The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts FY2014 Annual Report
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The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts FY2014 Annual Report Feeding our neighbors in need and leading the community to end hunger. Dear Friends From the Executive Director & Board President ike any business — non-profit or for-profit — our impact can be measured in data. At The Food Bank, we talk about pounds of food distributed, individuals served, and dollars raised & spent. While you’ll find of these stats L in our annual report, it’s important to remember that sometimes “impact” can also be measured through stories. Stories reveal the interconnectedness of our human relationships and the moral principles that guide us to achieve a region “where no one goes hungry and everyone has access to nutritious food.” This is our vision at The Food Bank. With your support, we were able to accomplish a great deal in fiscal year 2014 (October 1, 2013 – September 30, 2014): Total number of individuals who received Food Bank food: 235,000 living & breathing real people who had to rely on emergency food assistance. Total food distributed: 9.1 million lbs. (equivalent of 7.5 million meals) Total fresh produce: 1.73 million lbs. Percent of local produce (Pioneer Valley): 44% Total number of individuals assisted and approved for SNAP benefits: 758 individuals who now can afford to shop at a store for food like everyone else. Estimated annualized SNAP economic impact: $4 million (food purchases + multiplier of economic activity) It takes resources to achieve these outcomes. Here’s a snapshot of the resources we drew upon to make it happen: Member agencies of Western Massachusetts emergency food network: 263 Cash expenses: $3.64 million (excluding the value of food inventory & in-kind services) Percent of cash revenue from donations: 51% (10,259 generous individuals & businesses) Percent of cash revenue from government: 7% Number of (dedicated and hard working) employees: 39 Total number of volunteers and hours: 1,767 committed and caring human beings devoted 18,268 hours The impact that each of you — our supporters — have on the individuals, families and local agencies that we serve across our region is extremely significant. Our core value at The Food Bank is that “everyone has a right to healthy food regardless of their circumstances.” We are only able to uphold this core value with your support; we are deeply honored and inspired by it. The following stories, facts and figures in this report are a reflection of a vast constellation of human relationships that we possess with all of you who share our vision and values. What’s your story? We invite you to meet with us so we may hear your experience. Through sharing, we rekindle and deepen our relationships, reach a greater understanding of the obstacles and possibilities that we face as a society, and, together, create stories of real people who we nourish with healthy food and hope for a brighter future. Thank you so very much for being a part of our story and mission! Andrew Morehouse, Executive Director Frank Robinson, Board President support The Food Bank relies on the continued support of our community to feed our neighbors in need. As either an individual or a group, the opportunities to make a difference are endless. The following story about The Greenfield family of Hatfield highlights the actions they took, and the inspiration they provided to others. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts • FY2014 Annual Report 1 support Spotlight: The Greenfield Family Inspiring the community is a family affair The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is dedicated to feeding our neighbors in need and leading the community to end hunger. It takes a tremendous amount of resources and hard work to distribute more than 9 million pounds of food to our member agencies in the emergency food network. To accomplish this, we rely on the continued support of the community, who are always willing to step up and assist us in our mission. For one local family searching for a way to give back to the community, The Food Bank provided a variety of opportunities to participate from volunteering to donating food and funds. Their contributions have not only helped feed more people in need, but have also served as inspiration for others to take action. An afternoon of volunteering In September of 2013, we held our time volunteering.” The Greenfields first-ever Family Volunteer Day. Nearly spoke with staff at The Food Bank to 75 community members of all ages identify how they could contribute to our enjoyed an afternoon at our Hatfield mission. They soon learned about the up- facility to learn about the issue of hunger coming Family Volunteer Day, and knew in our region, sort fresh produce for that this would provide the perfect op- distribution, participate in a healthy eat- portunity for all of them to take action. ing demonstration, and engage in other While at Family Volunteer Day, they educational activities. made an effort to participate in as many Attending that event was the Green- of the activities as they could. The kids field family of Hatfield, Massachusetts. really enjoyed decorating the bag that Chris, along with his wife Renée and would be used in the Brown Bag: Food their two children Lavery (6) and Nolan for Elders program the following week. (3), had recently moved from the Boston They also took a tour of our facility and area. They researched local non-profits learned a great deal about hunger in to find one that would provide them with Western Massachusetts, and the work of the most meaningful opportunity for all The Food Bank. of them to volunteer their time and help It wasn’t long before they understood support their community. exactly how much work and commitment “We were excited to find that The it takes to ensure everyone knows where Food Bank was right here in our own their next meal is coming from. They left town,” explains Chris. “I was looking knowing that they wanted to do more and forward to taking Lavery to spend some continue to support our mission. 2 www.foodbankwma.org Lavery appeared on WRSI–The River’s morning show, hosted by Monte Belmonte (left), to promote her food drive. Smooth or chunky? The Greenfields learned a lot from flyer. Renée scanned it and created a their visit on Family Volunteer Day. digital copy. They plastered every tree, However, Lavery found herself feeling pole and bulletin board in town with the very sad because she had learned that flyers. Word of their food drive spread children under the age of 16 are not like a brushfire throughout the commu- permitted to volunteer in The Food Bank’s nity as friends, family and neighbors warehouse (due to state regulations). began dropping off jars of peanut butter “Lavery and I were taking a walk one and jelly to the Greenfields’ home. afternoon, reflecting on our visit to The After only a month, Lavery collected Food Bank,” recalls Renée. “I asked her: 175 jars and nearly $500 in donations. if you can’t volunteer in the warehouse, The Food Bank was able to distribute what else would you like to do to help?” those jars to dozens of member food At that moment, Lavery remembered pantries and meal sites, while the monetary something that she learned during the donations helped provide an additional tour: peanut butter is the most requested 1,500 meals to individuals across the item from pantries and meal sites. A four counties of Western Massachusetts. smile slowly spread across her face. She “I think what helped make the food drive Lavery created her own promotional flyer for could hardly contain herself as she shared so successful was the fact that we her peanut butter and jelly drive. with her mother the idea to collect solicited very specific items” explains peanut butter and jelly for The Food Renée. “Peanut butter can be found at Bank. The two brainstormed ideas as supermarkets, it typically costs under $5, they continued to walk. By the time they and it has substantial nutritional value.” returned home, they had created an The efforts of Lavery and her family action plan for their campaign. serve as a benchmark for the community, The two eagerly began working out the demonstrating how an ordinary family details to launch their special food drive can have an extraordinary impact on as soon as possible. Lavery created a those around them. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts • FY2014 Annual Report 3 support Spotlight: The Greenfield Family Have bike, will ride Every September, The Food Bank, along with Feeding America and its national network of food banks, celebrates Hunger Action Month. Every day of the month, we provide fun and exciting opportunities for everyone to take action and raise awareness of food insecurity. As part of the month’s action, we also host our annual Will Bike 4 Food (WB4F) fundraising event. “I heard about Will Bike 4 Food from my dad,” explains Renée. Her father, Richard Hillier, resides in South Deerfield and is an avid cyclist and long-time supporter of The Food Bank. He jumped at the opportunity to ride in WB4F, and convinced his daughter to ride the ten-mile course in 2013. With their participation, the two helped the event raise more than $65,000 for The Food Bank. The following year, Renée decided she would ride in WB4F once again. This time, she Nolan Greenfield cheers on participants in the recruited three of her friends and formed a team — The Valley Girls — to tackle the 25- 2014 WB4F event. mile course. Chris, Lavery and Nolan were all at the event to cheer on Renée and her friends.