Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank Winter 2010-2011 A quarterly publication of Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank which includes the Western Upper Peninsula Food Bank, Houghton; Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank,Ishpeming; Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank,Sault Ste.Marie; the Manna Project,Petoskey; Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank,Cadillac; Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank,Grand Rapids; and Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank,Benton Harbor. ONTRADITIONS AND TRANSITIONS Table of Contents: By Jeffrey Battershall, Board President Now that John is retiring, we have an important leadership role to fill. However, in Editorial Note: On December 31, Executive our further good fortune, we also have Teresa Director John Arnold will retire after 21 years Pawl-Knapp, who has stood at John’s side and JOHN ARNOLD of leading Feeding America West Michigan served the Food Bank as Assistant Director ANNOUNCES Food Bank. Board of Directors President Jeffrey for nearly 21 years.A sure and steady second- RETIREMENT Battershall shares his thoughts on what the in-command, Teresa has extensive food P.2 change will mean to our Food Bank. banking experience and knows our staff, operations, customers For nine years, it has and supporters well. JOHN’S 21 YEARS AT been my privilege to Teresa has been an serve on the Food THE FOOD BANK important part of P.2 Bank’s Board of our Food Bank’s Directors. For four growth and success. years, I have been A transition ALASKA DIRECTOR’S Board President. In plan is in place to TRIBUTE P.4 both roles, I have ensure both excellent been continuously long-term leadership impressed by the for the Food Bank PISTONS PLAY incredible volume of and uninterrupted food the organization Jeff Battershall, left, with retiring Executive Director John Arnold Food Bank services AGAINST HUNGER manages to collect and and operations IN GR distribute with remarkable cost efficiency. during the transition period. I’m pleased to P.4 This year (2010), we expect to hit the 25- announce that Teresa will step in as Interim million pound mark. That food feeds Executive Director on January1, 2011, hundreds of thousands of people through providing leadership and continuity with her VOLUNTEERS PICK 1,300 food pantries, churches, shelters and extensive experience as the Board conducts a 5 TONS OF APPLES P.6 other agencies in 40 West Michigan counties. nationwide search for a new Executive Many of those organizations simply could Director. This search is in keeping with the not afford to feed those in need without food demands and stature of one of the nation’s LOCAL AUTHOR from our Food Bank – which we’re able to largest food banks in one of its most eco- provide for less than a 10th of what it would nomically challenged regions. DONATES “PEARLS” P.6 cost at a grocery store. I am deeply grateful to Teresa, as we all This tradition of remarkable effectiveness should be, for her willingness to stay at the is largely due to the determination of John forefront during and beyond this transitional HOLIDAY GIFTS Arnold, who has led our Food Bank as period – as I am deeply grateful for the THAT FIGHT Executive Director for the last 21 years. opportunity to have worked with John John has devoted his life to ending hunger Arnold on such a uniquely important cause. HUNGER P.6 and, fortunately for our region, he has been I am certain that, with the dedicated work an inventive and untiring champion of the of our staff and continued support from our cause. For the past five of those years John customers and communities, hunger will has fought not only hunger but also cancer, gain no ground in West Michigan, and the GOLFERS HIT and now the progression of his cancer has Food Bank will continue to successfully fulfill HUNGER HARD P.7 resulted in his deciding to retire at the end its critical mission of feeding those in need. of the year. 2 3 Full Plate Press Winter 2010-2011 Full Plate Press Winter 2010-2011 1996: Promotion of the Waste Not Want Not Project’s findings and recommendations began. The Food Bank distributed over 10 million From the desk of John Arnold pounds in a year for the first time. So long!...It’s been good t’know you! in our 40-county service area genuinely has reasonable access to 1997: John assembled the eight “Scripture collections.” 109 chest freezers were distributed to agencies. Distribution increased to 11.5 As many friends of the Food food aid should they need it; our Waste Not Want Not research with million pounds. Bank know, in addition to fighting Michigan State University that determined what it takes to end hunger I’ve been in a personal fight hunger in America (See “Charity Food Programs That Can End 1998: The Food Bank pioneered the mobile food pantry concept/system with two used tractors and three used trailers. Distribution with cancer for a number of years. Hunger In America” on the “Resources” page of our web site!); the increased to 12.8 million pounds. Nearly five years to be exact. While collections I assembled of what the world’s major religious faiths there is a cure for hunger (food!), teach about dealing with hunger and with people who need help 1999: Mobile pantries distributed 2.2 million pounds of product in 441 distributions. The Food Bank distributed its 100 millionth there presently isn’t a cure for the (also available on our website) and last but not least, our pioneering pound of product, and completely outgrew its Front Avenue warehouse. Distribution increased to 14.2 million pounds. The search began sort of cancer I have. It can only be the concept of mobile food pantries. for a larger warehouse one month after the Front Avenue mortgage was paid off. slowed down as it relentlessly Our food bank isn’t the largest food bank in the U.S., but I 2000: The Food Bank purchased 10 acres in Comstock Park with an 11,000-square-foot building on it, added 44,000 square feet of ware- progresses. Both the progression of venture to guess we are the most copied. Our work on the above and the cancer and the medicines and on letting clients pick out their own food, on how food banks can find house space to it, and moved into its new home in a November blizzard! 1,000th mobile pantry distribution. treatments used to slow it down food where no one thinks there is any, on why food censorship is 2001: The Food Bank hosted a 20th Anniversary Open House at its new warehouse. A volunteer (Jeff Thomas) created the first national contribute to what eventually adds wrong, on why food banks should be wary of mission creep, on why food bank directory and location map. The mobile pantry fleet grew to five trucks. Distribution increased to 15.8 million pounds. up to mind-numbing fatigue. And fund drives are so superior to food drives, on why food purchasing is that is the point I have finally reached. a bad idea, on how there is a better way to provide help to the needy 2002: The Food Bank’s mobile food pantry trucks distributed their 10 millionth pound; the Food Bank distributed its 150 millionth pound. So, shortly after our last newsletter was mailed out I notified the in the holiday season than traditional holiday baskets, etc. have sent Board and staff here at the Food Bank that I will be retiring as of the ripples benefitting hungry people all over not just the U.S. but around 2003: Kent County installed a stop light at West River Drive/West River Center Drive, adding years to the life expectancy of the Food end of the day on December 31. the world. So how can I not smile and feel lucky? Bank’s staff and customers! We set a goal of increasing our distribution by 15% per year hereafter until all needs are met. I’ve been directing food banks for 28 years, here in my home town Thank you everyone who has helped us by volunteering, by for nearly 22 of those.Altogether I’ve been able to help secure and contributing food,money,time,expertise,advice,equipment, 2004: Mobile pantries distributed 5 million pounds during the year. The Solid Waste Association of North America recommended John distribute a little over 300 million pounds of food aid across West supplies, services……..so many people to thank……so many who visit a landfill in Florida that had pioneered what he turned into “The Landfill Project”concept for food banks. Michigan.Whenever anyone comments on what a bum deal it is that have helped in so many ways. Again, I loop around to how lucky I I got cancer, what immediately eclipses that in my mind is how have been to know you, and to have been able to translate your help 2005: The mobile pantries distributed their 25 millionth pound of goods; the Food Bank distributed its 200 millionth pound; its distribu- incredibly lucky I have been to be able to be here and to do this work. into food for people who need it. tion for the year rose to 18.9 million pounds. Of particular pride is our daring to add the Upper Peninsula We can end hunger! In some of our counties we’ve already done it. 2006: The Fremont Area Community Foundation decides to promote the use of Waste Not Want Not methods and mobile food pantry to our service area and developing a branch warehouse model for Please continue your support of the Food Bank as it pursues reaching serving it that ended up being widely copied around the U.S.