.  Recently, People Report gathered 65 high-level foodservice managers from around the country in a service day excercise at the North Texas Food Bank in Dallas.  You can't overestimate the impact something like this has: engaging people in the fight against hunger who have influence and decision-making capacity in their own communities.  Here's their report on the activities. 

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Dallas, TX- Over 65 senior level executives from the 120 major restaurant companies that make up the People Report Consortium gathered in Dallas on November 12th, 2008 to lend a hand at the North Texas Food Bank. 

This day of service took place from 8:30am-12:00pm, the first time this many senior foodservice executives have banded together to lend a hand for a day.  In a time when economic pressures continue to strangle the restaurant industry, it is unprecedented for executives from competing, national companies to come together to serve the community together.

“People Report is proud that, with the help of our member consortium we can help make a significant impact in our community in a short amount of time.” shares Joni Doolin, Founder and CEO of People Report.  She adds, “This is new for our industry, having competitors serve together.  It gives us hope that amidst one of the toughest years we have faced as businesses, we can come together for the purpose of helping others.”

Hosted by Jim Knight, Senior Director of Training and Development for Hard Rock International, the 65 executives started the day by learning about “Philanthropy That Rocks” then were able to package over 16,000 meals at the North Texas Food Bank.

People Report thanks Ecosure, Kronos For Dining and Einstein Brothers Bagels for sponsoring the Service That Rocks Event.

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Kudos to Joni, People Report, and all of the participating execs for applying their time and energy in this direction.

Suzan Bateson, Executive Director of the Alameda County Community Food Bank, offered this comment  and perspective on  Sue Brockway's post suggesting that the hungry deserve a bail out, too. We thought it compelling enough to stand on its own as an entry.

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We can't wait for a government bail out for the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland, California.

An unprecedented spike in need has us scrambling to hand out food for today and hope for tomorrow by working on policies that we hope will brighten the future. We have an amazing outreach team that helps connect as many families as we can with the federal supplemental nutrition assistance (food stamp) program -- that takes time, and these days with layoffs and underemployment, high food prices, and a 40% spike in clients who need food right now -- time is our enemy.  We distribute millions of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables each year and find a great deal of pride in that. Our operations team works harder than they knew they could to turn product around swiftly. Finance team keeps a close eye on our financials and oversees our administration while development works tirelessly to raise funds, food drive donations and create amazing events (you know you've seen us in action). I walk among angels each day with our staff, agency partners, board and donors -- who strive to conquer hunger in our community.

We serve tens of thousands of hungry children. Children's health is affected by improper nutrition -- but even more delicate is their emotional state when parents work more than one job but can't afford adequate nutrition for their family. Illness, depression, isolation and hopelessness can lead to a gang's allure or academic failure. This is our future, America, how can we ignore our children.

Last week a 92 year old called the food helpline. He had never asked for help in his life. Our helpline operators take calls like these each day. They have more compassion than you can imagine. They take in more than anyone should ever hear.

How can you help? Many who read this won't be able to make big financial gifts -- but America is a wealthy country and has many wealthy citizens. Over the next couple of years it will be essential for Americans to give -- at their greatest capacity -- to basic needs organizations like food banks. With 36 million Americans affected by hunger it's clear that we have a crisis that will play out in the future if we don't provide a safety net today.

Sue, thanks for your work and your challege to speak up. Sometimes the work takes us to the limit, but it's important that we share a snapshot of Main Street with those who will take our words to heart.

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We're always eager to provide space in this forum for hunger fighters who would offer their perspective.  We'll gladly link back to your own online space should you do so.

By Susan Brockway

Pass the mashed potatoes and yes….I will have another piece of turkey. 
Do these words sound familiar?  For some of us they certainly ring true, but for millions this Thanksgiving, it was not the same old song.  I was at home on Thanksgiving and watched countless stories about people having less, doing more with less, and more importantly……spending time with friends, neighbors, meal sites and family so everyone would have someone and somewhere to go. 
I bring this up today because one of the stories I watched focused on a family who had been unemployed and lost everything last year, but this year made it back on their feet and invited four people; total strangers, into their home for dinner.  Four turned into over thirty and without a Federal Bailout Program and a trip to the local grocery on a private jet, they were able to change the lives of some families who would have gone without or simply been alone. 
The power of food and how it brings us together regardless of our socioeconomic status, cultural background or religious beliefs is powerful.  We can live without a car, do with less clothing in our closets and even sleep more than one or two to a room to make things work.  We cannot however, live without food. 
More importantly, none of us should be deprived of the spiritual nutrition that comes with knowing our children will not go to bed hungry and our grandparents will not have to make a choice between food or medication.
There is no federal bailout for the over 200 food banks who supply thousands of agencies across the country who in turn serve millions who simply cannot make ends meets any longer.   Unlike that conference held at a resort, food is not an option.  It is a silly thing called a requirement.  I trust that we all remember pulling the lever in November and casting a vote for some kind of change.  Our responsibility did not end in November, it continues with our voices today.  I don’t know about you, but I would prefer to invest a few billion in a Nutritional Stimulus Package.  I am fairly certain the results would be something all Americans could be proud of. 
And I would like the family who invited 4 and ended up with 30 to be on the oversight committee.  Agree or disagree, but please use your voice to make a difference.

By Ed Nicholson

We had a great event in Chicago Monday, where Tyson Foods, Feeding America and Lift Up America were joined by the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Food Depository in announcing the donation of one million pounds of Tyson products to some Feeding America food banks to help them get through the holiday season. 

That sounds like a lot of food--and it is--but it's barely a beginning to meet the need that's out there; need that never subsides, and is growing worse as our economy generates new challenges. 

With more than 36 million people at risk of hunger, it's going to take the collaborative efforts of a lot of different groups--agencies that compete for resources, and companies that compete for markets--putting aside their competitive differences  and resolving to address this enormous challenge.

It was encouraging to see so many groups working together yesterday: The CFD, which serves an enormouos and challenging population in Chicagoland.   The Bulls, a storied franchise, and incredibly powerful brand.  Feeding America, which unites the largest network of food banks in the world.   And Lift Up America, which in just five short years, has brought together some of the most influential business people in the U.S., for the purpose of effecting social change.   

Many, many people deserve personal thanks for their efforts, but we especially want to thank Dave Hannah and his crew at Lift Up America, notably Jaan Heinmetz and Ted Gandy (Here's Life Inner City); Dave Kurland from the Bulls for bringing so many things together, including players, for this event; the Chicago Food Depository, who brought together volunteers who worked cheerfully in the bitter cold to distribute food to Chicago agencies; and our own rockstars, the Tyson transportation group and drivers, who pulled this together in an incredibly short time. 

Sports teams involved in the donations include
Chicago ( Bulls)
Kansas City (Chiefs)
Miami  (Dolphins)
San Diego (Chargers)
Denver (Nuggets)
Boise (Boise State)
Detroit (Lions)
Austin (University of Texas)
San Jose (Sharks
Cleveland (Indians)
Phoenix (Suns)
Jacksonville (Jaguars)
Northwest Arkansas (University of Arkansas)
Other community donations include
Northern Illinois (St. Charles)
Texarkana, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Northeast Arkansas
Lincoln, Nebraska
Houston, Texas
Storm Lake, Iowa