First Co-ed Five Star Golf Classic is a Success! T

Winning Team (1st Place - Net Score): Baird Holker, Jo Holker, Kerry Farrell, Bob Hendrix

Winning Team (1st Place - Gross Score): Scott Stevens, Jerry Clark, Sam Gay, Mike Miller

Food Bank President Gary Griffin addresses the crowd before the tournament

Ball Drop winner Sandra Brannon

Ball Drop winner Roger Peterson

Spectators eagerly await the Helicopter Ball Drop

T he helicopter hovered overhead as the crowd waited with breathless expectation. Every ticket holder standing on the green at Highland Oaks had the exact same question in mind – “How will I spend the $5,000 if I win it?” The pilot strapped

himself in tightly and eased to edge of the door as he was suspended over the Magnolia’s 9th green. One after another the golf balls fell from the bag with a plop onto the ground. “We have two winners!” yelled Mike Barber, director of golf for Highland Oaks. The winners were verified and announced. Congratulations to Roger Peterson and Sandra Brannon, who each won $2,500 in the Food Bank’s first Helicopter Ball Drop, sponsored by Wal-Mart and Time Warner Business Class, during the also “first-ever” co-ed Five Star Credit Union Golf Classic! The 96 golfers who participated in this year’s tournament enjoyed a day full of good weather, good fellowship, and great prizes and fun. Congratulations to the following winning golf teams: First place gross went to Mike Miller, Scott Stevens, Jerry Clark, and Sam Gay. Second place gross went to Michael Serna, Carl Cooper, Tim Mitchell, and Jimmy Gay. Third place gross went to Jim Whaley, John Eiland, Taylor Flowers, and Joel Boyd. First place net went to Bob Hendrix, Kerry Farrell, Baird Holker, and Jo Holker. Second place net went to Darin Moore, Tracy Beleau, Freddie Bacher, and Caleb Tyler. Third place net went to Willie Dorsey, James Douglas, Ivory Patton, and Moses Scott. Mike McLaney and John Eiland were the longest drive winners and Preston Brooks and Moses Scott won closest to the pin. Also, congratulations to Darin Moore who won $1,000 in the first Par Five Poker contest sponsored by Dothan Printing and Litho. Special thanks to the following golf tournament sponsors: Action Truck Center, American Classifieds, Ameris, APAC – Southeast, the Alabama Power Service Organization, Atlanta Bread Company, Boxer Mobile Storage, Cape Fox Professional Services, CenturyTel, Circle City Glass, Colonial Bank, Dairy Fresh, Dothan Industrial Hardware, Dothan Printing & Litho, Dunbarton Corporation, Extendicare Health & Rehabilitation Center, Eye Center South, Farmer Price Hornsby & Weatherford, Five Star Credit Union, Flightline of Dothan, Frosty Morn Vending, Gary Griffin, Globe Motors, Golden Oval, Home Builders Association of Dothan and the Wiregrass Area, Hooters, IDEARC Media, Information Sciences Consulting, Inc., Insurance Center of the Southeast, the Image Agency, Jim Whaley’s Tires, Continued pg. 2

Spring / Summer 2007 Newsletter

First Co-ed Five Star Golf Classic is a Success!

Page 2 Food For Thought

David HanksExecutive Director

Fighting Summertime Hunger

Shirley Henderson, Gary Griffin, Earl Griffin, Sheila Cestaro and Trig Burns

can make a difference. These are pantries that operate generally through area religious organ-izations and utilize the Food Bank to stock their shelves. These are the same organizations that provide assistance while school is in session, so as you might have noticed, demand goes up during the summer.

Something else I mentioned happens during this time, families get busy with summer vacations, outdoor activities, etc. The schools, civic clubs and other organizations that conduct food drives are no longer meeting. So the Food Bank receives less food during this critical time.

So take time during summer to organize a food drive. Your youth group could canvas a neighborhood, at parties ask for food donations instead of presents; have a friendly competition between your church’s Sunday school classes or at your Vacation Bible School.

Director’s Notes

B OA R D O F D I R E C TO R SGary T. Griffin President

Trig Burns Vice-President/President-ElectLes Pinckard Treasurer

Mace Kirkland Past PresidentBernest Brooks

William E. Chesser

Frances M. Cook

Bill Cooper

Linda Hiller

Mit Kirkland

Margaret Kirkland

Judy Langford

Rufus Lee

June Malloy

Sha’nah Martin

Nell Price

Robin S. Rainer

Richard Ramsey III

Tommy Ricketts

Ken Tuck

Agnes Windsor

Joel Weatherford

S TA F FDavid Hanks Executive Director

Shirley Almond Henderson Assistant DirectorJulie B. Gonzalez Special Projects Coordinator

Gale Smith Office Coordinator/BookkeeperMonica Graham Agency Relations

George Henderson Warehouse ManagerGeorge Beacham Warehouse Staff

Jeff Locke Warehouse StaffJames Thompson Warehouse StaffCardella Jackson Warehouse Staff

Mahogany Dozier Administrative AssistantEmma Grimsley Full-Time VolunteerJoyce Driggers Full-Time VolunteerSally Gordon Full-Time VolunteerHazel Hodges Full-Time Volunteer

Paul & Beverly Bromfield Full-Time Volunteers

The Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank feeds the needy of Southeast Alabama through

member agencies by:

• soliciting, procuring, and distributing excess food and grocery products• developing and monitoring agency networks• cultivating community awareness and participation

Inc., Lewis Smith Supply, Matt & Anne Parker, Michael’s Jew-elers, Michelin North America, the Montgomery Area Food Bank, Oakley Wright & Hart, Oncology Supply Co., Inc., Personnel Resources, Photorama, the Southeast Alabama Medi-cal Center, Sam’s Club #8192, Scenic Cable, Schmitz Automotive Group, Shedden Sports Medi-cine, Slingluff Insurance, Southeast Construction Services, Southern Bone & Joint, Time Warner Business Class, Tractor and Equipment Company, the University of Alabama Alumni Association’s Houston-Henry Counties Chapter, Village Cleaners, Wachovia, Northside, Southside, and Enterprise Wal-Marts, West Main Medical, WOOF FM, and WTVY News 4. Thank you to everyone who played that day, and to our sponsors and contributors who made it a wonderful event. It was a success! The real winners of the day were the 35,000 individuals in the Wiregrass who will benefit from the more than $22,000 raised to support the Food Bank. Together we are “feeding the needy from the heart!”

GOLF CLASSIC pg. 2

Food For Thought is published quarterly for friends and supporters of the

Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank. Wow! How quickly time gets by. Last newsletter we were complet-ing a busy holiday season and getting ready for the spring. While those 5 months are behind us now, the Food Bank staff turns its attention to preparing for a busy summer and a phenomenon that occurs when schools dismiss for the summer, HUNGER!

As summer arrives, schools dismiss and vacation season starts. Children that were fed through school meals programs are left to fend for themselves.

They may find assistance through summer programs at area organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the Wiregrass, but these organizations do not provide 3 meals a day.

They may stay with grandparents or other relatives that are not prepared to provide additional meals.

This is when our emergency food pantries

Spring/Summer 2007 Page 3

What is so special about this organization? Is it the president? Is it a board member? No! It’s the big wheels that contribute to the activities for Unity Day. It’s the foot soldiers working behind the scenes preparing the area, washing up pots and pans, and preparing the menu set forth by the committee. And don’t forget about cooking the food. It seems as if a small town in Abbeville, Alabama, could never round up more than 1,200 individuals to feed annually. It has been said, “Eyes that look common, but eyes that see are rare.” “Sight is a function of the eyes, but vision is a function of the heart.” – Xavier Grace For 13 years, a team of community workers started a local organization called U.N.I.T.Y. – Uniting Neighborhoods Involving Today’s Youth. The organization has operated with the heartfelt vision to take our youth’s biggest incarcerator and turn it into our biggest rehabilitator. Through the organization’s local programs and activities which bring about unity; we have been able to play an enormous part in contributing to the decrease in violence and drug activity in our communities. It has been the dedication of 25 men to continue to encourage, educate, and motivate our youth towards future goals and positive endeavors. Call Group President Xavier Grace at 334-797-7227 for more information.

A big thanks to all of the agencies who partner with the Food Bank. It is a pleasure and privilege serving them.

A lot of thought is put into each month’s inventory for the Brown Bag Program. We consider the shelf life of each product, the extension dates of the items, whether we have enough for 1,350 people, whether we can supply the same items to every county so that they all have the same inventory, and most importantly, whether we’d serve these items to our own grandparents. We have received a lot of complaints about the expiration dates of items found in the brown bags distributed through the program. The manufacturers give us items that are close to their expiration dates. According to the Good Samaritans Act of 1991, companies can donate items to non-profit agencies and those non-profit agencies can use the EXTENDED shelf-life dates. The chart to the right is a quick reference for estimating the shelf life of products after the stamped date. Most items are good to eat after this date. Products will last longer if properly stored. Keep frozen foods at 0 degrees or below, and refrigerated foods at 36-39 degrees. Make sure these products are transported and put away within one hour after pickup, especially during hot summer months.

SHELF LIFE REFERENCE GUIDE

Agency Information

U.N.I.T.Y Abbeville, AL

Brown Bags are distributed on the third Wednesday of each month. After missing three months of pickup, participants will be removed from the Brown Bag program. Please pick up your food on the following dates at your designated location:

8/15/07 • 9/19/07 • 10/17/07

Item Shelf Life Throw it Away WhenBread/Bakery Products 3-10 days molded

Cans/Bottles/Aseptic Containers 1 - several years

bulging, leaking, damaged seal, severe dents, popped

safety sealCereal /Crackers 6 months - 2 years stale, insects

Dried Beans several years insects, mold, stale

Freezer Products 3 months - several years odd odor or taste

Infant Formula use by the date past date

Pasta several years insects, mold, stalePrepared Salad and Dips

- Refrigerateduse by the date, unless

otherwise specified past date

Refrigerated Juices /Teas 1 - 4 weeks mold, fermentation, odd odors or taste

Rice several years insects, mold, stale

Yogurt 1 - 3 weeks mold, odd odor or taste

Brown Bag Pickup Dates

AGENCY NEWS


The Food Bank benefited from some extra tender loving care on Saturday, April 21. Volunteers participating in Spirit of Service Day replaced the gravel around the Food Bank building; pressure washed, removed rust, painted; planted flower beds, and packed 300 gift bags for the Food Bank’s annual agency workshop. There were volunteers from Alabama Power, the Housing Authority, First Assembly of God Church - Dothan, Wachovia, and the Navigator Sunday School Class from First United Methodist Church, Trinity Lutheran Church and AARP. Extra special thanks go out to all of the volunteers who came out to help and to Jay Timmerman of JT Creations for bringing his professional painting equipment, Duane Shelley of Ashford Septic Tank Company for bringing his Bobcat to move the gravel around the building, and to Fennco, Inc., for the donation of five tons of gravel to complete the project. The Food Bank also received help from Spirit of Service projects that were completed prior to April 21. A.G. Edwards & Sons held an office fundraiser and had 100% employee participation. Hope High School students held a fundraiser for students and staff and also had excellent participation.

Spirit of Service Day

How Much Did We Save Our Agencies?

Agencies shopped 856

Pounds of food distributed 986,432

Retail Cost $1,479,648.00Food Bank Cost

$138,100.48AGENCY SAVINGS

$1,341,547.52

NAME THAT TUNEClue: 1970s

“Onelessbelltoanswer,onelesseggtofry,onelessmantopickupafter.Ishould

behappy,butallIdoiscry.Mylifeissoempty.”

If you are over 60 with no bell to ring, no eggs to fry, and no one to pick up after, you probably don’t have the money to buy the eggs, keep the lights on, or pay a $35 reconnection fee once they’ve been turned off. That money was probably used to pay the co-pay for a prescription medication or to put gas in your car. I had a potential “Brown Bagger” come into the office this week. This gentleman had no income. He was not old enough for full SSA or SSI and had to wait four months before work compensation started. There are many barriers for the “Baby Boomers” that are becoming senior citizens. We have to give with an open heart and a giving hand to turn this crisis around. I have a story about three gentlemen who had giving hearts. They are Richard Christiansen, Mr. Rubolio, and Mr. Class of ‘65. The two things these three men have in common are that they are from Coffee County and they believed in the mission of the Brown Bag Program. Two of the gentlemen are in the big car cruisers in the sky. I know they have rubies, diamonds, emeralds on their golden crowns, and a refurbished 1956 Chevy. The third gentleman saw the Charlie Platt show in November of 2006. It was February when this gentleman remembered the program, the Chili Cook-off, and the Letter Carriers Food Drive. Mr. Class of 1965 has given more than $3,000 for Coffee County. The passion this man has comes from the example of two generous ladies that helped him and his sister. Those two ladies helped anyone in need. They changed this man’s heart and now he is a giver. He motivates others to give or volunteer. This man has a full life in the arena of helping the needy from the heart. His passion did not happen over night but the two ladies instilled his love to help the needy. Getting back to the first question…What tune/group is that? The answer is: Oneless Bell to Answer by the 5th Dimensions.

Brown Bag Report By Shirley Almond Henderson

JANUARY - MAY 2007

Red Beans & Rice is Moving to FebruaryThe annual Frank Martin Jr.

Memorial Red Beans & Rice Luncheon, traditionally

held in June, is moving to February. Look for details to

follow at a later date.

Hope High School

A.G. Edwards & Sons Wachovia Volunteers

Navigator - First United Methodist Church


MONETARY DONATIONS Aaron Gartlan, Sam Adams, Dennis D. Adkins, Dr. Cary Alderman, Patrick Amason, April & Ben Bendinger, Mr. & Mrs. Waymon Bishop, Dr. A.S. Black, Bryan Blackwell, Steve Blair, William Block, Tom Brantley, Michael D. Brock, Quinn Brock, Trant Bullard, John Byrd Jr., Walter Calton, Chris Capps, Bruce Caraway, Terry Carey, Jane M. Chapman, Kimberly Clark, Ladd & Hannelore Clark, Shannon Clark, Raffaele Clemente, Herman Cobb, Lori Collier, Mike Conaway, Dr. Roddy & Pat Cook, Nicholas & Natalie Cook, Chris Courson, Donna Crooks, Mike Crow, Dean Culbreth, Dr. O’Neil Culver, Steve Curtis, Angela, Chelsea, Chloe, & Colby Danner, Spence Danzey, Bill Davis, Bernardo Defaria,

& Julie Gonzalez, Monica Graham, Mary Gunter, Art & Geraldine Habbard, Bruce Hall, Harry Hall, Steve Hamner, David Hanks, Raybon Hartzog, Mickey Hatfield, Beth Hemby, Olympia Henley, Dane & Kerri Herndon, Mike Herrington, Nancy Hicks, Rob Hinson, David Hogg, Sylvia Holland, Dr. Craig Hollowell, Lillian Horne, Ernie Hornsby, Belinda Johnson, Mark Johnson, Pat Jones, Valerie Judah, Robert C. King, Ida Deal Knowles, Will Lee, Rich Lopez, Patrick Lord, George Ludlum, Chris Maddox, Will A. Mahoney, Jay Manuel, Marty Marler, William H. Mason, Will Matthews, Scooter McCain, Anthony McCallister, John McClung, Rebecca McCorkle, Shaun McGhee, Steve McGowan, Dan McKnight, Mitch McNab, Ben Meredith, John Meredith, Cam Metcalf, Allen Mitchell, Belinda Mitchell, Mary Sue Morris, David Moskowitz, Agnes Mulligan, Dr. Andy & Suzette Osborne, William & Patricia Osmond, Chuck Outlaw, William & Carol Perry, Derrick Peterson, Jim Pike, Angela Poignant, David Poston, H. Samuel Prim, III, Reggie Rhodes, Patricia

Special Thanks!

Southeast Alabama Trails Tourism Assoc.

BROWN BAG SPECIAL RECOGNITION

DONATIONS

In memory of Ruth Craig by Lois M. Axtell

In honor of Norma Cathell, Emmie Alice Underwood, Jerrie Hollis, Evelyn McMoy by Shirley H. Brackin

In honor of Dr. and Mrs. Mark Shertzer, Ms. Bettye Forbus, and Mr. Bill Perkins by Susan & Phillip Bradshaw

In honor of Joyce Driggers, and Brown Bag Volunteers by Paul & Beverly Bromfield

In memory of Mr. Leonard Quesenberry by William & Norma Cathell

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. McDavid Flowers, Mr. and Mrs. Steve Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. Kerry Croom, Dr. and Mrs. Bob Hagler, Ms. Kara Johnson, Dr. and Mrs. Dan Denney, Mr. and Mrs. Steve McCarroll, Dr. and Mrs. Alan Purvis, Dr. and Mrs. Lawson Bryan, and Mrs. Dale Saliba by Marty & Alan Clark

In honor of Bill Elliott Jr. by Patricia Elliott

In memory of Ray B. Parrish by Mable P. Hatfield

In memory of Bob Waller by Grace G. Howard

In memory of Ruth Craig by Navelle M. Johnson

In memory of Linda Hatcher by Martha W. Jones

In honor of Celeste Kelly by Patrick J. Kelly

For Mary Randall by Jean S. Lassetter

In memory of Ruth Craig by Sylvia & Wayne Newton

In memory of Louis DiMaggio by Mary Piraino

In memory of Mr. Aaron Green by Chainee K. Purvis

In honor of Carmen Martin by Elaine Stanford

Martha Denson, Glenda Devine, Eugene Doyle, Theresa Durant, Graham Esdale, Collier Espy, Kaz Espy, the Rev. Stephen Etheridge, Jason Eubanks, Susan Evans, Dr. Ashanty Farid, Sabaah Farid, Dr. Charles Feagin, Jon Folmar, Arne Foss, Ben Freeman, James Frost, Yvonne Gabrielson, Dr. Michael L. Galishoff, Earl & Clara Giberson, Rafael Gil, Juan

Abby Ellender

Sears

– Continued on page 6 –



THANK YOU BROWN BAG DONORS Thank you for your support! If we accidentally missed your name, please call us so we can fix our oversight!

Dora S. Bagwell, Anita Baker, Sam & Barbara Banner, Larry & Faye Beaty, John & Kathleen Boone, Allen & Ellen Bourland, Billy M. Branton, Joan Avant Breth, Nell H. Brown, Sandra T. Buntin, Ralph Byram, Ava N. & Henry F. Byrnes,

A. Rice, Gregory & Erin Rickaby, Linda Robertson, Jack Rogers, David & Penny Rotolo, David Rousseau, Heather Russell, Michael Rutland, Dr. Patrick Ryan, Susan McClintock Sammons, B. Shannon Saunders, Patrick & Esther Scarnegie, Rick Scussel, Shane Seaborn, Deborah Seagle, Patricia E. Segers, Dr. Robert Shedden, Billy Joe Sheffield, II, Brian Shelley, Gary Sherrer, Nick Shimoda, Amy Shumate, Al Smith, Banks Smith,

Special Thanks!

SPECIAL RECOGNITION DONATIONS

In memory of Willie Frank Davis by Artilus M. Davis

In memory of Ruth Craig by the Better Business Bureau – Peggy Dobbin

In memory of Robert Walters and Johnnie Mae Stewart by Farley Nuclear Plant – Maintenance

For Greg’s birthday by Melissa S. Sexton

In honor of Don Logan by Robert C. Rudder Jr.

In memory of Sam LeMaistre, Sr. by Sam & Juleann Torrence

In honor of Bryce & Molly Grace Hicks by Sandy Uhler

In honor of Dr. and Mrs. Joe Sugg, Dr. and Mrs. Richmond McClintock, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. John Vaughan, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Marlan, Dr. and Mrs. John Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Whatley, Dr. and Mrs. Leland Eaton, Dr. and Mrs. Jim Holland, Mr. and Mrs. Hayne Hollis, and Mr. and Mrs. Brett Morgan by Sarah H. Bennett

In honor of Joe, Dot, Steve & Gina Vinyard by Vinyard Technology Company, Inc. – Shannon Vinyard

In memory of Ruth Craig by Susan Summers

In memory of Ruth Craig by Arliene Swallows

In memory of Linda Hatcher by the Davis Sanders Sunday School Class

In memory of Blanche Juergens by the First Methodist Women of Daleville

In memory of Ruth Craig by Grimes United Methodist Church

BROWN BAG RECOGNITION DONATIONS (cont.)

Senior World

Jim Smith, Peggy Smith, Thomas Smith, Gene Spencer, Les Stallworth, John Steensland, Blaine Stevens, Brad Stinson, Gary W. Stout, Addie Summers, Jim Thomas, Dr. Kenneth L. Todd, III, Tina Tolbert, Sara Turnage, Chris Turner, Clay Wadsworth, Fran Walters, Dr. Kevin Warren, Gregory L. Watt, William White, Sue Wilson, Charles Wynn, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Frosty Morn Vending Company – James Frost, Help America Foundation, Henry County Commission, Houston County Commission, Just Friends Club, Montgomery Area Food Bank, South Lena Baptist Church, Southeast Alabama Trails, Susannah Wesley Guild at Northside Methodist Church, Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood, The 6 Pak at Community Bank & Trust, Unity of Dothan, Inc.

Barbara B. Carothers, Merle T. Carroll, Mark & Mitzi Chambers, James R. Chasteen, Mr. & Mrs. William Chesser, Charles E. Coggins, Frances M. Conner, Carl E. Cook, Pat & Ralph Cook, Frances M. Cook, Carolyn J. Cook, Susan & Vern

JACK SAYS: Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need.


Daley, Lois & Jerry Danford, Revonda & John Deal, Sherry Dean, June Dease, Jan DeHaven, Barbara Deloney, Jimmie D. Ditty, Jack & Ella Elliott, Charlene B. Erbskorn, Barbara & Terry Everett, Roy L. Fabbrini, III, Charles Fallin, Mary & James Farris, Colon W. Folk, Jr., Othan Gilbert, Sarah H. Girouard, Dorothy G. Gohde, Phyllis Green, Stafford Lee Gregory, William Gregory, W.W. Gregory, III, Dottie Grimsley, Joe Grubbs, Letitia A. Grubbs, Jan Hamilton, Tracy J. Hanson, Ed & Lyn Heffernan, Mr. &

Special Thanks!Martin, Starla Moss Matthews, Fran C. McArthur, Sarah McAllister, Tonya McCardle, Joanne & James McGhee, Brenda J. McReynolds, Sheila McSween, Joyce Mitchell, Kenneth & Tomya Moore, Mary Lois Newton, Susan E. Oakley, Andy & Suzette Osborne, Julia A. Pacheco, Priscilla N. Palmer, Michael Patton, Kathy & Doug Perreault, Harvey & Barbara Peterman, Eunice Dahlstrom Petrey, Craig S. Pittman, Jr., Kenneth & Marla Price, Martha Pryor, Charlotte M. Rawlett, Larry C. Register, Elizabeth K. Ripple, Patricia A. Roach, Louise Roney, Franklin Roy, John Ruddock, Alfred Saliba, Karen Saliba, Murriel W. Scarborough, David H. Sconyers, Laura Scott, Patricia E. Segers, Royce Sellers, Charles & Margaret Sheffield, Mike & Jeanne Sigler, Dr. William I. Silvernail, Morris & Louise Slingluff, Al Smith, Betty L. Smith, Cynthia Snyder, Kay G. Spradling, Charlotte F. Stanford, Marie Stanford, Betty H. Strickland, Mr. & Mrs. I.M. Sumners, Karyl Taylor, Jack & Estelle Taylor, Debi Tew Tamsett, Billie Jo Tharp, Adam John Thomas, Joyce Traylor, Louise Turman, Jean C. Voak,

Col. Henry D. Walding Sr., Fran Walters, Lisa B. Warr, Georgia Warren, Barbara Wasdin, Patricia A. Watson, Lowell & Carolyn Weiss, Margaret H. Welden, Bonnie M. White, Edna S. Whitehead,

Ridgecrest Sunday School - The Encouragers

Wal Mart - North

Chelsea, Chloe, and Colby Danner

Mrs. Warren G. Hilson, Ricky L. Horton, Sheila Hughes, Greg Hutcheson, Karla Jackson, Sonja & Earl Jernigan, James & Carol Johnson, Pamela & Joseph Johnson, Hazel Kirkland, Marian A. Kline, Loretta Koen, Nels & Betty Kvalheim, Sr., Robert J. LaBaron, Willie Lampkin, Marilyn W. Latta, Eric V. Linderman, Joyce M. Long, Susan S. Love, Audrey Luke, Cynthia R. Lumpkin, Will A. Mahoney, Sheila Marchman, Shirley P. Marlow, Dawn H.

Ashford High School

Blondell Williams, Dorothy M. Williams, Jean & Felton Woodham, Andres Worrell, Joey Zacherl, A.G. Edward & Sons, AARP Houston County Chapter 388, Adult 7A Sunday School Class at Ridgecrest Baptist Church, Altrusa Club of Dothan,



Special Thanks!

American Business Women’s Association, Arrow Mortgage Company, LLC, Ashford Masonic Lodge No. 493, Ashford Study Club, Bill & Ken’s Machine Shop, Calvary Baptist Church, Cornerstone Bible Church, Covenant United Methodist Church, Crazy Ladies Lunch Group, Denton Road United Methodist Women, Dothan Newcomers Club, Esther Sunday School Class, Eureka Club, Evergreen Presbyterian Church Supper Club, First United Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church Navigators Sunday School Class, First United Methodist Church Men’s’ Club, Hope High School Students & Staff, Houston County Republican Women’s Club, Jack Roney Sunday School Class,

John Wesley Sunday School Class, Kay Williams Sunday School Class at FUMC, Kenmar Forgotten Treasures, LaFayette Street Church Women United, Logan Road Baptist Church, Martha Sunday School Class, Men’s Adult III at Southside Baptist Church, Men’s’ Civic Club, Mt. Pisgah, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Newton Ruritan Club, Piney Grove Primitive Baptist Church, Ridgecrest Sunday School Class – the Encouragers, Ruby Lee Adams Sunday School Class, Sarah Sunday School Class, Sears, Sheryl Walker Sunday School Class, Southeast Alabama Advertising Federation, Southeast Alabama Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, T.E.L. Sunday School Class at Southside Baptist Church, the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, the Mothers’ Club, Troy University Dothan’s Senior World, Twentieth Century Study Club, Wiregrass Golden “K” Kiwanis Club, Wiregrass Master Gardeners Association, Women’s Fellowship of First Christian Church

FOOD DRIVES AND PRODUCT DONATIONS Ashford High School, Atlanta Bread Company, Automatic Refreshment Services, Buffalo Rock Company, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Colonial Bread,

Food Companies

Supermarkets

Food DrivesSenior Centers

Congregations

CommunityCenters

Food Pantries

Shelters

Southeast Alabama Advertising Federation Cub Scout Pack 38

Complete Truck Lines, Cotton Box Farms, Cub Scout Pack 38, Curves – North, Curves – South, Dairy Fresh Corporation, Dixie Egg Company, Dothan Motor Company – Advantage, Elaine Farmer, Equity Group – Eufaula Division, First United Methodist Church, Flavor House Product, Inc. – Nutcracker Brands, Flowers Hospital, Flowers Sunbeam Baking Company, Godfrey Distributing, Gregory Sexton and his birthday party guests, Houston Paper, Hunters Helping the Hungry, James Porrin, Kristie’s Bakery House, Leger-Pepperidge Farms, Little Debbie Snacks, Master Gardeners, McLane’s Grocery Distribution, Mike Teeter’s Distributing, Movie Gallery, Nabisco Brands, Inc., Nantze Springs, Inc., National Association of Letter Carriers – Wiregrass Chapter, Pattie W. Alexander, RAJ Distributing, Regions Bank, Sam’s Club, Sara Lee Baking Company, Sony Employees, Souper Bowl Donors, Southern Family Markets, SYSCO Food Services, Inc., Temple Emanu-El, T.J. Maxx, Target, Tom & Leueen Bostick, Wallace Community College – Phi Theta Kappa & SGA’s “Project Graduation”

IN-KIND SERVICES DONATIONS The Image Agency, Wise Forklift, Dairy Fresh Corporation

How the Food Bank Works


Postal workers went above and beyond the call of duty as the National Association of Letter Carriers conducted their 15th annual national food drive on Saturday, May 12. Wiregrass Letter Carriers Branch 1630 collected nonperishable food donations locally and delivered them to the Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank. Food items were then sorted and prepared for distribution to Food Bank agencies who serve the needy individuals of the Wiregrass. This one day event brought in 15,101 pounds of food. Thank you to our Wiregrass area non-perishable food donors, thank you to Papa John’s Pizza for donating lunch for all of our volunteers, and thank you letter carriers!


On Tuesday, June 5, the Food Bank observed Hunger Awareness Day along with America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network. We asked our friends to skip lunch to experience first hand what the 35,000 food insecure individuals in the Wiregrass experience as a part of their daily lives. Then, to help alleviate the problem, donate what they would have spent on lunch that day to the Food Bank. Because of the wonderful news coverage we received, and our loving donors who gave, the Food Bank has received more than $1,100 as a result of this project!

The sun was hot and the gnats were swarming, but that didn’t slow the 52 volunteers who showed to pick snap beans in “God’s Garden” on Saturday, June 9. Dr. Kenneth L. Todd, III, better known to his friends as “Tripp,” spearheaded a garden project to benefit the Food Bank with fresh produce. Dr. Todd, with help from his family, faithful friend Randy Thrash, and the Campbellton Farmers’ Co-op planted four acres of snap beans on his family’s land in Napier Field. The crop was chosen for its high levels of iron and other essential

nutrients, ease of harvest and storage, and frequency of the plants’ production. Knowing that fresh green vegetables are harder to come by for those on low or fixed incomes, Dr. Todd decided to plant the unused land and harvest the crop to donate to the Food Bank. The Food Bank sought volunteers through our member agencies and they rose to the occasion. Thank you to Dr. Todd and his family and

Stamp Out Hunger!

Food Bankto Go!to Go!Hunger

Awareness Day

God’s Garden is a Labor of Love


Longer days and warmer temperatures are signs that summer is here. The children of the Wiregrass have turned in their backpacks and notebooks for swimsuits and sprinklers. Although the vacation is much needed, a number of children from low-income families will experience a different type of break that is actually detrimental to their health. For many children, spending time away from the classroom also means spending time away from crucial school feeding programs such as free and reduced price breakfast and lunch. These programs provide the essential nutrients that help children grow up healthy, happy, and strong. Children of food insecure families are at risk of developing a number of chronic diseases and having the quality of their lives compromised by poor food choices. According to a study conducted by the Food Research and Action Center, children of low-income families are at risk of being undernourished from periodic episodes of inadequate food intake. Mild malnutrition can have the following effects:

Growth limitationShort stature is an adaptation that allows children to maintain their weight when calories are limited.

Reduced immune functionA poorly nourished child is more likely to become ill and miss school.

Restricted cognitive developmentand inability to concentrate on tasksLearning potential and ability to succeed in school are compromised by poor nourishment.

Research by Harvard Medical School psychology professor J. Michael Murphy has shown that in addition to health and academic problems, malnourished children demonstrate the following problems at a higher rate:

Psychological problemsUndernourished school children have measur-ably higher levels of anxiety, depression, and impaired motivation.

Behavior problemsChildren who have not eaten properly exhibit more aggressive and anti-social behavior.

Summertime hunger is a serious problem for school-aged children. Fortunately, there are programs already in place to fight it. The United States Department of Agriculture provides funding through an agency in each state – usually the state education department – to reimburse eligible sponsors for meals and snacks served to children at summer programs. Sponsors are fiscal intermediary organizations that operate one or more sites where programs for children provide meals and snacks. Eligible Summer Food Service Program sponsors can be:

1. public or private nonprofit school food authorities, 2. local governments,3. National Youth Sports Programs, or4. private nonprofit organizations.

The SFSP is operated at sites where at least half the children in the geographic area are eligible for free or reduced price school meals, or at sites in which at least 50 percent of the children participating in the program are determined eligible for free or reduced price school meals based on individual applications. Once the site is eligible on one of these bases, all children, up to age 18, can eat SFSP meals and snacks for free. Sites serving primarily migrant children and summer camps also can participate. Schools could always use the SFSP to serve children who are not in school over the summer, but the paperwork deterred many schools. USDA now offers a “Seamless

Summer Food Option,” under which schools can offer summer meals as if they were operating

the SFSP, but without additional paperwork. In essence, the school simply continues its National School Lunch Program meal service into the summer but can serve students not in summer school. Schools are reimbursed at the NSLP free meal rates, as opposed to the higher SFSP rates, if they

take this option. These meals served are counted in the summer NSLP rather than as

part of the SFSP. To find out how your school or organization can participate, or for more information on existing summertime nutrition programs, please visit the Food Research and Action Center’s Web site at www.frac.org.

THE PROBLEM THE SOLUTION


A gift to the Wiregrass Area Food Bank can be for a Brown Bag Sponsorship or a living tribute in honor of a special occasion such as a birthday, anniversary, holiday or in memory of a loved one.(334) 794-9775

Date Donor’s Name Address City/State/Zip Email Address Please make your checks payable to Wiregrass Area United Way Food Bank. Your gift is tax deductible. 382 Twitchell Road, Dothan, Alabama 36303

Enclosedismygiftof$ . Itismade:❍ In Honor of ❍ On the Occasion of ❍ In Memory of ❍ To the Wiregrass Area Food Bank❍ As a Brown Bag Sponsorship ($60 per annual sponsorship)

Please send an acknowledgement card to:Name Address City/State/Zip

A Gift From the Heart

friends for making the crop possible and to all of our volunteer gleaners from Camp S.A.Y.L.A., Gateway Church of Headland, Covenant United Methodist Church, and other volunteers who heard about the need and showed up to help pick beans. “God’s Garden’s” first crop resulted in 874 pounds of fresh green snap beans being made available for distribution through Food Bank member agencies to the needy of the Wiregrass. Although the first crop has been harvest-ed, the work is far from over. The plants will produce more beans and there will again be a need for volunteer gleaners. The Food Bank would like to use “God’s Garden” to revitalize our “Plant a Row for the Hungry” program. A lot of work has already been completed in order to create this Food Bank resource. We now need caring volunteers who are willing to “adopt a row” to see to its health and harvest. If you are interested in “Planting a Row” in your own garden for the hungry or adopting a row in “God’s Garden,” please call the Food Bank at 334-794-9775.

GOD’S GARDEN pg. 9

NON-PROFITORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDDOTHAN, AL 36302

PERMIT NO. 535

An agency of the

Freezer Loan Program Don’t wait too long---Is your kitchen décor ready for an upgrade? Are you ready to get rid of your previously loved, but tired, freezer that is still in working order? If so, please consid-er donating it to the Food Bank! The majority of the agencies we serve have very limited funds. We want them to use those funds to fill their refrigerators, not to purchase them! The abil-ity to participate in a freezer loan program would enable our agencies to distribute meat from our freezer stock that would in turn enhance their clients’ diets with much needed protein. If you don’t have a freezer to give and would like to donate to this program, we would welcome that assistance as well.

3 8 2 T W I T C H E L L R O A D D O T H A N , A L A B A M A 3 6 3 0 3

( 3 3 4 ) 7 9 4 - 9 7 7 5F A X : ( 3 3 4 ) 7 9 4 - 6 9 4 1

www.WiregrassFoodBank.com

Annual Agency Workshop and Volunteer Appreciation Day The annual Agency Workshop and Volunteer Appreciation Day, on April 27 at Wiregrass Rehabilitation Center, offered agencies new information and updates on policies and procedures that are already in place. We would like to thank Karl’s German Bakery for our “Taste of Germany,” Mr. Frederic Lecut for his enlightening demonstration of Tai Chi, the Emmanuel Christian School Drama Team for their moving performance and Pastor Ted Richter for lead- ing us in our joyful group performance of the “Butterbean Song.”

Documents

First Co-ed Five Star Golf Classic is a Success! T