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Connecticut Food Bank ic of ou ting the fabr r communi onnec ty C 2013–2014 ANNUAL REPORT Message from our former President Dear Friends, 2014 was a milestone year in the 32-year history of Connecticut Food Bank. In June we broke ground for a new distribution center in Wallingford, CT, and shortly after I announced my decision to retire at the end of the year. Many of you have been working alongside me in the fight against hunger for many years. When we first started, a few hundred thousand pounds of food were being distributed to 70 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters annually. With your help, Connecticut Food Bank has grown to distribute more than 20 million pounds of food last year to nearly 700 food-assistance programs throughout Connecticut. I want you to know that Connecticut Food Bank is positioned well into the future. Once the new distribution center is open and operational, it will enable Connecticut Food Bank to better serve hungry families. With greater efficiencies, the larger facility and increased refrigerated space, Connecticut Food Bank can accept and distribute more fresh food to people in need, add new programs and enhance current ones, increase partnerships with local growers and food manufacturers, and accommodate more volunteers. The number of meals distributed will double over the next 10 years. Food banking has been my passion for the last 30 years, and my decision to retire at the end of the year was not an easy one. But you can be assured that my successor, Rob Levine, a very experienced and knowledgeable leader, will ensure the continued success of Connecticut Food Bank’s mission as the organization prepares to move into a new distribution center in 2015. Please know that I am extremely appreciative of the support the citizens of Connecticut have shown over the years in feeding hungry Connecticut families. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve with you in the fight against hunger in Connecticut. Warm regards, Nancy L. Carrington President & CEO (Retired as of 12/31/14) 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS CONNECTICUT FOOD BANK BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2013-2014)* James Augur, Chair 2 Message from our Former President ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD Mark S. Kaduboski, Esq., Vice Chair WIGGIN AND DANA 3 2013-2014 Board of Directors Rosemary O’Connell Sulzbach, Treasurer NEW HAVEN MUSEUM Dianne Witte, Secretary 4 Message From the Chair YALE UNIVERSITY Max Barry AETNA 6 The Faces of Hunger in Connecticut Carlton Byrd COMMONFUND 8 How We Get Our Food Harry J. Garafalo MILFORD MARKETS INC DBA SHOPRITE SUPERMARKETS Alex Hutchinson 11 Member Programs RPM HEALTH Jennifer King MASONICARE FOUNDATION 14 Outreach Programs Norman W. LaCroix DECISION ANALYTICS GROUP William C. Lesko, CPA 17 Volunteers DWORKEN, HILLMAN, LAMORTE & STERCZALA, P.C. Edward Marcantonio HERMENZE & MARCANTONIO LLC 20 How We Raise Awareness Joe Pucci BERNSTEIN GLOBAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT Arlene Putterman 24 Donors STOP & SHOP Marlene Beth Schwartz, Ph.D. RUDD CENTER FOR FOOD POLICY & OBESITY AT YALE UNIVERSITY 29 Financial Information David Vipond MORRISON MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS Nancy L. Carrington, Ex-Officio 30 Our Future PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER *As of June 30, 2014 HONORARY BOARD Edward Wood Dunham, Esq. WIGGIN AND DANA The cover of this Annual Report is the 2014 Connecticut Food Bank William Dyson quilt. For 32 years, Connecticut Food Bank has been stitching together FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE local community programs that create a brighter future for our neighbors in need. 2013-2014 Connecticut Food Bank Annual Report 3 Message from the Chair Dear Friends, After dedicating 30 years to feeding Connecticut’s hungry, Nancy L. Carrington, Connecticut Food Bank’s President & CEO, retired at the end of 2014. On behalf of Connecticut Food Bank’s Board of Directors, I congratulate Nancy on her remarkable career and outstanding work in meeting the needs of our most vulnerable citizens. In 1984, Nancy joined Connecticut Food Bank as a food solicitor, working alongside its founder, Mark Patton. By 1989, she was named the organization’s Executive Director, and in 2010 its President & CEO. Under Nancy’s steadfast leadership, the organization enhanced its outreach and created new programs to better serve families who struggle with hunger. Over the last 25 years, Connecticut Food Bank grew from distributing approximately five million pounds of food to 350 community-based programs, to distributing more than 20 million pounds of food to nearly 700 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. The Board is extremely grateful for Nancy’s vision, guidance and efforts to ensure that the Food Bank continues our good work, as we prepare to move into our new operations and distribution center in Wallingford later this year. It has been a pleasure to work alongside Nancy, and I offer my personal thanks for her dedication and for making a significant difference in the lives of thousands of Connecticut’s citizens. Regards, James Augur Chair, Board of Directors 4 2013-2014 Connecticut Food Bank Annual Report 5 The Faces of Hunger in Connecticut 2014 HUNGER IN AMERICA STUDY Food or medicine? Food or housing? Purchasing less expensive unhealthy food, or more costly fruits and vegetables? These are the decisions that thousands in Connecticut are making, according to the Hunger in America 2014 report conducted by Connecticut Food Bank in partnership with Feeding America. The study reveals that the face of hunger is one we might recognize, as many in our local communities who seek food assistance have jobs, raise families, work toward education and struggle with health problems. Those that turn to our network of food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters are making difficult trade-offs to get enough food for their families. The report shows that many households served through Connecticut Food Bank’s network use the following coping strategies. 63% to 73% choose between paying for food or: • Utilities • Transportation • Medicine • Housing 73% purchase inexpensive, unhealthy food 54% receive help from friends or family 43% consume food from dented or damaged packages 41% eat food past its expiration date; 41% water down food or drinks 35% pawn or sell personal property For more information about Hunger in America 2014 findings, visit www.ctfoodbank.org. The full national report is available on Feeding America’s website, www.feedingamerica.org. 6 MOBILE PANTRY STORIES Connecticut Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry gives fresh food to people in need, right in their neighborhood. “IT’S BEEN A BLESSING.” That’s how Cynthia describes the food assistance she and her family receive each month from Connecticut Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry. Cynthia recently had open-heart surgery and is unable to work. She said the Mobile Pantry helps her, her daughter and two grandchildren through some tough times. “I’ve always loved vegetables and sometimes I don’t have enough money to buy them,” she said. “When I come here, I always know I can get my fruits and vegetables.” “ THE MOBILE PANTRY IS A LIFELINE.” Ernest, a Vietnam War veteran, said the Mobile Pantry is a lifeline. Unable to hold down a job due to a disability from the effects of his service in the war, Ernest said that before he started attending Mobile Panty distributions, all he would have is a couple of cans of soup, a bag of spaghetti and some milk in the fridge. Ernest said he now has plenty of healthy food to eat, because the Mobile Pantry brings food to his community. “I’m able to get vegetables and potatoes, and today I received a variety of peppers and mushrooms. If it wasn’t for the Mobile Pantry, I would have less choices and not the variety of food to keep me healthy.” 2013-2014 Connecticut Food Bank Annual Report 7 How We Get Our Food FOOD INDUSTRY PRODUCT DONORS Connecticut Food Bank is able to distribute more than 20 million pounds of food annually to nearly 700 food-assistance programs through the generosity of food industry partners. National manufacturers and processors, as well as local retailers are helping to make a difference for the more than 300,000 people we serve through our food-assistance network. Because eating fresh, nutritious food is often a challenge for many families, Connecticut Food Bank is distributing more organic, natural and healthy food items than ever before. The healthy food items donated by the food industry help remove barriers that prevent people from accessing good nutrition. Among the food items are low-fat yogurt, natural fruit juices, soy milk and gluten- free snacks. LOCAL DONORS FARMS Stop & Shop Waterbury - #618 Ragozzino Foods The Farmer’s Cow Averill Farm Ansonia - #635 Waterbury - #675 Rite Aid Distribution Center Thurston Foods, Inc. Benjamin Orchard Branford - #687 Waterbury - #679 Shearwater Coffee Roasters Topco Associates LLC Blue Hills Orchard Bridgeport - #670 Watertown - #657 SNACT Food Show Total Quality Logistics (TQL) Cecarelli Farm Bridgeport - #698 West Haven - #696 Snyders Lance Dist. Wakefern Christoforo’s Farm Cheshire - #695 Westport - #653 Something Sweet, Inc. Walter P. Rawl & Sons, Inc The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Clinton - #652 Willimantic - #674 Special Olympics Watson, Inc. Station’s Lockwood Farm Danbury - #644 Wilton - #658 State of CT DEMHS Wayne Farms, LLC Good Bug Gardens Danbury - #659 Winsted - #625 Stew Leonard’s/ G&L Distributors Willoughby’s Coffee & Tea Gresczyk Farm Darien - #2610 The Fresh Market Stop & Shop Assonet Xpect Discounts Hallock Orchard Darien - #626 Stop & Shop Co., Inc. Yofarm Corp. Happy Family Farm Dayville- #697 OTHERS Subway Headquarters Hayward Farm East Hampton - #2611 ABF Freight Systems Inc. Tea-rrific! Ice Cream Heritage Gardens East Haven - #692 American Frozen Foods Hickory Hill Farm East Torrington - #2604 Aunt Sassy’s Sauces Hindinger Farm Fairfield - #650 Aurora Products Hugh & Sylvia Winchell Fairfield - #673 B & E Juice Jones Family Farm Greenwich - #612 Big Dipper Ice Cream Lone Elm Farm Greenwich - #616 Factory PRODUCT DONATION BREAKDOWN Long & Scott Farms Hamden - #600 BIG Y Corporation Lyman Orchards Hamden - #661 BIG Y/Smart Chicken Maple Bank Farm LLC Litchfield - #601 Bozzuto’s Inc.