HELPING PEOPLE HELP THEMSELVES SPRING 2009 Get United in the You’re invited ---to the--- Fight Against Hunger The Mayors of Jackson County are banding together in biggestHELPING FEED OUR COMMUNITY a community-wide campaign to feed the hungry The struggling economy has affected Helping Feed Our Community,” everyone here in Jackson County. a new and special campaign that will Unfortunately, the most affected benefit clients of the ACCESS Food party are people of low-income, which Share Pantry System of Jackson now include those whose hours at County. Our county’s mayors have of summer! work have been reduced, whose banded together to fight hunger salaries have been cut, or who have through this high-profile community- lost their jobs. Often people who wide campaign, sponsored by Wells OMMUNITY find themselves in the position of Fargo. The goal: to raise $50,000 to need are forced to make choices help feed the individuals and families in a June 14 Mayors United between shelter, utilities, health care served by ACCESS Inc. Crescendo Event celebration party, 4-7 p.m., in the Sherm & Wanda and medicine, transportation, and Mayors United, Helping Feed food; and too frequently adequate Olsrud Pavilion, Jackson County Our Community kicks off with the Fairgrounds & Expo Park. This event nutritious food is the casualty of mayors and sponsor Wells Fargo these choices. will feature dancing, live music from Rogue Suspects and the Karen Lovely The demand for feeding the hungry Mayors United Band, wine, beer, and food, which is rising. Compared to just a few includes a “Tapas” contest for the years ago, the ACCESS Food Share Best Hearty Appetizers in the Valley. Pantry System is now serving 14,650 Crescendo Event more households (62% increase) June 14, 2009 • 4-7 p.m. There are many ways to participate with 520,158 more pounds of food in Mayors United. These include: distributed (40% increase). Jackson County Fairgrounds • $25 donation – receive 1 ticket With this increased need, the time to Tickets are just $25 to the Mayors United crescendo act is now – and we need your help. event • $50 donation – receive 2 tickets We are asking for the community’s announcing the event on May 27. participation in “Mayors United, to the Mayors United crescendo From May 27-29, mayors will make event an official proclamation at their city council meetings of the • $100 donation – receive 2 tickets in this issue: Mayors United, Helping Feed to the Mayors United crescendo • Mayors Unite Our Community campaign. Look event (Your donation provides 500 • Message From Our Director for TV and radio commercials, meals, feeding 32 families for one day) • Come To Party newspaper ads, and mail promoting the campaign with • $250 donation – receive 4 tickets • Donors Who Make A Difference information on how you can help. to the Mayors United crescendo • Upcoming Events The entire campaign culminates (continued on page 3) STAFF Message from the Executive Director Gary Miller: 774-4322 Deputy Director Executive Director Jackie Schad: 774-4338 With the economy on everyone’s mind, partnership with a Finance Director ACCESS Inc., like other non-profits caring community, Steve Weber: 774-4331 in Southern Oregon, is asking itself ACCESS provides whether or not donors will give less immediate and Community Planning during this time – or will they suspend long-term solutions & Research Director Ed Angeletti: 774-4330 charitable giving altogether? that lead people in need toward self- sufficiency.” Development Director But the key question is: how will Logan Bell: 774-4312 ACCESS respond to the economy? We With your help, our organization has provide an essential service to people been helping Jackson County residents Family/Senior Services Director Ellen Gray: 774-4313 within our community in need, so we break the cycle of poverty since 1976. cannot stand pat during this difficult With a focus on education, ACCESS Housing Director time. One in four Jackson County helps low-income families and seniors Cindy Dyer: 774-4319 residents depends on our services. through economic crisis by guiding Department Director In line with our Strategic Plan, we are them through changes in the habits Junior Achievement that help them become self-sustaining. Mary Holbrook: 774-4334 responding by being proactive with fundraising strategies and management Sticking to our Strategic Plan keeps Nutrition Programs Director techniques to remain stable during the us on track to meet our objectives Philip Yates: 774-4320 tough economy. Instead of waiting to defined by the Board of Directors. Human Resources Director see what happens, we are working to This organizational framework ensures Carlea Campagna: 618-4010 meet this economic challenge head- efficient and successful allocation BOARD of on, and that is why we are introducing of scarce resources to our core DIRECTORS the Mayors United, Helping Feed Our competencies – food and shelter for Community campaign. those in need. Ken Williams, Chair Bruce Cartmel, Chair Elect Our mission states that “through Warm regards, Gary John Watt, Vice Chair Pat Huycke, Secretary/Treasurer Grady Singletary, Past Chair Chris Borovansky Meet the Board Julie Brown James Grady long been a very highly respected Cathie Davis Singletary local community action agency. To be Leigh Johnson Pres./Publisher affiliated with an agency that provides Jim Kuntz Mail Tribune, such extensive levels of services, which Ed Miller Ashland Daily touch so many individuals throughout James L. Patterson Tidings, the Nickel the county and region is an honor.” Steve Shapiro James Grady Grady began his career with Ottaway Bob Strosser Singletary has served Newspapers, Inc. in 1988 serving as Hank Williams in Medford as President and Publisher the Advertising Director of the Mail SPECIAL of the Mail Tribune since August of Tribune for seven years. In September ADVISORY BOARD 1998. In 2002 the Southern Oregon 1994, he was placed in the Ottaway Media Group was formed with the Newspapers executive management Kathy Beckett purchase of the Ashland Daily Tidings training program and one year later Les Cracraft and the Nickel shopper. relocated to the corporate offices in Sam Davis New York. Lyn Hennion “I have always considered myself Sherm Olsrud fortunate to be asked to join the He’s a Medford Rogue Rotary Wanda Olsrud ACCESS board of directors,” member and is the Past-Chair of the Rep. Greg Walden Singletary said. “When presented the ACCESS board, and former member Sen. Ron Wyden opportunity in 1999, I replied quickly of the Southern Oregon University with a resounding yes! ACCESS has Foundation Board. 2 Rogue Suspects band kaRen lovely Mayors United Event Helps Increase Food Share Distribution Network In response to the increased need for emergency food in Jackson County, ACCESS Food Share is following its 3-year strategic plan to increase its distribution network and provide more food resources for hungry families in Mayors United (continued from page 1) our community. event (Your donation provides 1,250 meals, feeding 80 families for one day) Currently, Food Share is looking for support in various communities across the county to launch five additional • $500 donation – receive 6 tickets to the Mayors pantries in critical areas, including West Medford, White United crescendo event (Your donation City and Eagle Point. Secondly, we are planning to provides 2,500 meals, feeding 160 families for increase the amount of food collected and distributed one day) over the next three years by at least 400,000 pounds • $1,000 donation – receive 8 tickets to the (18%). We plan to do this through a variety of means, Mayors United crescendo event (Your donation including additional food drives, community garden provides 5,000 meals, feeding 320 families for and farm donations and expanding our perishable food one day) program from local grocery stores, Fresh Alliance. • In-kind gift for our auction Please support the Mayors United event that will help • Cash contribution to ACCESS Food Share us provide some of the additional resources necessary You can contribute by calling the ACCESS to solicit, procure and distribute much needed dedicated donation phone line at (541) 774- emergency food. If you are connected with a church 4312, or you can make a secure online donation or organization that might be interested in starting a by visiting the website at www.access-inc.org, food pantry or have any ideas to further increase food and following the “Mayors United” link. Tickets resources in our valley, please contact Philip Yates at are also available at ACCESS Inc., Sherm’s 774-4320. Thunderbird and Sherm’s Food 4 Less. Chris Borovansky energy and weatherization assistance, family and senior CEO, Jackson County services, and housing assistance. They are addressing the Fairgrounds & Expo Park real problems that individuals and families are facing here in Jackson County, and I’m excited to serve on the Board Chris Borovansky, chief executive officer of Directors.” of the Jackson County Fairgrounds & Expo Park, has been elected to Borovansky oversees all Fairgrounds activities, which the ACCESS Board of Directors. include the annual summer fair, and he is also the director Borovansky’s leadership and experience of the 5800-seat Lithia Motors Amphitheater, southern in community service promise to be a valuable asset to Oregon’s premier performing arts venue. ACCESS in fulfilling its mission of providing immediate and Borovansky is currently: trustee at St, Mary’s School; long-term solutions that lead people in need toward self- Board Member, Hearts & Vines Foundation; Board sufficiency. Member, Crater Foundation; Board Member, Chamber of “I’ve long been a fan of what ACCESS does in our Medford/Jackson County; Co-chair, Medford’s Red, White community,” Borovansky said. “I’m constantly amazed & Boom Celebration. He also volunteers with Rogue at the variety of what they’re doing. Most people know Valley Medical Center Hospice, Medford Youth Sports, ACCESS because of the food share pantries, but they’re and the SMART reading program.