Winter 2015 Winter 2015 News and Information for Friends of the Freestore Foodbank 2014 ANNUAL REPORT EDITION Fresh Produce for Hungry Families On a hot summer afternoon in begin to line up, invited to load a bag required a move to the city, a first of July, the Brighton Center truck is with whatever they’d like. many life-changes the family would filling up with fresh farm-picked Among the folks gathering this experience in the next 12 months. produce, still warm from the sun. A afternoon is Linda and her daughter, Linda was soon forced to undergo program of the Freestore Foodbank, Sarah. They are participants in the a complete colostomy, due to the Giving Fields is a community farm center’s Stable Families Program, complications from Crohn’s disease, in Melbourne, Kentucky that and her medical condition left provides garden fresh produce her unable to work. During for community partners in the time period when she was the Northern Kentucky area. in and out of the hospital, her Nearly 170,000 pounds of husband’s work hours were cut, food, including tomatoes, and they were faced with beans, peppers, greens, onions, medical bills totaling $25,000. and cucumbers was harvested “The part that insurance and distributed among the wouldn’t cover,” she says. Freestore Foodbank’s agency “Everything we had is gone.” partners in 2014. Twelve year-old Sarah is “I wish everyone could see a member of the national how the clients react,” says junior honor society and is Talia Frye, Family Center proud of her two-year perfect Director of the which connects families school attendance record. A diet that Brighton Center. with children K – 3rd includes fresh food has a significant “People shriek when grade to resources, impact on her irritable bowel they see all the fresh including food and syndrome, says Linda. “I notice a big produce.” Once a housing assistance. decrease in her symptoms when she is week during the Having grown up on a eating healthy, nourishing food.” harvest season, the farm, but now living The young family is moving to Brighton Center in the city, Linda says Bracken County next month, where will bring a group that access to fresh the rent is cheaper. “I’m OK living of volunteers to produce is “huge.” paycheck to paycheck,” she says, the fields to help “There just isn’t “as long as the kids have what pick and gather quality produce available they need.” n the food. “Each in this area,” she says. and every person “And the condition who completes the of the product that is To learn more about the Giving experience loves it,” says Talia. accessible is poor, at best.” When the truck arrives back at Linda and her husband lived on Fields, contact Telly McGaha at Brighton’s Newport area center, the the farm where she was raised, until produce is unloaded in bins that are just several years ago. “Sarah and (513) 482-7542 or tmcgaha@ placed in the agency’s front lobby. Brian could go out, pick and eat freestorefoodbank.org. News of the plentiful bounty quickly whatever they wanted, because it was gets out on the street, and clients all organic,” she says a job opportunity MISSION Two unlikely friends took a road trip. We provide food and services, create stability and further self-reliance for people in crisis. Board of Trustees A memory made. Jim Dressman by Mick Clay prize winner, an astronaut, Board Chair DBL Law Firm Bob Edwards and professional athletes, Message from the President & CEO Larry Williams I collided, whether industrialists, authors, Immediate Past Board Chair fortunately or not (that inventors, scientists Brandicorp was our joke), eleven to a plaque with a face Trish Martindell Rubber Duck Regattas ago. I knew well, titled Vice Chair, Committee on Trusteeship We were polar opposites “dedicated volunteer.” Damon Allen Vice-Chair, Customer Connections along any longitude one Bob left Marietta for Federal Home Loan Bank could draw. One on the graduate school at the Lois Rosenthal Diana Wright Bob Edwards Ramon Rodriguez left, one on the right. One University of Pittsburgh Vice-Chair, Development in ties and loafers, one in where he worked in a “big Dear Friends and Supporters, Fifth Third Bank tee-shirts and work boots. city” department store What started as a man salvaging useable items from the city incinerator 43 years ago has Marsha Croxton Our equator where we selling girls dresses. That grown into the one of Ohio’s largest food banks, serving 20 counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Vice-Chair, Foodbank Women’s Crisis Center of Northern Kentucky met was a work ethic, a was where he met the love Indiana. The time and talents of many individuals have formed the Freestore Foodbank David Olson stubbornness, a maddening into what it is today. This past year, we lost three of our champions. Lois Rosenthal, Diana of his life, Sylvia—how Board Secretary determination by nearly proud he was to have won Wright and Bob Edwards embodied the spirit of our mission and worked tirelessly to serve Frost Brown Todd LLC our hungry neighbors in the Tri-State area. Warren Weber any means necessary, to her heart, how nervous he Lois Rosenthal is a name synonymous with charitable giving. She joined our team as Treasurer make our community a bit was on the first date. PNC Bank a Board member over two decades ago. Lois was instrumental in launching a Freestore stronger than it was the After completing moment before. And then do it all again the next year, graduate school and a stint in the Army, Bob returned to Foodbank initiative to ensure that fresh food from grocers and retailers that would Jeanette Altenau Bob Maly otherwise be thrown away is provided to families who don’t have enough to eat. She also Tri-Health Retired, Great American but better. Sylvia and Pittsburgh. He worked his way up the chain at the Insurance left a tremendous footprint on our culinary job training program – Cincinnati COOKS!, as Cassandra Barham A couple of years ago I asked Bob if he and I could go on a department store and a few job offers arrived. One from a retailer well as our social enterprise – Cincinnati COOKS! Catering. Benefits Rights Tim Massa road trip. “To where?” he asked, chuckling at the idea of going in Seattle and one from Pogue’s in Cincinnati. He chose Pogue’s Advocacy Group The Kroger Co. Diana Wright was first introduced to the Freestore Foodbank as a volunteer over on a road trip. “To Marietta,” I replied, “your hometown.” We and bought the very first house he looked at in Kenwood where Mark Bodnar Julie McGehee agreed we would go in October, “when the leaves change, it he raised his family. 20 years ago. Later she became an employee, serving as Communications/Volunteer AXA Advisors The EW Scripps Compnay Liaison Assistant at our Customer Connection Center. She recalled meeting our founder, would be a prettier drive.” Bob could sell. His face would light up as he discussed selling Anthony Cole Paula Neises Frank Gerson, as one of the most memorable experiences in her history with the Freestore Anthony Cole Training Cassidy Turley As we drove into Marietta and Bob pointed out the different Polly Flinders dresses. He was good at it and the job took Group buildings, it was like travelling back in time. Bob’s dad had been him everywhere, New York, San Francisco, Puerto Rico, Foodbank. And Diana mirrored Frank’s passion to help others. Customer service was her Sean T. Parker top priority, always. Diana was committed to lending a helping hand to the best of her Anne Lilly Cone Fifth Third Bank the general manager of Bonham’s Department Store downtown. and Barbados where he brought the whole sales team to the Anne Lilly Cone & Co., ability and never allowed a disability that kept her confined to a wheelchair to stand in the Dan Pfau Men’s shoes, boots and shirts on the first floor, ladies on the Crane Resort. LLC way. She was driven, determined and took the time and care to assist the neighbors that we Cincinnati Fan second floor and housewares on third. He went to work before On a weekend at home Bob was up on the ladder cleaning Allan Cook Richard Rosenthal the sun rose and came home well after the sun went down. Their the gutters and he fell. Horribly injured, he lost his job. “I did serve on a daily basis. The Kroger Co. I can’t say the name Bob Edwards without mentioning our largest fundraising event, the Uptown Arts family home faced a gentle park along the Muskingum River, not know what to do.” While working with a friend over his Marty Dunn Marianne Rowe Rubber Duck Regatta. Bob often joked that, when he first took the idea of a duck race to Dinsmore & Shohl LLP a couple of short blocks to Bonham’s. “I used to run down the health insurance, his friend said, “Bob, if you can sell little girls’ Nonprofit Fundraising the Board, “they thought I was crazy, but let me run with it.” With Bob at the helm, the Scot Hendricks steps from school, bound into our house, drop some books, grab dresses, you can sell insurance. Why don’t you try it? I’ll see you Teresa Tanner The Kroger Company event has raised the equivalent of 25 million meals in its 20 year history. The phrase “Buy Fifth Third Bank a sandwich, hi Mom, thank you Mom, goodbye Mom and run Monday.” There is not an award or bonus Bob did not win in A Duck.