FULL PLATES 2018 Annual Report HOW DO WE tackle THE ISSUE OF HUNGER? The latest release of the Map the Meal Gap (MTMG) study shows the food-insecurity needle has moved in a positive direction. In 2017, we released our 2022 strategic plan, which emphasizes our goals to reduce food insecurity, nourish our communities, and equip our clients with resources that move individuals from crisis to stability. We celebrate that MTMG data demonstrates progress as our work, with your support, has decreased the rate of food insecurity in the communities we serve. Yet, more than 354,000 individuals along the Central Gulf Coast still question where their next meal will come from throughout the year. Hunger is a widespread issue in our service area. So, we press on, committed to reaching those who need us as they face the crisis and uncertainty of hunger. In 2018, Feeding the Gulf Coast expanded partnerships and connected resources to clients in need. Our year held many promises to be the best yet. Then in October, we faced our greatest challenge as an organization—Hurricane Michael. The Category 5 storm left our eastern Florida service area devastated. For the tens of thousands of individuals who lost every- thing as a result of this catastrophe, starvation became a reality as they faced life or death situations with very limited resources. With the support of so many across the nation and locally, we were able to respond to the incredible need by administering relief immediately. You, as a community, joined hands with our organization and made a significant impact in the lives of so many. On behalf of the board and staff of Feeding the Gulf Coast and the many partners you help equip, we extend our hearts and say, “thank you.” You are truly making a difference. CATHY POPE MARION QUINA, JR. President & CEO 2018 Board of Directors Chair 26,748,528 POUNDS 2018 FOOD DISTRIBUTION AT A GLANCE 2018 ANNUAL REPORT FOOD DISTRIBUTION | 1 HURRICANE MICHAEL | 3 There Through the Storm On October 10, 2018, the third strongest hurricane to make landfall in the continental United States struck the Florida Gulf Coast, destroying thousands of homes and businesses along the panhandle of Florida. As Hurricane Michael’s eye passed over Mexico Beach, it left destruction across much of Bay County. Feeding the Gulf Coast has worked tirelessly since that day to provide critical supplies and resources to impacted communities. With countless businesses destroyed, many individuals are still without a job. Where they may have made ends meet before, now they have fewer resources and are without a paycheck, leaving their tables bare. This makes long-term food support critical to providing families with the nutrition they need while they work toward recovery. As of July 2019, the food bank has distributed more than 6.5 million pounds of food, water, and supplies in Northwest Florida for Hurricane Michael relief. New York Times feature: 2018 ANNUAL REPORT http://bit.ly/After2TerribleStorms LISA’S STORY When the Unexpected Strikes HURRICANE MICHAEL RESPONSE EFFORTS* No one anticipates losing all they own *October-December 2018 in one day, yet for many individuals in our panhandle service area, their lives will never be quite the same. For Lisa Clouse, finding resources to feed six children was never easy; while trying to rebuild life after a Category 5 4,716,404 hurricane, it was nearly impossible. MEALS DONATED “One of my kids has special needs, so I stay home to take care of him,” she said. “Money is normally tight, it’s even tighter now after Hurricane Michael,” said Lisa. Lisa and her children evacuated 304 before the hurricane hit their RELIEF VOLUNTEERS apartment in Panama City, Florida. But they still felt the storm’s effects. On a very strict budget and without much food after the storm, Lisa turned to a Feeding the Gulf Coast partner food pantry in Panama 6,697 City to feed her family. HOURS DONATED WITHOUT THE FOOD WE’VE BEEN GETTING AT THE PANTRY, MY KIDS WOULD NOT HAVE HAD ENOUGH TO EAT AFTER THIS STORM.” $930,875 DOLLARS — Lisa Clouse DONATED 2018 ANNUAL REPORT HURRICANE MICHAEL | 5 PROGRAM PARTNERS | 7 “I’VE SPENT Partners in Hunger Relief MANY DAYS GOING TO SLEEP WITH AN EMPTY STOMACH, DeAdra Lee would do anything for her 3-year-old son, Dacian, including going hungry. She left her hometown to get away from a difficult situation. Soon after moving, she noticed Dacian was not acting like the other kids. MAKING SURE After a doctor’s visit, DeAdra and Dacian were faced with a life-changing diagnosis—autism. DeAdra turned to a local food pantry for extra help. HE HAD ALL Almost 20,000 families tomorrow will not be much more people and, in and individuals* utilize better. Our agencies are the process, nourishing our network of over a critical lifeline that many them with proper food 420 agencies each people rely on to make to help reduce stress THE FOOD IN month to find help. ends meet during tough and medical issues. seasons of their lives. These individuals may “ The healthy food we be hard-working adults Food insecurity threatens receive has helped struggling to adequately people’s health and their Dacian socially and THE HOUSE.” provide for their families, ability to learn and work. with his speech. I see seniors who have run out We believe everyone this kid emerging that of funds because their should have access to I never thought I’d see, — DeAdra, pantry client resources are stretched far nutritious food. A key and now that chance too thin, or children who focus in our strategic is really there for him.” go to bed hungry, worried plan emphasizes feeding — DeAdra Lee IN 2018, OUR NETWORK OF 428 AGENCIES DISTRIBUTED OVER 11,616,800 MEALS. 2018 ANNUAL REPORT *Possibility of duplication. CAPACITY BUILDING | 9 Increasing Distributions Access Due to limited resources, age, ability, or physical access, clients often struggle to reach pantries. For similar reasons, our pantries sometimes have limited ability to serve the people in their area who need help. SENIOR SAME-DAY FOOD AS To expand access to more meals, REACH DISTRIBUTIONS MEDICINE we increased our capacity by The Commodity Last year, we served To aid food-insecure providing agencies with better Supplemental Food 1,196,384 meals to over individuals facing chronic equipment, hosting more direct Program (CSFP) served 62,320 individuals* through disease, the food bank more seniors in our both mobile pantries has allied with local distributions in high-need areas, Florida service area. and produce drops. healthcare institutes and focusing on innovative to distribute food boxes We completed the In addition to traditional tailored to hypertensive strategies to get nutritious process of implementing agency-hosted mobile or diabetic patients. product to those in need quicker. CSFP in our Alabama pantry distributions, the counties, which will food bank mobilized With funding from the Thanks to community partners broaden our capacity several single-day Daniel Foundation of like Southeastern Grocers and to serve an additional distributions in high-need Alabama, we added Senior Bowl, we were able to 500 seniors in 2019. areas thanks to generous monthly distributions community partners. at Stanton Road Clinic conduct multiple distributions Thanks to an AARP and Family Medicine, Foundation grant, From Hurricane Michael during disaster relief and the distributing over 1,400 we were able to aid response to serving holiday season. pounds of produce, 250 seniors in applying those impacted by and helping to provide for benefits and provide the federal shutdown comprehensive support them with bags filled in early 2019, the food to 70 individuals. with fresh produce. bank has responded “ THE REFRIGERATED TRAILER to needs that arose in HELPS US OUT TREMENDOUSLY! unexpected places. WE ARE NOW HAVING TO MAKE FEWER TRIPS OUT TO DO THE PICKUPS. WE MAKE ONE TRIP IN THE MORNING AND EVERYTHING STAYS COOL.” 20,000 1,196,384 406 — Eric Roberts, Mission of Hope SENIORS SERVED MEALS CLINIC BOXES MONTHLY* DISTRIBUTED PROVIDED 2018 ANNUAL REPORT *Possibility of duplication. Seniors served through a variety of food bank programs. Red Nose Day feature: http://bit.ly/FTGCRedNoseDay Ready for the Weekend Everyone needs consistent access to food to be healthy and happy. For children, the lack of regular, nutritious meals can be particularly stressful and harmful to their overall development. According to Share Our “ Sometimes at night my easy-to-prepare recipe Strength, 46% of children 3-year-old sister will come and were given fresh from low-income families and pat me on my head produce to take home say hunger hurts their ability [to wake me up] and to their families. to learn. Of these, 12% say say, Sissy, I’m hungry.” Additionally, Feeding that sometimes they are — student the Gulf Coast worked too distracted by hunger To stretch tight budgets, with 158 schools to to do their homework. many families purchase reach over 9,800 For many children along empty-calorie foods, children and provide the Central Gulf Coast, making produce a rare 82,650 backpacks— hunger does not end treat. In 2018, Feeding a 75% increase in when the last school bell the Gulf Coast increased program participation rings. Growling tummies Farm to School efforts to from 2017. THROUGH 249 SITES, 1,305,328 SNACKS AND MEALS are a constant distraction, help introduce children which makes focusing on to new fruits and veggies. WERE PROVIDED TO NEARLY 20,000 CHILDREN DURING learning nearly impossible. The kids were taught an OUR SUMMER AND AFTERSCHOOL MEAL PROGRAMS. 2018 ANNUAL REPORT CHILD NUTRITION | 11 GARY’S STORY A Buffer in Times of Despair I WISH I COULD WORK.