Harvesting the Power of Community

Definition of Community com·mu·ni·ty noun 1. a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. © 2010 Feeding America

Definition I like best… © 2010 Feeding America Sharing, participation, fellowship

Who has heard of © 2010 Feeding America

Vision & Mission © 2010 Feeding America Our mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.

Feeding America Community  Network of 202 food banks  All 50 states, Washington, D.C and Puerto Rico  12 food banks in Ohio  National Office – Chicago  220 full time employees  Washington, D.C. office © 2010 Feeding America

Partners in Feeding America’s Community © 2010 Feeding America

More Feeding America partners © 2010 Feeding America Curtis Stone – Celebrity Chef Celebrity Apprentice 2010 Played for Feeding America

The Feeding America Food Bank Member in your Community Mission: Feed people. Fight hunger. © 2010 Feeding America

Statistics in Your Community 8 counties served 3,882 square miles served 173,160 Poverty Population Facility capacity 83,480 square feet 459 partner agencies Distribution to clients in ,444,666 lbs. © 2010 Feeding America Akron Canton Regional Food Bank

Hunger in America - 49 million people - 16 million children Hunger in Your Community -246,680 people are food insecure -173,160 poverty population in 2009 © 2010 Feeding America

Map the Meal Gap data enables us to identify the number of food insecure people in every US county. We have been able to estimate the cost of a meal, based on actual prices paid in each county. Data helps us understand the scope of need among the food insecure population and assess the federal and state programs that may be available to support their needs. Until now, the number of people falling below the federal poverty threshold has been the indicator most typically used for identifying the need for food at the local level because it is one of the few indicators available at the county level. National food insecurity data reveal that about 45% of those struggling with hunger actually have incomes above the federal poverty level and 53% of poor households are food secure. Measuring need based on local poverty rates alone provides an incomplete illustration of the potential need for food assistance within our communities.

Map the Meal Gap © 2010 Feeding America

Map the Meal Gap © 2010 Feeding America

Map the Meal Gap – Child Food Insecurity © 2010 Feeding America

Partners in Your Community J.M. Smucker Company FreshMark Inc. – Sugardale U.S. Foodservice Walmart Giant Eagle FirstEnergy Goodyear, GAR Foundation Nationwide Insurance. © 2010 Feeding America

Opportunities in Your Community Ohio Benefit Bank –become an OBB site to expand SNAP outreach Tweet Facebook – like the food bank! © 2010 Feeding America

The Big, National Picturetional Picture Feed 1 million more people each year for the next 5 years FY 08 - FY 12 Increase participation in Federal nutrition programs by 25% – Sub Outcome #1 – increase the amount of food available to agencies – Sub Outcome #2 - Increase reach by building capacity at county level © 2010 Feeding America

So What Does that Have to Do with Me? Getting Food to 5 Million Additional To Clients 4 billion lbs Current AgencyDistribution Network

What is our Community Doing to Find a Solution? © 2010 Feeding America Feeding America Akron Canton Regional Food Bank Agency Network – What are you doing? – What can you do? – What will you do? – What should you do?

Feeding America Community Develop national gap analysis and effective strategies for expanding access Identify 3 levels of member gap analyses & share best practice solutions across network Establish minimum thresholds and high performance standards Raise & grant money for national programs (e.g. retail pickup, mobile pantries, SNAP) National Office Network Member Partner Agencies Clients Develop, customize, execute local gap analysis, confirm and prioritize barriers Develop a community specific plan to expand access, utilizing best practice solutions Organize agency network and community leaders to implement the plan Train agency directors to ensure consistent execution and performance improvement Raise and grant money for agency capacity (e.g. equipment, smf, subsidies) Commit to hunger relief as a critical dimension of mission Set specific objectives to increase PPIP and expand SNAP outreach efforts Maximize resources made available by food bank, government and partner orgs Recruit volunteers and raise money to expand access to food and nutrition programs Understand their role in the system Take advantage of all the resources made available by agencies and government

So… You are an integral part of the food distribution system. The question is how can you help increase access and help more people? © 2010 Feeding America

Can you… Commit to hunger relief as a critical dimension of your mission? © 2010 Feeding America

Can you… © 2010 Feeding America Set specific objectives to increase the amount of food distributed per person and become an OBB site to expand SNAP outreach efforts?

Can you… © 2010 Feeding America

Do you… © 2010 Feeding America

Can You.. Convert to a Client Choice Pantry? Shop more often; distribute more food Expand Distribution Hours DELIVERYDELIVERY MOBILEPANTRYMOBILEPANTRY EXPANDING CAPACITY

How Food Flows Today © 2010 Feeding America

What We Want to Avoid © 2010 Feeding America Trying to drink from a fire hose…

Accelerating the Mission 2009 The Strategic Goal Future The Ultimate Challenge

Alignment Accelerates Progress

Thank You Mitzi D. Baum Director of Food Safety – Field Operations Feeding America © 2010 Feeding America