JUne 2012 Newsletter PDF

7/31/2019 JUne 2012 Newsletter PDF

1/6

Fast

FactsOver half of kids in the City

of Kalamazoo live below the

poverty level.

Over 45% of kids in

Kalamazoo Public Schools

receive free or reduced-

price lunch.

About 40% of the people

KLF serves through the

Grocery Pantry Program are

under the age of 18.

HOT TOWN, SUMMER IN THE CITY...Summer is the time of abundance and energy. We look forward to

fresh food from the garden like strawberries, tomatoes, and green beans.

We relax into longer days and with windows open, enjoy the sounds of

children at the playground across the street. But what we dont always hear

are the hungry bell ies of so many kids, or see the empty cupboards at so

many homes in our neighborhoods.Too many local kids and their fami lies face a daily struggle for food

security. With school out and limited access to school-based meals,

children are even less able to get the food they need. Here at Kalamazoo

Loaves & Fishes, you bless us with a bounty

of fresh foods, yet were still challenged

with peak service demand.

With your help, we spend summer days

working extra hard to get food into the

hands of our hungry friends and neighbors

across this communityparticularly into

childrens hands.

Food is Fuelour summer fund and food

raising effortis one way in which we add

energy and resources into this challenging

season. This year, our goal is to raise

$50,000 and collect 25,000 lbs. of food.

Were hoping to reach 15,000 kidsthe same number of children living

below the poverty level in Kalamazoo County.

Why is this so important right now? Why cant a campaign like this wait?

In August 2010, Time magazine reported that the effects of childhood

hunger last for decades...Going hungry is a major contributor to ill health,

particularly among children.

Food is Fuelis a locally driven effort of prevention. Its an effort to get

food into the hands of hungry kids in our community now, rather than

trying to undo the damage of hunger years later.

Please join us in supportingFood is Fuelthis summer. With your help,

we will improve not only the immediate health of local kids, but the long-

term health of this community. These kids are our purpose for which we

dig deep this summer to do this important work.

INSIDE

Empty Bowls Feeds Hungry Kids

NALC Food Drive a Success

Food is Fuel: Your Chance to Help

Grow ItGive it: Fresh Produce Needed

Legislators Asked to Protect Programs

Thank You to Stryker and Grainger

IF I THINK ABOUT WHAT

I NEED TO DO,

I FEEL TIRED.

IF I THINK ABOUT WHY,

I FEEL PUMPED.

PURPOSE IS MYENERGY DRINK.

JUNE 2012


2/6

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FOOD IS FUEL: YOUR

CHANCE TO FEED HUNGRY

KIDS THIS SUMMER

Are you looking for a tangible way to make a difference

this summer? Local kids need your help and through our

Food is Fuel Kids Campaign, we're offering you some major

opportunities to show up and show your support.

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes will be hosting a Shop-n-

Drop food drive at D&W Market Place on Romence Road

on Saturday, June 23 from 10 am5 pm.

Simply stop by and grab one of our kid wish lists so

you know exactly what foods were most in need of. Our

truck will be in the parking lot, waiting to be filled with

thousands of pounds of food that wil l help feed kids

throughout the summer. Volunteers will also be present to

accept any monetary donations.

Next, join us as we partner with OnStaff Group and

WRKR 107.7 FM for the Dollar Drive Thru fundraiser.

Well have four radio remote locations throughout

Kalamazoo County on Wednesday, July 11, including onesite at Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes and another at Hardings

Fresh Market on S. Westnedge Ave. in Portage.

This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to

come together and support our children who need energy

to concentrate and participate in the world around them,

said Emily Turner, Vice President at the

OnStaff Group.

We are thrilled

to be participating

in a program with

such a strong and

ethical structure

used to ensure

our communitys

continual growth for

our youth.

Drive by on July

11 from 6 am6

pm to donate to support hungry kids. One dollar can feed

a hungry chi ld for one day through our Grocery Pantry

Program.

We are pleased to partner with Kalamazoo Loaves

& Fishes to assist them in the great work they do in the

community, said Mike McKelly of WRKR-FM. WRKR has

always looked for ways we can contribute to the betterment

of Southwest Michigans residents. With the fine work that

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes does to feed those in need, we

hope to provide our resources to help them accomplishtheir goals.

And then finally on Aug. 23, make giving back fun and

join the Social Charity Circle philanthropic group at Sky

Deck rooftop bar, above Monaco Bay

in downtown Kalamazoo.

The Entertainment District is hosting the Social Charity

Circle event supporting KLF from 69 pm. Everyone who

attends the event will get one drink provided by the Reedy

Corporation for a $10 donation to KLF.

The Social Charity Circle is a unique social group that

organizes monthly events to benefit local charities and

support local businesses. For more information about this

group, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/

scckzoo.

Donations to KLF are also always accepted via mail, in

person, or through our Online Donation Center at www.

kzoolf.org. Stay connected for moreFood is Fuelupdates all

summer long.


3/6

LETTER CARRIER FOODDRIVE BRINGS IN OVER78,000 LBS. OF FOODThis years National Association of Letter Carriers food

drive collected 78,426 lbs. of food, just at Kalamazoo

Loaves & Fishes three donation sites. Pound totals for the

entire region were not available at the time of printing.It was a great day for volunteers and staff members

to take food donations from the letter carrier trucks and

sort them in bins. It was the first year we collected food

donations at our new site on Portage Street, and nearly

30,000 lbs. of food came to our doors on Saturday, May 12.

This was a fun opportunity for KLF staff, volunteers, and

letter carriers to connect with each other over a common

goal of feeding hungry people in this community. Both

letter carriers and KLF workers have the unique vantage

point of seeing people in need on a routine basis, whether

its on their daily routes through neighborhoods or at a

pantry site somewhere in the county.

Thank you to everyone who donated to the 20th year of

the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive. And

a big thanks goes out to all of our Local Branch 246 letter

carriers.

With your

help on this

important

day,

thousands

of pounds

of food

donations

will now

get into the

hands ofhungry people across Kalamazoo County.

If you werent able to participate in this years drive, or

if you still have food donations to be donated to KLF, please

drop them off to us at 901 Portage St. weekdays between 8

am and 3:30 pm.

EMPTY BOWLS FEEDS HUNGRY KIDS

This years Empty Bowls Project was a huge successover 1,000 people joined Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes at three

local elementary schools to raise awareness of childhood hunger in our community.

Participating schoolsArcadia Elementary, Spring Valley Center for Exploration, and Prairie Ridge

Elementarycollectively raised more than $3,100 in donations to support KLFs programs that help feed hungry kids in

Kalamazoo County. Funds were collected through a variety of ways, including a silent auction of teacher-made ceramic

bowls, a nominal fee for a family meal, and through generous community

donations.

The student-made ceramic bowls had notes inside reminding people

that these works of art are meant to symbolize the thousands of empty

bowls kids face every day in our community.

Each school also featured a simple meal for families to enjoy, courtesy

of Senior Services, Inc. Prairie Ridge Elementarys event also had a

portion of the meal donated by local restaurants Fletchers Pub and the

Millennium Restaurant Group. Kids and parents alike really enjoyed

the variety of foods to choose from. Local business Georges Appliance

also contributed to the event with a generous monetary donation.

Thank you to the schools, students, guests, and donors who made this

years Empty Bowls Project a success. If youre interested in participatingnext spring as a school or a corporate sponsor, let us know at advocacy@

kzoolf.org.


4/6

Join theLoaves &Fishes Team!Interested in helping Kalamazoo become

a hunger-free community? Weve got

a place for you! Attend an orientation

meeting to get started.

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION DATES:

Saturday, June 9

Thursday, June 28

Thursday, July 26

Sign up with our Volunteer Coordinator,

Laura Winther:

269/488-2617, ext. 209

[email protected]

LEGISLATORSASKED TO PROTECTFOOD PROGRAMSKalamazoo Loaves & Fishes and

the Peoples Food Co-op hosted a

community letter writing workshop

on May 20 to write our legislators

about a variety of food security issues,

including protection of domesticnutrition programs, environmental

conservation efforts, sustainable

agriculture practices, and more.

Letters were sent to local

policymakers, including Rep. Fred

Upton, Sen. Carl Levin and Sen.

Debbie Stabenow.

If you werent able to join us, there's

still time to get your message across

to policymakers. Several sample

letters are available on our advocacy

webpage at www.kzoolf.org, as well as

some basic facts surrounding crucialsafety net programs. You can use our

sample letters as a template to create

your own handwritten note, which

experience tells us is more impactful.

If you have any questions about

what or how to communicate to your

legislator, call Phyllis Hepp at

488-2617 ext. 210 or email at

[email protected].

FOODWISH LIST

June:100% fruit juice

July:Canned tuna

Foods high in protein

(6 grams or more) are

always needed in our

warehouse, too.

KLF June GivinG Coupon

AMOUNT $ _______________

Celebrate Fathers Day on June 17 with a meaningful gift that honors

the father figure in your life. Make your donation a tribute by including

his name with your gift.

Please send your contribution by June 25.

JUNE

2012

COUPON

#107

KLF JuLy GivinG Coupon

AMOUNT $ _______________

Besides picnics, beach parties, and barbeques, summer can also mean

empty stomachs and hungry kids. Help them have a happy summer.

Please send your contribution by July 23.

GROW ITGIVE IT: FRESHPRODUCE NEEDED

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes

is in need of fresh produce

donations this summer, from

large-scale commercial

farms to small-size home

gardens.

Thousands of people in Kalamazoo dont have regular

access to produce. Thankfully, KLF can offer fresh fruits

and vegetables through our Grocery Pantry network and

other programs on a daily basis.

This growing season, consider donating your surplus

produce to KLF. To make an even greater investment, plant

a row for the sole purpose of donating to KLFs programs.

Fresh items were most in need of include: apples,

onions, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and squash.

Contact our warehouse at 343-1616 to coordinate your

next produce donation.

JULY

2012

COUPON

#108


5/6

Your Gift is Tax

Deductible

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes is a

registered 501(c)(3) organization,

meaning all contributions made

to us are tax deductible by the

ederal government.

The Michigan Food Bank Tax

Credit did expire as o Dec. 31,

2011, but your itemized gits

are still eligible or a ederal tax

credit.

Please speak with your personal

nance representative or more

details on how to make the most

o your giving.

Be a Corporate

Sponsor

Is your company interested in

expanding their community

philanthropic eforts? Weve got

an opportunity or you that will

make a lasting impact.

Consider sponsoring a MobileFood Initaitive distribution site

like the Grainger Foundation

did. You can also sponsor one

o our 25 Grocery Pantry sites

throughout the County.

Think o how much good

we could do together with a

corporate git. Contact Jennier

Johnson at [email protected] or

488-2617 ext. 213 or details.

For more information on howto best support KalamazooLoaves & Fishes through agift, contact Jon Riccio, donordatabase coordinator, at 488-2617 ext. 206 or [email protected]. Let us know if youd likeyour name removed from ourmailing list.

STRYKER EMPLOYEES RALLY FOR KLF

Every year, Stryker Inc. supports Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes through a series of

employee initiatives, including bake sales, pancake breakfasts, and assembly

of kids packs for

the Weekend Food Pack

Program.

This year, Strykerdonated $32,100.30 and

over 3,300 lbs. of food to

support KLFs programs.

Their employees rallied

together in friendly

competitions to really make

a difference in the lives of

the kids KLF serves.

Stryker is very

passionate about our

community and we love to

know that were making

a difference, said AmyMcClain, Senior Events and

Community Outreach Associate at Stryker Instruments.

Thank you to the employees at Stryker for their time and energy in supporting hungry

people in this community. Together, we can all make a difference!

GRAINGER SUPPORTS MOBILE FOOD PROGRAM

The local Grainger Foundation has generously supported Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes

with a $10,000 gift to sponsor our Mobile Food Initiative program (MFI). KLF operates five

distinct food distribution sites throughout the County where local people can receive fresh

produce, bread, and frozen meat on a first come first served basis. Graingers dollars willhelp supply the food for these sites that can feed up to 1,000 individuals a day.

Grainger is proud to partner with Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes to help fill the gap of

food assistance needed through the Mobile Food Initiative program, said Carol Hurley,

Grainger Branch Manager of Kalamazoo. I appreciated the opportunity to witness first-

hand the MFI program in action and see how Graingers support is making a difference in

the lives of Kalamazoo community members.

The staff at Grainger are doing

more than just supporting Kalamazoo

Loaves & Fishes with this gift. Theyre

supporting hundreds of local families

who use the MFI program as a way to

fill the gaps between paychecks and

meals.Thank you to everyone at

Grainger for helping provide

supplemental emergency food to our

neighbors in need.

From left: Martha Simpson of KLF, Rachel Christman of

Stryker, Renee Berlinger of Stryker, Anne Wend Lipsey of

KLF, Susan Wilson of Stryker, Amy McClain of Stryker,

Marvin King of KLF, Jim Heath of Stryker

Carol Hurley of Grainger and Anne Wend Lipsey of KLF


6/6

Our MissionKalamazoo Loaves & Fishes will

feed hungry people and engage our

community in the fight to end hunger.

Our ValuesCompassionRespect

Justice

Integrity

Advocacy

Sta / Business Ofce

269/488-2617 EXT.Joan Atwell, Call Center Lead 201Art Cole, Services Director 207Pat Early, Warehouse Assistant 211George Geissel, Bookkeeper 222Kathy Gernaat, Operations Director 212

Dave Haer, Warehouse Assistant 211Phyllis Hepp, Organizational Development Director 210

Board o Directors

Patricia CarlinBob EzelleAlan HarbaughMike HendersonLynn JesselCheryl Knapp

Robert LohrmannElizabeth Makohn

Harvey MyersHelen NorrisMaija PetersonsStacey RandolphMartha ReamMartha Simpson

Jan Tiderington

Mary Hutchins, Warehouse Coordinator 211Jennier Johnson, Public Relations & Development Director 213Deb Josephson, Services Coordinator 214Marvin King, Warehouse Director 224Anne Wend Lipsey, Executive Director 208Ruth Matteson, Call Center Lead 201Jon Riccio, Donor Database Coordinator 206Kimberly Schoetzow, Communications Coordinator 218

Carolyn Tyler, Operations Coordinator 222Laura Winther, Volunteer Coordinator 209

TRIBUTES 3/1/2012 4/30/2012 Special thanks to those who honor riends and amily through contributions to KLF.IN HONOR OF

Bette Andertons birthday

Robert & Loree Bagleysamily

Robert W. BarrJan Bis 95th birthdayJessica Blacks atherBronsons Nursing staJanice Bundys birthdayArdis De Does birthdaySheri Fitchs birthdayMrs. Ides 2011/12 third

grade classLaurie JesenJohn & Sallys weddingKalamazoo Central High

School class o 1954

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes30th anniversaryBill KettenbeilAnne Wend LipseyMara & Sloane McClellanPastor Scott OberleHeather Olson & Randy

Schmitts marriage

Maija PetersonsIsabella Claire Pressley

Jill ReynoldsNicholas & Tessa StauerDr. Lavern H. Stillwell & Lyda

StillwellMary Strehlows 80th

birthdaySawyer SummervilleBronson Swansons birthdayDavid Teugh

IN MEMORY OF

Robert P. AmrheinRosemary AustgenOren BarneyGlenn BeardNeil Brand

Patrecia BreenLen BridgeDonald BrockwayBruce BrownFloyd & Helen BurkeyBruce L. BurrowsMaxine Bushouse

Christs sacriceDiane Churchill

Gene ClysdalePatricia ColemanRichard CombsTom CrooksDonald F. CudahyClaude DeanDon & Anna DeanWoodie DeBackGarold & Evalyn Bunny

DeForestJoseph DillonLucille DillonKen DingmanRobert Eager, Sr.Gary EaveyEvan EblingSarah ElyJeanne Maltby FahrenbachJames W. FergusonTerry FlaneryGail GibsonLorna GibsonE. Arnold Hamlin

Levon HelmBenjamin Heslinga

Dr. Clayton HoladayBlair HoldenAnnamae HomanHoward & Betty IhrkeReginald JonesAvis KeenePaul & Helen KellyMarguerite KolbWilliam KowalDick LaForgeLance LambertBob LaPointWard LaPorteDolores LesterLinda Renauld LutzJaniece MageeDavid MarkerJulius McKeeMargaret Peg McNultyMary MelzerEugene MetzlerKathy MizeurHarold E. Moft

Vernon E. MunsonPatricia Tunier Nelson

Florence NeumannDonna NicholsBarbara OHaraJamie OorbeckThomas OorbeckFrank Ossi, Jr.Lawrence ParsonsJanelle & Neil PetersonGerald L. PochylaMyrtle M. PowersAnn RaupGordon ReinelJames ReishJessica RenauldOswald & Alvina RenauldMilo & Frances RienbergJohn RossDarrell RostamiNellie RoundhouseFred R. RussellCarol SchabergMarilyn ScheelDr. Peter Schmitt

Martin & Emma SchmittJean Schrader

Al SchultzJoani SiwikClarinda SmithCory SmithPatricia SmithRobert E. SmithDonna SnowTeresa StewartDoug & Marie Renauld

StoneBeatrice StoopsJim SullivanJim SwansonArdis SyndergaardPaul & June TackaberryHenry VanSparrentakRoon VisserDiane D. VorenkampVirginia Ginny WilsonDon & Ruth WisserMargaret WoodwardRoberto Zuniga

901 PORTAGE STREE T

KALAMA ZOO, MICHIGAN 49001-3005

FOOD REQUEST LINE: 269/343-3663

P 269/488-2617 F 269/343-3669

WWW.KZOOLF.ORG

NONPROFIT ORG.

US POSTAGE

PAID

KALAMAZOO MI

PERMIT NO. 1693

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