Fall 2015

IN THIS ISSUE:

Once Helped, Now Helping Others

From the CEO

Meet Kyle Waide,our new Presidentand CEO.

Healthier Choices

“It’s a way to give back.”– Alicia, volunteer at Cobb Vineyard Church

Food Pantry (center) with Pantry Director Christina Wilson and Associate Pastor Joel Balin

Lives are changingthanks to ACFB’snutrition team.

See how you cantake action!

PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 7

Hunger ActionMonth

As America strives to bounce back from economic turmoil, many people have discovered a silver lining. They’re helping others in the communities where they first sought help.

READ MORE • PAGE 5

2

Dear Friend,

I want to take a moment to share with you how grate-ful I am to serve as the new President and CEO of Atlanta Community Food Bank. It is the opportunity of a lifetime. The challenges and opportuni-ties facing us have never been more exciting. Our future has never looked more promising.

The Food Bank has an incredible legacy of service and impact, built over 36 years by our founder Bill Bolling, in partnership with you. Bill has worked tirelessly and pas-sionately to shape the Food Bank into what it is today – a beloved and trusted nonprofit that exists to serve and lift up those who face hunger in our community.

Because of You

By any measure, the Food Bank just completed the most successful year in our history. We distributed more food, engaged more volunteers, and raised more money than we ever have. I am so proud of our team and our accomplish-ments, and I am grateful to

you for your support in making this happen. The food bank’s success, and the impact on the lives of the people we serve, happens because of you.

As we celebrate, we are also very aware that far too many of our neighbors continue to struggle with hunger and food insecurity. The need for the Food Bank remains greater than ever.

As a father of three, I often think about our mission when I look at my own kids and think about how I would feel if I couldn’t provide them with the food they need. It’s a feeling of helplessness that can make hope seem futile. For many of our clients, that’s a feeling that doesn’t go away.

Together We Will Do More

Our challenge at the Food Bank is to ensure that all mem-bers of our community have access to the food they need for healthy and productive lives. We share that challenge with the 600 partner agencies that we serve, each of them led by an unheralded community

hero who does the work each day simply because they care and because they envision a brighter future for all.

To meet that challenge, we will work relentlessly to ensure the Food Bank is better tomor-row than it is today. We know that means growing the scale of our work, engaging more partners and volunteers, foster-ing innovation, and enhancing our impact on the lives of our clients.

That’s something we do to-gether. We build on our legacy and we create that better day. I look forward to working with you as we face these challeng-es. Together we will do more. We will do it even better. And we will see that transformation in our community and in the lives of our neighbors in need.

Letter from the CEO “The Food Bank’s success, and the impact on the lives of the people we serve, happens because of you.”

BOARD OF DIRECTORS2015/2016 OFFICERS

ChairMary Moore

Vice ChairJames Dallas

SecretaryJackie Parker

TreasurerJerry Wilkinson

Advisory Board ChairBrandon Sutton

2015/2016 BOARD MEMBERSEllen Bailey

Martha Brooks Eric Busko Joe Chow

Steven J. de Groot Martha “Marti” Fessenden

Arlene Glaser Mitch Harrison Mark Holifield Patrick Jones Robby Kukler Bill Levisay

Matt McKenna Margaret “Marjy” Stagmeier

Andrew Stith Wayne Vason

Lesley T. Wainwright

PRESIDENT AND CEOKyle Waide

GENERAL COUNSELDavid Long-Daniels

OUR MISSIONOur mission is to fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering our community.

WHO WE SERVEThe Atlanta Community Food Bank

supports more than 600 local nonprofit organizations with hunger-relief programs in 29 metro Atlanta

and north Georgia counties.

(Pho

to: M

arcu

s K

raus

e)

3

It is our mission to not only fill bellies, but nourish bodies with food that will decrease the incidence of chronic disease. For Walk-er, improving the health of her clients is an everyday part of her job. In return, ladies like Shandece can pass that knowledge onto their families and friends and have hope for a healthier future.

Contents Connect with us

When Shandece arrived at My Sister’s House, an Atlanta Mission shelter for homeless women and children that part-ners with the Atlanta Community Food Bank, she never dreamed she would discover ways to improve her health. Since becoming a regular participant in nu-trition sessions offered by the Food Bank’s Nutrition and Wellness Program, Shandece is adopting new lifestyle habits. “I’m eating more balanced meals. I have more energy because I’m eating more vegetables and drinking more water.”

Building Good Habits

Shandece has attended every session so far. Health is important to her, and she wants to pass along the good habits to her mother and young son when she transi-

tions home. “High blood pressure runs in my family,” said Shandece.

“I’m glad we have had conversa-tions about blood pres-

sure.” Many women at My Sister’s House work in the kitchen. Shandece is now able to prepare more balanced portion sizes with more non-starchy vegetables. She has also noticed an increase in the amount of nutritious food coming from ACFB. “For snacks, we are getting apples and bananas instead of cookies.”

Pat Walker, Food Service Supervisor at My Sister’s House, is a proponent of

Letter from the CEO 2

Nutrition Team Changes Lives 3

Volunteer & Donor Features 4

Once Helped, Now Helping Others 5

Thanks to Our Community 6

Upcoming Events 7

Hunger Action Month 8

EDITORS Angie Clawson, Julie Bryant Fisher, Amy Hudson

CONTRIBUTORS Tori Allen, Amelia Allgood, Julie Bryant Fisher, Amy

Hudson, Rachel Taft, Kyle Waide, Beth Warner and Ryan Williams

COVER PHOTO Allison Young DESIGN Fain & Tripp, Inc.

Follow us on Facebook atfacebook.com/atlfoodbank

Follow us on Twitter attwitter.com/acfb

Follow us on Instagram atinstagram.com/acfb

Learn more about the Atlanta Community Food Bank, our events, and our community at acfb.org.

For the latest news, direct your favorite news reader app toacfb.org/rss.xml

“I’m eating more balanced meals. I have more energy because I’m eating more vegetables and drinking more water.”

– Shandece

partnering with ACFB’s nutrition team to educate her residents. But the education wouldn’t be possible without access to more nutritious food. Thanks to the Food Bank’s implementation of the Choose Healthy Options Program (CHOP), ACFB’s partner agencies can make better choices about the food they order. CHOP is a nutrition ranking system developed by the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. “Since uti-lizing CHOP, I am able to choose healthier foods,” said Walker.

Awareness Leads to Healthy Choices

Since the nutrition team began visiting My Sister’s House to deliver presentations on nutrition and health topics, Walker has noticed a shift in the behavior of the women.

“The ladies are picking and asking for more vegetables, drinking more water and stay-ing away from the vending machine.”

As we approach Hunger Action Month, it is important for ACFB to raise awareness about hunger and how it relates to health.

Nutrition Program Helps Women Make Healthy Choices

Thanks to ACFB’s Nutrition and Wellness Program, Pat Walker of My Sisters House (l) can provide healthier food and ongoing nutrition education for residents like Shandece (r). (Photo: Rachel Taft)

Choose Healthy Options Program (CHOP) - ranks foods according to their nutritional value so our partner agencies can order healthier items.

Nutrition Sessions - free classes that teach clients how to select affordable, healthy food and prepare nutritious meals.

The Nourishing Nook - a tasting station for our partner agencies to try recipes made from nutritious items they can order at the Food Bank.

Nutrition Initiatives at ACFB

4

Donor's Impact Will Live On

Girl Scouts Take Action to Help Families instill in them a willingness to serve.

“As with other community service activi-ties we do each year, the information the girls receive at the Food Bank puts a real issue into perspective for them,” said Goody. “They learn that something they take for granted can be a struggle for many.”

The troops of Lindsay Street Baptist Church started volunteering with the Food Bank about 20 years ago, and they show no signs of stopping any time soon.

An Awesome Feeling

“Our girls need to see others in action to address such issues,” said Goody. “And most impor-tantly, the girls need to know how much of a difference can be made by the efforts of like-mind-ed volunteers.”

The experience has educated and inspired each of the Girl Scouts in different ways. One of the scouts had the opportunity to volunteer while planning a project to win a Silver Award (the high-est award a Girl Scout cadet can earn) and decided to focus it on the history of

For the Girl Scouts of Lindsay Street Baptist Church, volunteering at the Food Bank is about more than just giv-ing back. It’s about developing core val-ues they will carry for the rest of their lives. The troop volunteers at the Food Bank at

least twice a year sorting, examin-ing and packing food and other products. Their experience working with the Food Bank has fostered in them an awareness of

the struggles the people in their commu-nity face.

It Wasn't About Me

For 14-year-old Girl Scout Erin Walker, the volunteer experience has been a pleasant surprise.

“I thought volunteering would be very hard and boring,” said Walker. “I soon realized that volunteering wasn’t about me, but giving back.”

It’s a realization that troop leader, Nina Goody, is proud of. By having the girls volunteer at the Food Bank, she hopes to

Third generation Atlantan Mark Weinstein remembers few hardships early in life. Growing up, he experienced many privileges – even being able to pick out a brand new car for his 16th birthday.

Mark later became a suc-cessful businessman, but then, as he describes, “I crashed and burned. I made some bad decisions and took a few wrong turns and suddenly my life was a mess.” After picking up the pieces of his life, Mark realized the impact he could make by helping others.

Mark and his family began reaching out to those less fortunate. Over a period of five years, he and his family assisted a couple of men each

Girl Scout Troops from Lindsay Street Baptist Church have been volunteering at the Food Bank for the past 20 years. (l-r) Troop 2801 members Kellis Bond and

Erin Walker with troop leader, Nina Goody

“I hope that I am helping families not worry about what they will eat or where they will get food from.”

– Kellis Bond, Girl Scout Troop 2801

hunger in the community.13-year-old Kellis Bond said it feels

awesome to know she’s giving back to the community. “I hope that I am helping families not worry about what they will eat or where they will get food from.”

The Food Bank is proud to see girls at such a young age becoming aware of the struggle of poverty and making conscious efforts to end it.

year, providing them with food, clothing and a loving environ-ment – a place to call home while they got back on their feet. A believer of helping oth-ers help themselves, Mark sent each man to vocational school for skills certification. Upon their graduation, Mark bought all his guests a reliable car.

An Honor to Help

When his son asked why strangers were living in their house, Mark thought of the many people who had helped him during his time of need, and told his son that, “To those whom much is given, much is expected.” He ex-plained that it was an honor to be able to help others just as he had been helped.

Mark believes that food and

shelter come first. He has des-ignated the Food Bank as a beneficiary to his life insurance policy.

For Future Generations

“The Atlanta Community Food Bank is the best non-profit I’ve ever seen or dealt with and that is why I’m all in with them. I love the mission, the efficiencies, the impact, the staff and their humility,” he said. With his gift, Mark will ensure that future generations grow up healthy, not hungry.

ACFB Founder Bill Bolling (l) and ACFB Harvest Legacy Society Donor Mark Weinstein (r) enjoy a moment at the biennial Legends of Atlanta Roast held at the Food Bank. Weinstein's planned gift will ensure future generations grow up healthy, not hungry. (Photo: Marc Krause)

Anyone can turn future famine into feasts through

Planned Giving. To learn more about Atlanta Community

Food Bank’s Planned Giving program, Harvest Legacy

Society, visit www.acfb.org/planned-giving.

4

5

Alicia remembers a time, five years ago, when she desperately needed help. She had lost her job and her fam-ily was relying solely on her husband’s income. She heard there was a place where she could get food and decided to give it a try. The day she arrived at Beth Day Memorial Food Pantry of Cobb Vineyard Church in Kennesaw, the pantry happened to be closed. “The man who answered the door was so friendly. He helped me even though he didn’t have to,” said Alicia.

Brighter Days

These days, things are looking up for Alicia and her family. She still receives food on occasion, but the majority of her time at the pantry is spent as a dedicated member of the volunteer team. “It’s a way for me to give back,” said Alicia. “They were so good to me.” She looks forward to the first and third Saturday of each month when she volunteers. “If you want friends, if you want a place that’s like fam-ily, this is the place to come,” said Alicia.

“I miss them so much when I’m not here.” Alicia’s husband works as a sales direc-

tor for a hotel and as a basketball referee. Alicia hopes to return to work when her youngest child goes to school. For now,

she stays busy caring for her family and volunteering. She knows first-hand how much the pantry is needed and is thankful for those who provide financial support for the Food Bank and its network of food pantries and meal programs. “If it weren’t for the people who give, this wouldn’t happen,” said Alicia.

Paying it Forward

“We’re excited that some of the people we’ve served now come and help others because they’ve either gotten a job or their situation has improved,” said Joel Balin, associate pastor at Cobb Vineyard.

“But what we’re also seeing is that people who are getting jobs aren’t getting jobs at nearly the same level. We’re serving twice as many people as we did three years ago. I think this is a need that is going to go on for a long time.” In the meantime, Balin is encouraged that the “pay it for-ward” concept is growing. “I hope it will continue to be contagious, that people would see the generosity coming out of what our church is doing with the Food Bank, and that generosity would well up in them.”

According to Christina Wilson, food pantry director, “the volunteers just keep coming and many are those who have received help or are receiving help. That brings me joy to see them want to help and want to give.”

Embracing the Opportunity

The trend is growing at other food as-sistance programs, including Malachi’s Storehouse of St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Dunwoody. Irma, a former client, has been a volunteer and board member at Malachi’s for the past five years. She first heard about Malachi’s when her husband lost his job. “We didn’t have money, we didn’t have food,” said Irma. “I was embarrassed to ask for help. I never thought this would happen to us.”

After coming to the pantry, Irma shared some ideas about better ways to serve

As America strives to bounce back from economic turmoil, many people have discovered a silver lining. They’re helping others in the communities where they first sought help.

Continued from cover

Once Helped, Now Helping Others

“It’s a way to give back… they were so good to me.”– Alicia, client turned volunteer at Cobb Vineyard Food Pantry

After receiving help at Malachi’s Storehouse, Irma became a volunteer and a board member. She

also serves as director of outreach and Hispanic liaison. (Photo: Allison Young)

Alicia once needed help from the food pantry at Cobb Vineyard Church. Now, the majority of her

time at the pantry is spent as a dedicated member of the volunteer team. (Photo: Allison Young)

5

people. Pantry Co-Director Kathy Malcolm Hall not only took her suggestions to heart, but asked her to help. The results were phenomenal. “Irma was instrumen-tal in our shift to a ‘market style’ pantry in 2012. It simplified things for us and brought dignity to our clients,” said Hall. The pantry has grown from serving 225 to 675 people per week since Irma began volunteering.

Like Alicia, Irma’s situation has im-proved. Her husband now works as a night supervisor for a major hotel chain and she cleans houses to bring in extra money. “Right now, I’m okay. I’m happy. If somebody asks for help, I say ‘I know where you can go.’ Malachi’s has given me an opportunity to be involved in minis-try to help others.”

6

(Pho

to: A

ngie

Cla

wso

n)(P

hoto

: Ang

ie C

law

son)

(Pho

to: A

ngel

a B

orod

en)

(Pho

to: H

eidi

Gel

dhau

ser)

Thanks to Our Community

For golf fans, this event was not to be missed. A great group of people spent the day golfing for a good cause, and PGA professional golfer Jason Bohn was there to offer tips from the pros! This year’s Classic raised more than $110,000 for ACFB. Thank you to our players, sponsors and special guests!

Full-Course Golf Classic

11Alive Community Service AwardsACFB was honored to be selected as this year’s benefiting charity for the annual 11 Alive Community Service Awards hosted on April 30 at the Marriott Marquis. The star-studded event celebrated its 40th year of upholding stellar citizens and raised $125,000! Several ACFB staff members are pictured at the event with 11Alive News Anchor Brenda Wood (r).

Food For AllThe annual “Food For All” campaign, held at participating Publix stores, raised more than $160,000! Thanks, Publix, for encouraging your customers to help the hungry. (l-r) ACFB Founder Bill Bolling, Publix Media and Communications Manager Brenda Reid and ACFB Development VP Sarah Fonder-Kristy.

Stamp Out HungerBig thanks to the National Association of Letter Carriers and US Postal Service for the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive held on May 9! Citizens across the nation left non-perishable items at their mailboxes for the letter carriers to collect, and it paid off. Here in Atlanta, more than 109,000 pounds of food were delivered. Several letter carriers brought their families to help unload the food at ACFB and gathered for a photo.

Taste of the NationThis year’s Taste of the Nation, held on May 7 at the Georgia Aquarium, brought hundreds together for a great night of food, fun and fundraising. $746,000 was raised for ACFB and two other benefiting partners! (l-r) John Metz, George McKerrow Jr., Wylie Dufresne, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Pano Karatassos

(Pho

to: A

ngel

a B

orod

en)

(Pho

to: A

ngel

a B

orod

en)

Legal Food FrenzyThe state's top legal minds organized a record-breaking campaign, raising more than $289,000 and 24,000 lbs. of food. Thanks to the law firms, schools, organizations and bar associations who participated, and congratulations to Joe S. Habacky, PC who took the Attorney General's Cup for donating 49,375 pounds! (l-r) Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens; Joe S. Habacky, PC; ACFB Founder Bill Bolling and Georgia Food Bank Association Executive Director Danah Craft.

7

(Pho

to: J

ohn

Boy

dsto

n)(P

hoto

: Alli

son

Youn

g)

Upcoming Events

Simple Abundance Cooking Classes

Learn how to make delicious meals while also rubbing elbows with the city’s top chefs! Join us each month for a different Simple Abundance Cooking Class hosted by Cook’s Warehouse, featuring a live cooking demonstration with a multi-course menu, wine tastings and more. Proceeds from 100% of ticket sales benefit ACFB. Upcoming classes include Chef Billy Allin of Cakes & Ale and Chef Linda Harrell from Cibo e Beve. Visit www.acfb.org/simple-abundance for details!

Can Can Ball

We’re taking it to the 80s with the 25th annual Can Can Ball gala hosted by the Atlanta Apartment Association and benefiting ACFB. Guests are suggested to don their best 80s fashions or black-tie options with the “Miami Vice” theme while they mix and mingle at the Sheraton Hotel Atlanta on Friday, August 21. Tickets are $75 per person and include light fare from local restaurants, cash bar and live entertainment.

Tangerine Tango for Hunger Action Month

Slip into your most gorgeous orange fashions and join us for the second annual Tangerine Tango Fashion Show! In support of Hunger Action Month, Bloomingdale’s will once again host a star-studded show in its Lenox store, highlighting the color orange for the month’s theme, plus bites and cocktails. Save the date for Wednesday, September 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at acfb.org/events.

More Great Ways to Give Back While Having Fun

Looking for exciting activities that will create great memories and also make a difference in our community? Look no further than the Atlanta Community Food Bank! Enjoy a variety of events and promotions throughout the year that benefit the Food Bank and help provide thousands of meals for families in need – concerts, food drives, tweet-ups, sporting events, galas and more. Find our most current listing at acfb.org/events.

Nonprofit Org.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDAtlanta, GA

Permit No. 3763

732 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., NWAtlanta, GA 30318-6628(404) 892-9822acfb.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Inside:Inspiring stories of people who once received help and are now giving back

Your new newsletter has arrived!

Hunger Action Month is coming in September!

Visit acfb.org or feedingamerica.org to learn more.

The Atlanta Community Food Bank will join 200 Feeding America food banks across the nation to raise funds and awareness for hunger relief.

Fall 2015

My donationYES, I want to help feed my hungry neighbors.

Card # Exp. Date Security Code

Make check payable to: Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Name as it appears on card Signature

I commit to a monthly gift of $__________. My first gift is enclosed.

Please keep me updated on Food Bank and hunger news.

Here’s my tax-deductible gift of:

$35 $100 $250 $500 $1,000 Other

Charge my Visa Mastercard AMEX Discover

Name

Address

Daytime Phone

Email

City State Zip

For every dollar you contribute, ACFB can provide enough food for four meals to neighbors in need.