Gary Oppenheimer

gary@AmpleHarvest.org

AmpleHarvest.org FounderMaster Gardener

Rutgers Environmental StewardCNN Hero

49 million Americans are food insecure according to the US Department of Agriculture.

49 million Americans are food insecure according to the US Department of Agriculture equaling the population of these 23 states added together

49 million Americans are food insecure according to the US Department of Agriculture equaling the population of these 23 states added together From: Nicole C

To: info@ampleharvest.orgSubject: Question?

Hello I am currently unemployed I have one child and one on the way and even though my husband is working we are having a really hard time making ends meat. Are there any requirements to be able to go to a food pantry to get food for my family or can anyone in need go.

Thank you

49 million Americans are food insecure according to the US Department of Agriculture equaling the population of these 23 states added together

From: natalie aTo: info@AmpleHarvest.orgSubject:

to whom it may concern  i live in middleburg heights ohio i have lost my job last jan and am unable to put food in my fridge i am at my wits end trying to get a job is there any where to get food asisantance around my area

49 million Americans are food insecure according to the US Department of Agriculture equaling the population of these 23 states added together

From: Leslie C To: Info@AmpleHarvest.orgSubject: Please Help....

Please help us, both of us are not working and I am expecting to have neck surgery within the month. So my Disability is taking longer than it should. so im scared & very frustrated and everyone depends on me to feed them.

49 million Americans are food insecure according to the US Department of Agriculture equaling the population of these 23 states added together

Recently released USDA statistics show that one out of every four children under six years old in America is now living in a food insecure home.

49 million Americans are food insecure according to the US Department of Agriculture equaling the population of these states:

40+ million Americans grow vegetables, fruit and herbs in their home gardens, often more than they can use, preserve or give away.

49 million Americans are food insecure according to the US Department of Agriculture equaling the population of these 23 states added together

40+ million Americans grow vegetables, fruit and herbs in their home gardens, often more than they can use, preserve or give away.

From: B, Jean To: CouldNotShare@AmpleHarvest.orgSubject: No pantry with 20 miles

I have beans, tomatoes, squash, beets, broccoli, herbs. . .

West Haven, CT

49 million Americans are food insecure according to the US Department of Agriculture equaling the population of these 23 states added together

40+ million Americans grow vegetables, fruit and herbs in their home gardens, often more than they can use, preserve or give away.

From: Lisa Subject: Hi Hi I live in Chatham NY.

I had some wonderful extra vegetable produce from my vegetable garden this year, and instead of giving it to my friends (who can afford to buy vegetables), I would like to switch to giving it to my local food pantries instead.

Lisa J

The problem is not so much that we lack food – we don’t.

The big problem is that we waste what we have.

Gardeners across America often grow far more food than they can use - often leaving the excess to rot in the garden.

This wasted food is a missed opportunity for AmericaRescuing this food is a major opportunity for America

Current Food Assistance Model

America has more than 200 food banks nationwide.

Most belong to a network operated by Feeding America which distributes food and funding to the food banks.

These warehouse operations ship canned and boxed foods to.....

...30,000+ food pantries across America where most people in need get the food. Usually small operations in houses of worship, civic buildings etc.

Deliveries are weekly or bi-weekly – A schedule that does not work for fresh produce in most cases

Example of the flow of locally donated food... Feeding

America

Feeding America

Regional Food Bank

Regional Food Bank

Regional Food bank

Regional Food Bank

Regional Food Bank

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Regional Food Bank

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Feeding America

Regional Food Bank

Regional Food Bank

Regional Food bank

Regional Food Bank

Regional Food Bank

Local Food Drive

Local Food Drive

Local Food Drive

Local Food Drive

Regional Food Bank

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Regional Food Bank

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Delivery time measuredin days or weeks...

Regional Food Bank

Local Food Drive

Local Food Drive

Local Food Drive

Local Food Drive

Can’t be accepted because of the long delivery cycle

Delivery time measuredin days or weeks...

Local Food Pantry

Local Garden Produce

Local Food

Pantry

Local Food

Pantry

Local Food

Pantry

?

Local Food

Pantry

Local Food

Pantry

Local Food

Pantry

Local Garden Produce

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?

Local Food

Pantry

Local Food

Pantry

Local Food

Pantry

Local Garden Produce

Regional Food Bank

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Feeding America

Regional Food Bank

Regional Food Bank

Regional Food bank

Regional Food Bank

Local Food Drive

Local Food Drive

Local Garden Produce

Local Garden Produce

This is a new supply chain in our food system

Local Garden Produce

Regional Food Bank

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Local Food Pantry

Feeding America

Regional Food Bank

Regional Food Bank

Regional Food bank

Regional Food Bank

Local Garden Produce

Local Food Drive

Local Food Drive

Local Garden Produce Food pantry

clients can now get locally grown fresh produce

One out of six Americans needs food assistance, but can't get fresh produce from the local food pantry.

Millions of American homeowners grow more food in their backyard gardens than they can possibly use.

It Doesn't Have to Be This Way....

The AmpleHarvest.org Campaign diminishes hunger in America by enabling backyard gardeners to share their excess garden produce with neighborhood food pantries.

www.AmpleHarvest.org 1. Work started March 20092. Built and extensively tested in only 7 weeks - launched May 18, 20093. Nearly 3,000 food pantries (almost one out of every ten in America)

registered nationwide to-date

Extensive press & media coverage(actual listing several pages long)

Lots of positive comments and feedback

Promoted using social networking such as Twitter

and Facebook

Nearly 3,000 or almost 1 out of every 10 food pantries across America are now registered on AmpleHarvest.org

Adding a food pantry is very simple.

Important Notes:

• A food pantry does not need an Internet connection

• A food pantry does not need more refrigeration.

• It is free!

Adding a food pantry is very simple.

Click here to start

They simply fill in the pantries information

Food pantries are encouraged to distribute a press release to the local print and electronic media.

A sample is provided for their use.

Food pantries are also encouraged to print this flier from the web site and ask people to distribute it to garden shops, nurseries, to further help inform local gardeners.

Ok... You are a gardener and have excess produce to share with people in your community.

Here is what happens.....

What gardeners will be doing......

They click here...

The“Find A Pantry” page

Gardeners home location

How far the gardener is willing to travel

Listing of pantries sorted by distance

Example of a typical food pantry listing

Address

Contact info

Donation times Details on store

bought items most needed

Driving directions from the gardener’s home to the pantry

Free iPhone app for AmpleHarvest.org

AmpleHarvest.orgenhancements

Moving Forward...(completed)

Android app now in development

Nationwide Gleaning DirectoryBasic information about “exotic” garden produce

AmpleHarvest.orgenhancements

Moving Forward...(in development)

At the request of United Way, a special page was added to direct those who come to the site needing assistance to the United Way/2-1-1resources specific to their state

AmpleHarvest.orgenhancements

Moving Forward...(completed)

Information on the United Way 2-1-1 Network

United Way web site for each of the 50 states

5/18/09 – AmpleHarvest.org announced to the public.

8/09 – received backing from National Gardening Assoc

10/09 – 1,000th registered food pantry

12/09 – Collaboration with United Way

1/10 – release of our iPhone app

2/10 – partner to USDA Peoples Garden Initiative

5/10 – highlighted on CNN Heroes

8/10 – highlighted at United We Serve government web site

8/10 – identified as a tool by the EPA to fight environmental problem from food waste

...and support from organizations/agencies such as

Google, Inc.US Dept of AgricultureGood People FundDavid Burton Jacobson FoundationVHF FoundationInfinity Auto InsuranceFeeding AmericaSustainable West MilfordFahy Choi LLC... and individual donors across America

Thank you to......

These are difficult economic times for many people.

The AmpleHarvest.org campaign enables anyone to help their neighbors in need by reaching into their backyards instead of their back pockets.

Thank you

Gary Oppenheimer973-409-4093

gary@AmpleHarvest.org

AmpleHarvest.org FounderMaster Gardener

Rutgers Environmental StewardCNN Hero