Imagine a World Without Hunger. 2008 Annual Report FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS, the mission of the North Texas Food Bank has been to provide families, children and seniors in need with access to nutritious food. The Food Bank is constantly working to keep pace with the ever- changing demographics of our community, the growing need and the shifting economy through innovative programs and creative fundraising events that effectively feed hungry North Texans. But 2008 brought an economic downturn for which many North Tex- ans were unprepared. Food and fuel prices surged to record highs, housing markets fl oundered during the height of the mortgage crisis and unemployment rates skyrocketed. The prices of basic grocery staples are at all-time highs: the price of milk has increased 26 percent and eggs have increased 40 percent. The economic downturn affects us all. For families and individuals living on the edge of poverty, the impact has been devastating. The average household spends anywhere from 11 to 13 percent of its income on food, but families considered among the “working poor” – meaning they work hard to make a living but their incomes aren’t enough to provide basic necessities like food – often must use this percentage of their budget on other expenses like rent, utilities and gas. Thousands of North Texas families are having to choose between paying for these expenses and feeding their children. Tracy* is a single mom, working hard to raise three kids on her own. When the economy took a turn for the worse, she lost her job. Now that she doesn’t have a steady source of income, it’s almost impossible for her to pay rent, utilities and feed her children. Fortunately, thanks to the generosity of this community, Tracy has access to the resources she needs to feed her family. She can take home nutritious groceries from the Lancaster Outreach Center, a Food Bank Member Agency, whenever she needs help with food. “It’s a blessing to have people like you who are willing to help people under fi nancial stress or in need of emergency assistance,” she says gratefully. The economic downturn has also affected North Texans like Mark. Mark used to work for a landscaping company, but this spring he ran out of work. Without a steady income, he was forced to move out of his apartment. Now he’s homeless and often wonders where his next meal will come from. As Mark works hard to get back on his feet, he’s so grateful that he can come 2 Imagine...A World Without Hunger. to Friendship House in Garland, a Food Bank Member Agency that provides nutritious groceries to North Texans in need. “I’ve been on both ends,” he says. “You don’t realize how much this means. A little money makes a huge difference!” Senior citizens like Marie are also struggling to make ends meet. Her husband passed away last winter, so now she’s living alone on a fi xed income. Marie was using her small Social Security check each month to rebuild her house after it was destroyed in a fi re several years ago. She’s still paying taxes on the land. But with Social Security as her only income, she rarely has enough money left over to buy the food she needs. That’s why she’s so glad to know she can count on the Brady Center, a Food Bank Member Agency, for fi lling meals fi ve days a week. “At the Brady Center, you have great meals that are hot and healthy,” says Marie. North Texans in need like Tracy, Mark and Marie no longer have to live with the pain of hunger. Full stomachs are a reality for them thanks to the generous donations of foundations, corporations, faith groups and individuals in our community like you. Thank you for sharing in our passionate pursuit of a hunger-free community. * This name has been changed at the request of the individual to protect her privacy. Emma is 98 years old. She and her husband worked hard their whole lives to raise their four children, and for 52 years, they were a team. But several years ago Emma’s husband passed away, and for the fi rst time in her life, Emma had to learn how to support herself. Emma had been working at a dry-cleaner to make ends meet, but she left her job four years ago because she was becoming too frail to work. Now her only income is a small Social Security check each month, which isn’t nearly enough to cover the cost of utility bills, medicine and food. But thanks to the gifts of generous corporations, foundations and individuals, Emma can come to the Waxahachie Senior Center for a hot meal every weekday. This Food Bank Member Agency serves fi lling lunches and breakfasts to about 50 senior citizens in the Waxahachie area each day. Emma says the food makes a big difference in her life – and she’s so grateful. “It’s very nice that we can come and have food and fellowship,” she says. 3 Imagine...A World Without Hunger. A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENT Dear North Texas Food Bank Friends and Supporters: As we look back on our fi scal year, the North Texas Food Bank celebrates unprecedented impact in our community. Through the support of philanthropic foundations, corporate partners and generous individuals, the Food Bank is serving more hungry people than ever before. While we are encouraged by this growth, we also share the burden of knowing that the need is growing, too. More than half a million people in our community are living at or below the poverty line. Food prices skyrocketed to record highs for the fi rst time in 15 years. Less than half of the families who qualify for Food Stamp support are actually registered to receive this benefi t. This poor participation not only leaves people hungry, it robs our economy of federal dollars that support food distribution jobs locally. The need is great. But thanks to friends like you who share in our passionate pursuit of a hunger- free community, we are effectively and effi ciently meeting these needs. Through innovative programs such as Food 4 Kids, which sends chronically hungry children home with backpacks of weekend food, and Operation Frontline, which teaches low-income individuals the importance of nutrition, the North Texas Food Bank is continuing to make a powerful difference in our community. I look forward to another great year of partnership toward the goal of closing the gap on hunger. Thank you, on behalf of those we serve, for your continued support. Sincerely, Frank Roby Board President Founders of the North Texas Food Bank Jo Curtis Ambassador Kathryn Hall Lorraine Griffi n Kircher Liz Minyard 4 Imagine...A World Without Hunger. A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT & CEO Dear Friends, I have spent most of my career working toward the goal of a hunger-free community here in North Texas. With each passing year I learn more about the people whom the North Texas Food Bank serves and how we can best meet their needs. Right now, there are more families, children and seniors going hungry in our community than ever before. We watched the dramatic increase in food and fuel prices this year force many of our neighbors to go without meals in order to pay rent and utility bills or fill up their cars with gas to drive to work. For those living at the edge of poverty, the effects of our economy’s downturn have been overwhelming. Because so many of our neighbors are in need, we have a great opportunity to make an impact in our community. The Food Bank is propelled by a network of generous corporations, foundations and supporters like you who truly care about the thousands of North Texas families, children and seniors who are at risk of going hungry each day. Without the outpouring of community support we receive, we simply couldn’t do what we do. As we look ahead to another year, I am grateful for the partnership of friends like you who have embraced the North Texas Food Bank’s vision. I continue to passionately pursue a hunger-free community, and I hope you will, too. With gratitude, Jan Pruitt President & CEO 5 Imagine...A World Without Hunger. OUR EVENTS KRLD Restaurant Week, presented by Central Market, celebrated its 10th year in August 2007. Running August 13 – 19, with some of the 120 participating restaurants extending the event an extra week or even two weeks, Restaurant Week proved yet again to be a great way to raise awareness about the issue of hunger in North Texas. Restaurants generously donated $7 from each $35 fi xed- price meal to the Food Bank, helping to raise $365,148 for those in need. canstruction was a feast for the eyes in its 12th year. Thirty-two design and architecture fi rms constructed larger-than-life creations from nonperishable food items, which were on display at NorthPark Center from August 25 through September 9. All food items were donated to the Food Bank at the event’s conclusion. This year’s canstruction brought in an incredible 109,860 pounds of food and more than $5,000, translating into more than 112,888 meals! We deeply appreciate the support from this year’s sponsors, including Babich & Associates, City Sprint 1.800.DELIVER, Comerica Bank, Headshots, Etc., Huron Valley Glass Company LLC, Maggiano’s Little Italy, NorthPark Center, Tattoo: A Business Book, Thomas Reprographics, Turner Construction, and Wendy Barber Productions, Inc.