annual report regional food bank of northeastern new york Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York Table of Contents year at a glance 3 Board of Directors poundage and programs 5 fundraising events & appeals 7 2011 - 2012 food donors and drives 8 donors 9 President: Tim Nichols member agencies 15 New York State Assembly financials 17 thank you 18 1st Vice President: Ron Ladouceur Media Logic 2nd Vice President: Jessica Ziehm NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets Secretary: Kevin M. Reilly Key Private Bank Food Bank of the Hudson Valley Treasurer: Scott St. George 2011 Advisory Board Seton Health System Barbara E. Ostrander, Chair Wally Altes Bob Leonard Vanacore, DeBenedictus, DiGovanni & Weddell Retired, Albany-Colonie Regional Trustco Bank Chamber of Commerce Nick Citera Mike Merrow Cosimo’s Restaurant Management Group Jill August Hannaford Supermarkets KeyBank Frank Clinton Joe Miller Retired, Wakefern Food Corporation Stacey Barrick WalMart Whiteman Osterman & Hanna Vanessa Darmochwal, D.P.M. Gary Pollard Podiatrist Christy Calicchia Realty USA New York Lottery Elisa DiBrizzi Mary Beth Sonne Cosimo’s Restaurant Management Group Mike Carroll Community Volunteer Berkshire Bank J.R. George Jeff Stedge Trustco Bank Bill Cromie Integrated Technology Solutions Retired, CDPHP Victoria Langling John Stewart Markertek Mike DeSimone Bank of America Price Chopper Supermarkets Eric Nelson Paul Tesoro Pfizer, Inc. Craig Griffith Central Hudson Gas & Electric Norampac Lorianna J. Nizolek Christine Tramontano TD Bank Perry Junjulas Malkin & Ross The Albany Damien Center Howard Protter Andy Zanotta Jacobowitz & Gubits, LLP Shannon Kelly First Niagara Bank Catholic Charities John F. Rath, III TD Bank Diane Reeder The Queens Galley The mission of the Regional Food Bank is to Pamela Resch alleviate hunger and prevent food waste. Pamela’s Traveling Feast We work toward this mission by ensuring that Paul Tesoro Central Hudson Gas & Electric all products available for donation reach the Steve Turk Food Bank and are distributed judiciously to our Rocking Horse Ranch Resort/ member agencies. Splash Down Beach Water Park Dear Friends, My thoughts about the Regional Food Bank’s work in 2011 are dominated by one thing – the flooding caused by Hurricane Irene. Never in my lifetime has such a devastating disaster struck this area. At the Food Bank, we were challenged as never before to find a way to respond to the crisis while maintaining our regular services to agencies dealing with the daily tragedy of hunger. Fortunately, we were able to assist in a very positive, meaningful manner because, as always, our friends and supporters offered their help in a big way. We provided several hundred thousand pounds of food, water, cleaning supplies, paper goods, personal hygiene products, dishes, furniture, and more to thousands of people devastated by the flooding, and we continue to provide those services in 2012. The outpouring of support enabled us to do this work and still meet the needs of our 1,000 other member agencies, who themselves have depended on us more than ever since the onset of the recession in 2008. In total, we distributed over 25.6 million pounds of food and other products in 2011, our highest total ever and 31% more than just three years ago. I thank all of our food donors, financial supporters, and volunteers for making it possible for the Food Bank to meet the needs of so many people in our community, especially in such a challenging year as 2011. You are truly a blessing. Sincerely, Mark Quandt Executive Director Dear Friends, Last year brought many challenges and afforded many opportunities for the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. While economic conditions for many of our neighbors were still very difficult, the Food Bank was able to increase the amount of resources it made available to our member agencies. As Hurricane Irene’s aftereffects brought a power outage resulting in the loss of perishable food in our cooler, donors were immediately on the phone asking how they could help. It is one of the many blessings of living and working in the Hudson Valley: when there is need, there is a thoughtful response from the community to help care for one another. Despite ongoing financial struggles, 2011 brought so many more people to support the Food Bank’s goals and mission. Those who had resources to share selected the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley to help their hungry neighbors. As always, we appreciate your confidence in the Food Bank’s ability to make good use of your generosity, time, and talents. We look forward to working in partnership with all of you in the years to come! Sincerely, Jan Whitman Director Food Bank of the Hudson Valley year at a glance january Food Network’s Sandra Lee visits the Regional Food Bank as the first stop on her tour of all food banks in the state. Her visit results in great media coverage for the Regional Food Bank. february The Food Bank’s 2nd Annual Timesunion.com/Table Hopping Mac -n- Cheese Bowl is held at the Albany Marriott. The event sells out, and over 1,600 people sample from 30 tasting stations. march The Richard and Terez Abatecola Foundation makes a $25,000 donation to the Food Bank for the expansion of its BackPack Program to schools throughout Columbia County. Sunmark Federal Credit Union kicks off a year-long partnership with the Regional Food Bank as its 2011 Charity of Choice. april The Food Bank begins mass distribution deliveries to 16 different sites. A total of 199 mass distributions were conducted in 2011. may The Regional Food Bank and Food Bank of the Hudson Valley hold their Annual Receptions to thank friends and supporters and recap services provided in the past year. The Food Bank initiates a project with Senior Whole Health to provide targeted food assistance to low- income seniors. june Mechanical Dynamics & Analysis purchases and assembles a greenhouse at the Patroon Land Farm to enable the Farm to grow seedlings and extend its growing season. july Through the Summer Food Service Program, the Food Bank begins providing breakfasts and lunches to low-income children in Albany, Amsterdam, and Gloversville. The Food Bank adds five deliveries to its monthly schedule to increase distribution to communities in outlying areas with a high level of need. august Hurricane Irene devastates many communities in our service area. The Food Bank, with vital support from many food companies, assists those in need with food, water, cleaning supplies, and other essential items. The Food Bank adds an additional distribution day at its Latham warehouse to accommodate the growing number and size of orders. september Hundreds of volunteers help out on the National Day of Service and Remembrance held at the Food Bank on 9/11 with help from The Stakeholders. october The Food Bank and a local family from Waterford are featured in Growing Hope Against Hunger, a one- hour primetime television special by Sesame Street created to raise awareness about the widespread issue of hunger. november The Food Bank receives the proceeds from the Troy Turkey Trot, the area’s largest Thanksgiving Day race. december GE hosts a dinner at the Regional Food Bank to honor member agencies and the important work they do. The Food Bank is recognized with a surprise $10,000 check from GE. 3 Photo by Amy Hedges Guests line up out the door for the 2nd Annual timesunion.com/Table Hopping Mac -n- Cheese Bowl! Food Network’s Sandra Lee visits the Regional Food Bank on 1/3/11. The Gleason Family from Waterford was featured in Sesame Street’s “Growing Hope Against Hunger.” The National Guard airlifted food and supplies from the Food Bank to communities in need after Hurricane Irene. Mechanical Dynamics & Analysis standing in the completed greenhouse. Thank you!! poundage and programs The Regional Food bank provided 25.6 million pounds of food to its member agencies and the hungry people they serve in 2011, a 44% increase since 2007. Approximately 250,000 people benefited from the assistance the Food Bank provided. The need has increased dramatically during these difficult economic times, and the Food Bank has been asked to do much more. Fortunately, our generous community has responded in a big way. Food and monetary donations were strong in 2011, and more people than ever donated their time and services to assist us with sorting and repacking food in the warehouse, volunteering at the Farm or in the office, and serving on fundraising committees. We could not have met the increased need without the tremendous help we received from the community. Over 250 food industry businesses donated food and non-food grocery items, and hundreds of individuals generously contributed through food drives and other efforts to make it possible for the Food Bank to serve its member agencies. Donations are received from food companies throughout our 23-county service area and from national companies through our relationship with Feeding America, the national network of food banks. The Regional Food Bank accepts products that are surplus, off-size or color, discontinued, close-to-code/best-used by date, shipped in error…unmarketable for whatever reason, but still good to use. For donations that come in bulk or are cosmetically damaged, volunteers and staff work to make these donations usable for our member agencies by sorting and repacking. The Food Bank completed its sixth year of operating the Patroon Land Farm in 2011. To date, over 474,000 pounds of produce have been grown and distributed through the Food Bank to people in need. Our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program expanded to 353 members, providing the Farm with more financial stability and an opportunity to expand its acreage to grow more vegetables to feed the hungry.