2019 ANNUAL REPORT WHAT ARE the Ingredients FOOD DISTRIBUTION to END HUNGER for GOOD?
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2019 ANNUAL REPORT WHAT ARE THE ingredients FOOD DISTRIBUTION TO END HUNGER FOR GOOD? Call to mind your favorite meal, then think about the tools and ingredients required to create that dish. PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, GROUP HOMES 63% AND OTHER PARTNER AGENCIES A healthy plate of food has the potential to nourish, but ingredients have the potential to inspire. DISASTER RELIEF Our vision of a Hunger-Free Central Gulf Coast requires 17% that we take a strategic look at hunger and examine how hunger robs our clients of the ability to reach their MOBILE PANTRIES potential. We understand that a meal today will help ease 10% the sting of a growling belly temporarily, but we strive to eradicate hunger in its entirety. CHILD 5% NUTRITION In 2019, Feeding the Gulf Coast piloted programs that led a charge for a more targeted approach in equipping individuals to end the cycle of hunger. Working through 5% OTHER school partners, and hand in hand with agencies, the food bank explored ways to create support and resources 29,513,946 for clients. By identifying where hunger exists and what POUNDS can be done to remove barriers to a consistent food supply for those in need, whether through nutritious food, financial resources, or education, Feeding the Gulf Coast envisions distributing the ingredients that inspire our clients to live a more robust, healthier life. Hunger looks different for each individual. We know that no one recipe can be used to fit all of our communities. By holistically addressing hunger, our organization can make strides in improving the lives of the more than 350,000 individuals in our service area who are in need. Thank you for joining in our fight and helping us lessen the impact of hunger for those we served in 2019. DAVID REANEY BRAD HICKS Interim President & CEO 2019 Board of Directors Chair FOOD DISTRIBUTION | 3 THE IMPACT OF HUNGER During The Unknown From Crisis SACRIFICES TO AFFORD to Stability BASIC UTILITIES In early 2019, while the food bank continued to serve those impacted by Hurricane Michael, Feeding the Gulf Coast responded to another form of crisis. The most prolonged U.S. Government HOSPITAL VISITS Shutdown in recent history led to INCREASE individuals and families in our community experiencing hunger for the first time due to missed paychecks. After five long weeks of uncertainty, many furloughed workers resumed their jobs. The reality of how thin the margins EDUCATION DELAYS DUE TO are between stability and financial ruin LACK OF FOCUS remains etched in their minds. Many clients we serve would be unable to feed their children if they faced an unexpected crisis, such as a $400 car repair or medical bill. The people we serve make these tough choices and more on a daily basis. The impact of hunger can be long-lasting as sacrificial decisions lead to educational development delays and chronic medical consequences. WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN, WE HAD A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT NEEDED HELP. WE WERE STARTING NOT TO GET OUR PAY AND During the five-week U.S. Government STARTING TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE WE WERE Shutdown, the food bank was able to GOING TO GET OUR GROCERIES FROM. DO I serve numerous affected government BUY BABY FOOD AND DIAPERS OR BUY GAS TO agencies by conducting targeted GET TO AND FROM WORK? WHEN YOU’RE NOT distributions which helped provide GETTING A PAYCHECK, EVEN WHAT LITTLE BIT food to more than 850 families. YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.” — Chief Petty Officer David Eddie Jr., USCG, BMC (ret) 20192018 ANNUAL ANNUAL REPORT REPORT HURRICANE MICHAEL | 7 Ongoing Support Rebuilding, Meal By Meal Displaced by Hurricane Michael, Ashley and her family of six spent several months residing in various hotels, trying to stay as close as possible to her husband’s job. “I’m a mom, and not being able to provide for your kids is very terrible,” said Ashley. “It’s been a horrific experience. It’s been a blessing to have any help.” In 2019, the food bank continued working to rebuild and establish hope in the communities affected by Hurricane Michael. The food bank participated in various efforts in impacted counties building sustainable partnerships to move the progress forward. Recognizing the need for basic supplies like food, Bay District Schools reached out to Feeding the Gulf Coast for a new partnership to benefit children impacted in the county. Pop-up pantries and four school-based food pantries for students and staff were set up to put food into the hands of needy families. IT’S A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH AN ORGANIZATION THAT CARES SO MUCH, DELIVERS ON ITS PROMISES AND SUPPORTS THE NEEDS OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.” 4,098,142 MEALS — Sharon Michalik, Bay District Schools PROVIDED 2019 ANNUAL REPORT EQUIPPING CHANGE | 9 Data-Driven Decisions Hidden Equipping Change Hunger Hunger is prevalent throughout the communities we serve, and yet it is often hidden from view. To better address hunger, we must know where it resides. In 2019, the food bank embarked on Phase 1 of our Services Insights FARM TO SCHOOL SENIOR BENEFIT Initiative, which will use data EDUCATION MEAL BOXES RESOURCES to provide strategic guidance on where and how to serve our Farm to School is a Senior hunger is a prevalent Food insecure families clients efficiently. community-based strategy issue throughout our rural often cannot get all the that supports the counties. With limited support they need from The Service Insights Initiative is development of healthy funds for necessities, a food pantry and need a Feeding America led approach eating habits for children seniors often must additional resources to to collecting shared data from while improving sacrifice healthy food. help make ends meet. the people we serve in an effort family food security. The food bank operates the The food bank connects to measure effectiveness. Working through Commodity Supplemental seniors, working families, partnerships, the food Food Program (CSFP), and individuals rebuilding Over time, we can leverage bank provides hands-on which provides a monthly their lives with applicable Service Insights data to analyze learning about fresh food, food box for qualifying benefits like the clients’ experiences and agriculture, and nutrition individuals, age 60 Supplemental Nutrition understand how they move to students. years or older. Assistance Program in and out of the charitable Children have the With this program, (SNAP) and others. food system. opportunity to taste new Feeding the Gulf Coast vegetables and fruits and can provide seniors 30- Benefits such as SNAP take produce home to their 40 pounds of nutritious are essential to helping families. This valuable supplemental food every families move out of food program is fundamental month—bridging the gap insecurity by providing IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE to building healthier in meals many seniors them with budget-relieving AN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF habits for these children. experience each month. support for food purchases. THE IMPACT OF HUNGER ACROSS THE STATES WE SERVE. THROUGH OUR SERVICE INSIGHTS INITIATIVE, WE CAN BETTER IDENTIFY AREAS IMPACTED BY HUNGER AND MAKE STRATEGIC IMPROVEMENTS TO TARGET SERVICE TO THOSE IN NEED. 2,008 844 4,592 PARTICIPATING SENIORS APPLICATIONS STUDENTS ENROLLED PROCESSED 2019 ANNUAL REPORT PROGRAM PARTNERS | 11 More Than Just Food Building Pathways Feeding the Gulf Coast was chosen by Feeding America to pilot the Household Empowerment Program (HEP). The program focuses on building food security pathways through financial security by connecting clients with more than just food. *Anita and her family relocated to the Gulf Coast for a job that quickly fell through. Her family faced an immediate crisis of starting over with few resources Hunger is a complex and systemic issue. We aim to equip our agencies and three small children. To to provide the best support for client empowerment. By addressing the survive, Anita’s family began root causes of hunger and providing the client the resources and tools to use a credit card to pay for to overcome personal crisis and instability, we can drive our efforts necessities. Only able to make to shorten the line and make real change when it comes to hunger. the minimum payments, interest Our agencies are a critical us to several resources first time, it can be a began to compound their debt. lifeline that many people for needs we had, such scary time in their lives, “After bills were paid, there just rely on to make ends meet as medical clinics and but we work to provide the simply wasn’t any money left to during tough seasons home school resources. hope they need to move get food. I then found out about of their lives. We strive I was connected to a from crisis to stability. towards the day when they financial advisor who has a local food pantry and decided “I feel empowered to go are no longer needed. an abundance of knowledge forward from here. It was to go,” said Anita. “When I went on all things finance. Through the Household an unexpected hiccup in that morning to just get some He set up a working budget Empowerment Program, life, and we were blessed food, I was given something so with us. And worked us 86.1% of the clients to be part of the program,” from a deficit every much better—I was given hope.” engaged with a financial says Anita. “We are excited month to a surplus now.” 97% of clients like *Anita coach. *Anita recalls for our future and getting back to a place where enrolled in the program were how her life has changed When a client encounters since participating in the hunger and the need for we can be a blessing to carrying debt, on average program.