Annual Report 2009
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Rhode Island CommunIty Food Bank AnnuAl RepoRt 2009 C o m m u n I t y, Q u a l I t y, s u s t a I n a B I l I t y Board of Directors (As of 4/1/10) Agency Advisory Council (2009) President Chairperson Fr. Frank Sevola, OFM Guia Sanchez Kristen Allen Guardian and Executive Director, Executive Director, Joslin Community Development Director, St. Francis Chapel & City Ministry Center Development Corporation Connecting for Children and Families, Woonsocket Vice President Captain Persi Sanclemente Raymond Welsh The Salvation Army—Pawtucket Corps Michele Baker District Manager, Stop & Shop Companies Group Home Supervisor, Susan L. Santos Bridges, Inc., Jamestown Treasurer Assistant Executive Director, Patricia M. Cerilli, CPA Girl Scouts of Rhode Island Connie Brochu Partner, Mullen Scorpio Cerilli Food Center Director, Cheryl Senerchia Blackstone Valley Emergency Food Secretary Senior Vice President, Director CRA Center, Pawtucket Mary Flynn, Ph.D. Administration, Citizens Bank The Miriam Hospital Lorraine Burns Lisa Stanton Food Pantry Director, Reverend Jean Barry Chief Executive Officer, St. Teresa of Avila Food Pantry, Providence Executive Director, WARM Shelter Monitise Americas Cathy Chappron Lorraine Burns Richard Tremblay Food Pantry President Director, Blessed Sacrament for Manager of Community Relations Violet Hill Association Senior Pantry, St. Teresa of Avila Pantry & Associate Communications, Providence Shaw’s Supermarkets Gerry Fernandez Larry Coughlin President and Founder, Dale Venturini Nutrition Program Coordinator, Multicultural Foodservice & President and CEO, Westbay Community Action Program Hospitality Alliance RI Hospitality Association Market Place, Warwick Mark W. Freel William Walter Susan Gustaitis Partner, Edwards Angell Capital City Community Centers Executive Director, Jonnycake Center Palmer & Dodge, LLP of Peace Dale Arnold M. Friedman Honorary Board of Directors Father Gary Lemery, Vice President & Deputy Church Director, Edgewood Pawtuxet Guy Abelson General Counsel,Textron Food Closet, Cranston Sue Carcieri Michael A. Gamboli Wayne Charness Claire Letizio Partner, Partridge Snow & Hahn, LLP Executive Director, Jonnycake Center Frank D. DePetrillo of Bradford, Westerly Michele B. Lederberg Kevin Farrell Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Diana Litterick Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island Alan Shawn Feinstein Volunteer, South Providence Charles S. Fradin Neighborhood Ministries, Providence Lisa Madsen Director of Sustainability & Philanthropy, Nathalie Gooding Bob McDonald United Natural Foods Kathleen Gorman, Ph.D. Food Pantry Coordinator, East Bay Community Action Program, Douglas Johnson, Ph.D. Bob McDonough East Providence Former Administrator, Donna Lee RI Department of Human Services Bob McDonough Dorothy Licht Food Bank Board Member Margaret Holland McDuff Pauline Perkins Moye Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth O’Dea John Murphy Family Service of Rhode Island Director, Food Center, Honorable William Smith Poverello Center, Providence John D. Muggeridge Maureen Sullivan Vice President Public Affairs, Lily Ramey Fidelity Investments Mary Sue Tavares Safety Net Advocate, Dr. John A. Yena East Bay Community Action Program Dennis Roy of Newport Chief Executive Officer, East Bay Community Action Program Susan Santos Food Bank Board Member 2 A n n u A l R e p o R t 2 0 0 9 ● R I C o m m u n I t y food bank ri C o m m u n I ty food bank ● A n n u A l R e p o R t 2 0 0 9 3 CMMO u N i T Y, Q u A L i T Y, S u S TA i N AB i L i T Y Dear Friends, his has been an extraordinary year for the Food Bank. In this annual report, we share with you both the Tdramatic increase in need that we’re seeing in every part of the state and the remarkable response to this need from our community—a community of caring individuals and loyal supporters, like you. In October 2009, the Under Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, Kevin Concannon, visited the Food Bank to see our programs firsthand. Mr. Concannon said, “This is the most urgent time for our feeding programs in our history, with the exception of the Depression. It’s time for us to face up to the fact that in this country of plenty, there are hungry people.” While we are doing everything possible to meet the current record demand for food assistance in the midst of an economic recession that has left thousands of Rhode Island families in financial crisis, we also have to plan for the future. The Board of Directors of the Food Bank confronted this challenge in our new Strategic Plan. In setting goals and objectives for the next three years, we kept certain principles in mind: Community: The Food Bank is only successful because of broad public support and a vibrant network of Member Agencies. Quality: The Food Bank has to feed people well as good nutrition is critical to good health. We strive to offer the most nutritious food possible to those in need. Sustainability: The crucial work of the Food Bank will continue for decades to come. Going forward, we have to operate as efficiently as possible and build on-going support for all of our programs. Fortunately, the Food Bank continues to attract talented staff members, committed Board Members, dedicated volunteers and generous donors of both food and funds. We are united with a strong network of community-based organizations that feed the hungry every day of the year. What brings us together is the mission of the Food Bank: ensuring that no one in Rhode Island goes hungry. And these days, it’s more important than ever that we live up to that mission. Thank you for everything that you do to make our work possible. Sincerely, Fr. Frank Sevola Andrew Schiff President, Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer 2 A n n u A l R e p o R t 2 0 0 9 ● R I C o m m u n I ty food bank ri C o mmun I t y food bank ● A n n u A l R e p o R t 2 0 0 9 3 AAR Y E O F E x T RAORD i N ARY N E ED A Family New to Hunger or the past ten months, Kathy Zanni’s de Paul Food Pantry at St. Philip’s in Greenville. life with her children bears little resem- “I didn’t want to ask for help, but I was thrust into blance to the one they led previously. the position of needing it.” Kathy admits that “I am the perfect example of how these turning for help was difficult. “There were a lot Fstruggles can happen to anyone,” she said. “The of emotions when I walked through the door,” she face of someone in need is not always who you recalled. “First, I needed to overcome the stigma think it is.” of needing the help.” Kathy and her husband owned a home where In addition to what she receives at the pantry, they lived with their three children. “We were a Kathy found that she also qualified for monthly two income family. Our youngest was going to SNAP (Food Stamp) benefits thanks to outreach a private elementary school, things were going efforts at the pantry to identify eligible families. KTH A y Z A NNI C HOSE N OT T O B E well,” she explained. “Unfortunately, problems While the past year has been difficult, Kathy P HOTOGRAPHED in my marriage led to changes at home.” is extremely grateful for the assistance she has F OR T HIS P ROFILE . It didn’t take long for Kathy to struggle finan- received. “I stress to my kids that it’s only tempo- cially, despite having a college education and a rary, but we’re so thankful for the help,” she de- full-time job at one of the state’s largest medical scribed. “At the pantry, I am always treated with centers. respect and compassion. There are many people For help, Kathy turned to the St. Vincent willing to help without passing judgment.” 4 A4 n n uAA nl n uRA e pl o RR et p o2 0R 0t 9 2 ● 0 0 R 9 I ●C oR m I C m o u m n I mt y u nfoodI t y food bank bank ri C o m m u n I ty food bank ● A n n u A l R e p o R t 2 0 0 9 5 Member Agency Partners n O U R W O R K Rhode Island Barrington About the Rhode Island Community Food Bank Tap-In Bristol Animal Shelter Program i n one-fifth Bristol Good Neighbors LIFE, Inc. of client Burrillville households, an Burrillville 7th Day Adventist SVDP Our Lady of Good Help adult lost their St. Theresa’s Church Tannerhill, Inc. job during the St. Patrick’s Food Closet past year and Central Falls Blackstone Valley Emer. Food remained Ralph J . Holden Community Center St. George Episcopal Church unemployed. yWCA Greater Rhode Island Charlestown Narragansett Indian Health Since 1982, the Food Bank has been feeding the hungry, becoming an invaluable RI Center Assisting Those in Need part of the state’s hunger safety net. Serving as a food distribution hub, the Food Bank channels donated, purchased, surplus and salvageable food to a network of more Coventry Coventry Community Food Svcs than 300 member agency programs across the state that distribute directly to people in need. These partners—emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, group Cranston homes, senior centers and youth programs, are at the heart of our efforts to alleviate Comprehensive CAP hunger. Last year, these programs distributed a record 9.5 million pounds of Cranston ARC Edgewood Pawtuxet Food Closet food, feeding more than 50,000 people each month.