These are rocky times. Money is short, resources are strained, and client numbers are increasing rapidly.

These are problems the emergency food community has faced for years, but they have accelerated in recent years.

During this time, it has become increasingly clear why the Washington Food Coalition is so important.

What organization in Washington State wholly and specifically represents the interests of emergency food sites and their clients?

Only the Washington Food Coalition.

Our Mission

The Washington Food Coalition actively educates and networks with organizations that strive to alleviate hunger throughout Washington

Our Vision

The Washington Food Coalition is the unified voice for a strong emergency food system

Food for ThoughtWaFoodCoalition.org

No one in Washington State should go hungry

Filling Shelves & Speaking OutWFC members become stronger together at recent events

Washington Food Coalition Newsletter / Spring 2014

Washington Food CoalitionPO Box 95752Seattle, WA 98145

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PAIDOlympia, WA

Permit No. 238

This newsletter prepared with funds made available by the WA Dept. of Agriculture, Food Assistance Programs No person shall on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, national origin, age, citizenship, political affiliations, belief, veteran status or sexual orientation, be denied employment or benefits or be discriminated against as a participant, administrator or staff member under this program.

In February, many members of Washington Food Coalition gathered in Tacoma and Olympia for training and advocacy.

The first event was our Winter Food Summit in Tacoma on February 6th. This training event was focused on Community Food Security and Food Sourcing. Sharon Thornberry from Oregon Food Bank provided a phenomenal presentation on models where citizens are empowered and actively engaged to attain personal and community food security.

“Sharon Thornberry’s presentation was mind-opening”

Representatives from various organizations, both non-profit and for-profit, shared how emergency food programs could access more food through the programs they offer. All of the information shared at the Winter Food Summit is available to share, including our recently developed Food Sourcing 101 handout.

WFC aims to offer more of these localized training events in different areas of the state. Contact us if your area has a need for a specific type of training assistance.

The following day, February 7th, was an exciting day of advocacy in Olympia. WFC members joined other hunger and nutrition advocates from the Anti-Hunger & Nutrition Coalition (AHNC) for their annual Hunger Action Day.

Attendees at Hunger Action Day spent their morning receiving advocacy training.

In the afternoon, attendees met with their legislators and shared how important these hunger relief requests are in their own community. Every legislator in Olympia was provided with information about these requests all in one day!

This is an annual event, and a great opportunity for those new to advocacy or the seasoned advocate.

WFC championed the request to include an additional $1 million dollars for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP), the state program that provides funding for food banks, in the supplemental budget that was developed in the 2014 legislative session. More than 190 organizations and 350 individuals signed on to our community letter of support for additional EFAP funding! The letter was delivered to lawmakers the week after Hunger Action Day.

Make plans now to join us in September!

Each year, the Washington Food Coalition hosts its annual conference, the only event that brings together everyone fighting hunger in all of

Washington State. Attendees will have the opportunity to develop new collaborations, share information about tools and resources, hear about new and innovative programs and services, and network with others who share in their commitment to alleviate hunger.

The conference will feature a mix of keynote, breakout and networking sessions. We also offer a variety of exciting

tours at local wineries, organic farms, and food banks as well as a bonus workshop on Wednesday. The event provides an experience that is both informative and fun!

Thanks to generous sponsors, conference costs are kept low and scholarships are available.

Come join us as we share ideas, learn together, and find practical solutions

Save the Date for Meeting the FutureWashington Food Coalition’s Annual Conference September 10-12, 2014 at Wenatchee Convention Center

WFC Executive Director Julie Washburn with Donna Haynes and Laci Moyer of Pilkey-Hopping & Ekberg, Inc. Insurance., the sponsor for the event.

Advocates with Representative Frank Chopp proudly hoisting a Hunger Action Day carrot that was donated by Pacific Coast Harvest.

Advocacy Alert: In response to our budget request, the Washington State Legislature included an additional $800,000 for EFAP in their Supplemental

Operating Budget. This is a major victory for food banks in Washington State!

Thursday Keynote SpeakerJoel Berg

www.joelberg.net

Friday Keynote SpeakerJanet Poppendieck

www.janetpoppendieck.com

WFC Newsletter Spring 2014.indd 1 3/14/14 10:18 AM

Food for Thought A publication of the Washington Food Coalition

P.O. Box 95752 Seattle, WA 98145-2752

P 206.729.0501

F 206.729-0504

info@wafoodcoalition.org

Connect with us online to stay up-to-date on information about our member agencies, budget items, blog, and other helpful resources

A Garden At Every Food BankBy Steph Kardos, WFC Harvest Capacity Developer What would it look like if every food bank in Washington had a garden? Would it make awareness around hunger relief and fresh food more pronounced? Maybe a passerby would see a garden out front and become aware of the need for more food donations. If nothing else, it could promote self-sufficiency and provide more access to healthful foods.

“Clients get excited when you can harvest food right out of the ground and walk it over to the donation center. You cannot deny that food is the most nutritionally dense and healthy right after pulling it from the ground.” -Mara Bernard, White Center Food BankThe idea of enhancing your program with its own fresh food is an idea that is gaining in popularity. Last December, Millionair Club Charity in Seattle installed a hydroponics garden in its basement to provide salad to its meal program. And in Moses Lake they are looking into building a permaculture farm on some newly donated land. Not all programs can sustain something big like these examples, but even doing something small can go a long way to help bring fresh foods and some sustainability into your program.

Food banks in urban areas lack the capacity to have a full garden or supply all the fresh foods it would need to sustain its clients. However, gardening projects don’t need to be large plots. Food banks can plant some seeds in a small window box or they can even recruit a volunteer to plant some veggies in their backyard. Other ideas include a small garden in a tire in front of the food bank. Bringing these projects into your food bank, or meal program, would help bring awareness to hunger relief and the need for fresh foods in the lives of your clients.

Board of Directors

WFC Chair Helen McGovern Emergency Food Network

WFC Immediate Past Chair Kris Van Gasken Des Moines Area Food Bank

WFC Vice Chair Joe Gruber University District Food BankWFC Treasurer Yvonne Pitrof Vashon Maury Food BankWFC Secretary Leann Geiger Volunteers of America WWDan Speare Rural Resources Comm. ActionKitty Burton Hunters Food BankBob Soule Chelan-Douglas Comm. ActionMay Segle Entiat Food BankPeny Archer Comm Services of Moses Lake Scott Kilpatrick Comm Services of Moses Lake Suzy McNeilly Council on Aging & Human Serv.JoAnn Rushton Hope Source Lisa Hall Northwest HarvestJohn Neill Tri-Cities Food BankKathy Covey Blue Mountain Action CouncilGail McGhee Blue Mountain Action CouncilDell Deierling Marysville Food BankKevin Glackin-Coley St. Leo’s Food Connection Jim Beaudoin FISH Food Banks of Pierce CountyKellie McNelly ROOF Community ServicesBrenda Vassar Lewis County FB CoalitionJames Fitzgerald Clark County Food Bank Vicki Pettit Coastal Community Action Program Anthony Airhart Coastal HarvestHoyt Burrows Central Kitsap Food Bank Jennifer Hardison South Kitsap HelplineBonnie Baker Northwest HarvestDavid Bobanick Rotary First HarvestRobert Coit Thurston County Food BankChris Croft The Rescue MissionEarl Hall Yakima Food Bank

Scott Milne Hopelink

Nearly 100% of nonprofit organizations at one time or another have needed more money to support their mission. Grants can be one important source of income, but some agencies find that funders’ requirements create more work than could ever be accomplished with the available grant money. We can usually sniff out these risky grants when the funding guidelines emphasize words like “new,” “expanded,” “enhanced,” or “innovative.”

Other examples are guidelines that severely restrict the use of funds. In a recent email, a client said of a new grant lead, “They say they won’t pay for staffing, supplies, or overhead. What DO they pay for?” After a laugh, we agreed that this particular grant application was not worth the effort: if her organization won this national award, they would have struggled to meet their goals since the money couldn’t be used for their actual program costs.

These types of challenges can make grant writing very tricky! How can we ensure the funds we bring in feed our programs rather than deplete them? The following four tips can be very helpful to organizations looking to win grants without sacrificing their program’s integrity and effectiveness.

1 Approach grant proposals with wisdom and caution. When I help organizations decide which

grants they will pursue and which grants they won’t, I always ask, “Will this help you achieve your core mission?” If the answer is a resounding NO, that is not the grant to pursue. But I don’t stop there. Two other questions I ask are, “Will this deplete your other resources or exhaust your staff?” and “Will the grant’s requirements distract you from the primary service you are trying to deliver?” If the answer to these questions is YES, then you should not be submitting this grant application. Remember: grants are not magic sources of money. If the funder’s vision for those funds

doesn’t match your program’s needs, the grant will be better suited to another organization.

2 Understand the difference between “general operating support” and “program

support.” People often use the phrase “general operating support” to their program’s detriment. Especially in organizations that only have one core program, I consistently see people label their request as general operating support, when it is actually program related. If you are trying to raise funds for bookkeeping or fundraising, that is general operating support. If you are trying to raise funds to pay your executive director to be volunteer coordinator, program manager, outreach worker, or direct service provider, that is program support. Usually I see this categorical error when an organization is submitting a proposal because they’re not sure where other fundraising activities will come up short, and they need flexible dollars to support one (or all) of their programs.

3 Be specific in your request. Now that we know that the label of “general operating

support” is misleading when we’re really trying to fund program expenses, how do we write a proposal that will successfully compete for a program award? This can be tricky, especially for organizations whose executive director might be the only paid staff member. First, after you’ve selected the program that is the best fit for this funder, focus precisely on the program-related investment you are asking the funder to make rather than on the position itself. Describe how you will use their funds to run your programs, and if you’re asking for money to pay your executive director, connect that person to his or her functional duties by explaining very specific program activities and outcomes, such as partnership development, outreach, direct services, and program

monitoring. Describe the number of people you’ll serve through your program activities and how your program will make a difference in people’s lives. And don’t use the phrases “general operations” or “ongoing support” anywhere in the proposal.

4 Be honest about how much more you can do. If you make the choice to adjust

or expand your program because the funder’s guidelines are a good fit with your mission, be realistic. Perhaps the expansion will be ONE new partnership or ONE more day you’re open. The best way to ensure you’re being realistic is to create a budget that fully funds the scope of your expansion. If the grant is not enough revenue and you have no other new revenue sources, either reduce the scope or don’t submit the grant proposal.

Finding the right grant sources to support your programs requires careful planning and thought. Sometimes the best choice is to admit that a grant will hurt more than it will help and then move on to the next good lead.

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Katie Howard is the principal consultant of KH Consulting. She has been working in the nonprofit sector since 2001 and consults with organizations across Washington State to help them develop and fund effective, sustainable programs. Her grant writing DVD Think, Write, Grow: Practical Strategies for Writing Winning Grants is available for purchase at www.thinkwritegrow.com. She is offering a 25% discount to WFC Members through March 31, 2014. Enter the coupon code GIFT25 at checkout.

Visit wafoodcoalition.org and read about the latest news on our blog.

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De-escalation Through CommunicationWhen the situation gets tense, attempt to de-escalate through communicationBy Curt Lutz, Director of Chelan County Regional Justice Center

When you are faced with a client that is exhibiting signs of anger, aggression or hostility; communication is critical to avoid

an explosive situation. These signs may be any or all of the following;

√ They begin demanding attention from everyone around them;

√ They start shouting at others;

√ They show anger and/or frustration toward you and the organization;

√ They pace, clench their fists, or stare to intimidate.

Now, what do you do and say to help get them to de-escalate and receive the service they need and to get them moving out of your agency?

First and foremost, SAFETY of yourself and others is the ESSENTIAL RULE.

One person should take control of the situation and do all the communication with this person, have them focus on only one source of input. Have another staff/volunteer near if for no other reason than to observe what is going on and to get help if it is needed.

Use an even, calm tone of voice, regardless if the person’s voice becomes loud or aggressive. Speak slowly and always be respectful of the other person. As you approach the distraught person always approach from the front or side so that you do not startle or scare them, this can cause them to become more dangerous. Always keep enough distance so that if they strike out with their fist or leg they will not connect.

Speak to this person by name if you know it; if not introduce yourself to help them focus on you. Next, communicate your willingness to help – ask open-ended questions about the cause of their frustration. Remember, you want to be clear on what you want to achieve; a suggestion is to ask, “What can I do to help you right now?” or “We need to talk this through so I understand.” Show concern and attentiveness through non-verbal cues like nodding your head and saying something like, “I understand.” Always negotiate realistic options to resolve the issue, do not promise them something you cannot deliver. And, in this very stressful situation, you MUST ALWAYS APPEAR CONFIDENT with your answers and how you act toward them.There are some things that you should NEVER attempt. Do not argue about their issues, even though you may not believe them – remember it is their reality. Do not threaten them with anything, all that does is make them defensive and the situation may get worse. And, do no make a promise that you cannot deliver, you lose credibility and they will then see you as a threat.

The Balancing ActHow to generate grant revenue while staying true to your mission and realistic about your program needsBy Katie Howard of KH Consulting

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