In this issue...Food Panty Spotlight

Community Perspective

Connecting Families to Available Resources

Food as Medicine Partnership

HUNGER HERALD

We first met John last April when he came to volunteer at the food bank. A veteran, serving nearly 30 years ago, John has faced numerous, sometimes seemingly insurmountable challenges since his service. Looking to get back on his feet, John resides at the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program in Chippewa Falls and helps three days a week at the food bank.

Organizations like the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program and Veterans Services in Eau Claire work to stabilize the lives of veterans. Feed My People partners with organizations such as these to provide nutritious food through the on-site meal programs and by offering food boxes for those with immediate needs.

Many veterans like John are also looking for work experience or the chance to improve their job skills. “I found out we

Working Together to Stabilize LivesFeed My People partners with programs supporting veterans.

were getting food through them, and I thought if they’re helping us, I’m going to help them,” John said. “Got a lot of good training on how to do inventory, pick orders, load trucks, and re-pack food.”

John is able to get the experience he needs. Feed My People receives wonderful assistance while getting to know great people like John; truly a win-win situation for all involved.

At the core of every vet is the desire to serve. John is thankful for programs that are supporting him, and he wants to give back. “Every box I put on a pallet, I look back and say I’m helping someone today,” he shared. “It’s such a good feeling.”

We are grateful for veterans like John — for their service in the past to our country and in the future for our community.

SUMMER 2016

Feed My People Food Bank: Ending Hunger in West Central Wisconsin

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“Every box that I put on a pallet, I look back and say I’m helping someone today. It’s such a good feeling.”

John, Feed My People volunteer and resident of the Veterans Housing and Recovery Program

Community Perspective by Gary PrestonFood pantries are a shining ray of hope in seemingly hopeless, depressing situations.

We cannot even begin to imagine why our visitors are walking through our food pantry doors or how they feel as they enter a world they have never entered before. How do we welcome them? In 1969, Joe South sang, “Walk a mile in my shoes. Before you abuse, criticize, and accuse, walk a mile in my shoes.” Words from the song are as powerful today as they were in 1969. It is so easy to be judgmental when we do not know their stories.

One of the times when I was volunteering at the Mondovi Area Food Pantry, a young couple stopped for food. Not recognizing them I asked if they lived here in Mondovi. Their response shocked me. They said that they were living out of their car and, after helping them carry food to the car, it was evident that is exactly where they were living. Could this be possible in Mondovi?

In the summer of 1995, the Evangelical Church in America Church Wide Synod Assembly was held in Denver, Colorado. Many of us walked from the convention center to our hotel rooms. As we walked along the streets of Denver at night, we witnessed firsthand many homeless individuals sleeping on doorsteps, in the park, and anywhere else they could find a peaceful (?) night’s sleep. Unfortunately, we sometimes believe this only occurs in large cities, certainly not in Mondovi, Wisconsin.

Whether it happens to be food pantry visitors or the homeless, we would do well not to “abuse, criticize, and accuse, but walk a mile in their shoes.” How do we welcome visitors and guests? Are we that shinning ray of hope?

Emily Moore, FMP’s Executive Director

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Message from FMP’s DirectorHave you ever noticed how the child next door doesn’t look or act much different today compared to yesterday or last week — yet the change is extraordinary if you look back ten years? Sometimes incremental change is hard to detect.

As I reflect on Feed My People’s (FMP) produce program, I am reminded of its notable evolution in the last decade. It began almost exactly 11 years ago. In that relatively short amount of time, FMP’s produce program has gone from essentially non-existent to one where more than 1.6 million pounds of fruits and vegetables reach our neighbors each year. In fact, FMP distributes more pounds of produce today than it distributed all types of food then. That is a remarkable change.

This transformation was possible because the food bank and the vast majority of programs it partners with were open and willing to adapt to new processes and new opportunities. It also required your financial and volunteer support.

Trends suggest that the amount of produce flowing through food banks will more than double in the next decade. For the hungry person, this is a powerfully important direction. I hope you will continue to provide us strength as together we steadily adopt approaches that help our community thrive.

In gratitude,

Gary Preston Director of the Mondovi Area Food Pantry

“Walk a mile in my shoes. Before you abuse, criticize, and accuse, walk a mile in my shoes.“

Joe South and The Believers

Food Pantry Spotlight: Mondovi Food PantyExpanding programming to reach more Mondovi area residents.

A pantry that prides itself on being a comfortable place for residents seeking food assistance is where it all began. Besides offering a positive environment, the Mondovi Food Pantry board strives to use its resources to meet needs effectively. In the past few years their programming has expanded to reach more students through a backpack program, more community members by serving a meal, and more seniors with delivering boxes directly to their homes.

The backpack program began by serving elementary students in the Mondovi School District. “We bumped up grade by grade as we have felt ready and as the support from our community increased,” shared Jennifer Sandberg. By this fall, students in grades K-12 will be served with food to take home for the weekend.

Like the backpack program, the community meal began small with 19 guests at the first meal and now serving about 180 area residents each month. “Our senior generation has a great deal of pride. Even on a fixed income, this pride often holds them back from coming to the pantry” shared Gary Preston, Pantry Director. “Many of our seniors feel comfortable joining us at a community meal — which is a start.”

Distributing senior boxes has become another way Gary and other volunteers create connections. “Visiting with them and explaining that this is our way of paying back to the community builds relationships. Some of these relationships are with seniors who in the past were not comfortable coming to visit the food pantry regularly.”

As the program continues to think of creative ways to serve the community, their foundation of building relationships and a comfortable place to come for resources will remain.

“The great part about our team is that we push each other in the right ways. We are always looking for ways to do what’s best for our community and reach more residents.”

Jennifer Sandberg, Mondovi Food Pantry Board of Directors

Feed My People partners with 125+ hunger-relief agencies across west central Wisconsin. We appreciate the dedication and pride that each one puts into serving its community!

Save the Date.................Larry’s Legacy Bike RideSunday, June 512:30 PM St. John’s Lutheran Church on Highland Ave

.................Open Volunteer NightThursday, June 94:00 – 5:30 PM and 5:30 – 7:00 PM Feed My People Contact Maggie at 715-835-9415 ext 101 or maggie@fmpfoodbank.org to reserve your spot.

.................Feed My People AuctionFriday, August 5 10:00 AM Gordy’s Market on Hamilton Ave

.................For more information, visit our website at fmpfoodbank.org and click on “Join Us”

21.8% of the food distributed in 2015 was produce.

Connecting Families to Available ResourcesEligible recipients include those who...

• Have a job but have low incomes • Are living on small or fixed income • Have lost their job or are disabled and not able to work

For most, FoodShare provides temporary assistance until they are back on their feet. The USDA states the average household is enrolled for 11.7 months.

The program is an important resource for low-income families. Yet a recent national survey found that nearly 40% of households receiving food from a food pantry and two thirds of eligible seniors are not currently enrolled.Many do not believe they qualify, are challenged by the application process or are too proud to apply for this much needed benefit. FMP’s FoodShare Outreach program connects potentially eligible individuals with information, screenings, and friendly, high-quality application assistance.

FMP believes that people are at their best when they are able to have enough to eat to tackle the day. FoodShare is another way for our neighbors to be their best at work and their children to learn and excel in school.

Connection is a commitment that Feed My People (FMP) has made to the nearly 70,000 individuals that rely on food supplied by FMP in west central Wisconsin.

For over 33 years, FMP has been supplying food to hunger relief partners and ultimately to the tables of families struggling to meet basic needs. But the commitment doesn’t stop there.

“People often face significant barriers that prevent them from accessing all available resources,” shared Emily Moore, executive director of FMP. With a goal of removing these barriers, FMP, in partnership with Feeding Wisconsin, has established a FoodShare Outreach program designed to connect families with additional food resources. “Our goal is to stabilize lives.”

FoodShare is a federally funded nutrition assistance program for Wisconsin residents, created to improve nutrition and health and stop hunger.

Meet Tami SyversonTami began working at Feed My People in October as a FoodShare Outreach Specialist.

“I go out into our communities, talk with people about FoodShare and offer assistance with applying for this benefit. In addition, I refer people to other benefits and local resources they might be eligible to receive. Every day I see people who are facing challenges to make ends meet. Connecting them with available resources can provide a helping hand during a difficult time in their life.”

Just a few people I have been fortunate to meet:............................................

Ron is 72 years old and after a lifetime of working, his limited income forces him to make tough choices, especially at the end of the month. Ron shared that to stretch his food budget he often eats his Cheerios with water. FoodShare dollars have improved his quality of life eliminating some of those tough choices. Sometimes something as simple as eating your Cheerios with milk can put a smile on your face.

............................................After living in a violent, dysfunctional household for years, Sarah knew it was time to take her three daughters and leave. Now, she is an unemployed, singlemother of three facing great uncertainty. By connecting her with FoodShare and other resources, Sarah and her daughters are moving toward a positive, healthy life.

............................................Anna has cared for her adult disabled son for over 35 years. As a single working mom, she struggled to pay her bills and was continually at risk of losing her home. By using FoodShare dollars to stretch her food budget, she is able to use the limited dollars she earns from her job to pay her rent and other bills, providing stability for her son.

............................................If you know someone that could benefit from learning more about FoodShare, please contact Tami at 715-835-9415 ext 106 or tami@fmpfoodbank.org.

Reaching the Most VulnerableOver 50% of households in WI enrolled in FoodShare include a child, a senior, or a disabled individual. Source: Feeding Wisconsin

Reducing FraudFoodShare fraud has been cut by three-quarters over the past 15 years, and the program’s error rate is at an all-time low of 1.6%. Source: Feeding Wisconsin and the USDA

Incentive to WorkThe majority of FoodShare participants who can work do. According to a national study, in households with children, more than 60% have at least one working adult and almost 90% worked in the prior or subsequent year. Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Memorials Aaron SchusterAlice Semingson (2)Ann WagnerArleen StummArvid BryhnArvin ThompsonAugust & Genevra OberleBecky ZimmermanBernice BortonBette Lou ThielBill O’KeefeBobbie IversonBonnie PreistCarol FairbanksDale L. BenderDayton ThorntonDonald MastejDonald NelsonDorothy C. HolmDorothy KrieselEdith SythEdward KlinkeElaine ToycenErvin & Genevieve HackerFather Klimek

Frances LeeFrankie SchlickFred AndersonGale Dhein (11)Garfield LundGary Gunderson (2)George UglandGlen ZehrenGoldie Gunderman (2)Grace WeberHarold KassingHeine and PerkiserHerb AnderlHoward & Loretta BuhrowJames PoeschelJames Schlewitz (35)Jane Brantner (2)Fred AndersonJoanne (2)John HarterJohn Mathew KellyJulia Lokken (21)Kenny SchoutenKristi FruehLois EversonLorraine Fleming (7)Lowell Graff

Food as Medicine PartnershipImproving community health by increasing access to food.

We know that individuals who are food insecure are disproportionately affected by diet-related chronic diseases. Intuitively we know that food is cheaper than long-term costs associated with medicine or medical care for these conditions. So, what would it take to link health systems and community resources to ensure that every person has consistent access to enough food for an adequate and healthy lifestyle?

Feed My People (FMP) is one of the leaders in a community-academic partnership, known as Food as Medicine Partnership, to improve community health by increasing access to healthy food. FMP received a Wisconsin Planning Grant from the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health’s Wisconsin Partnership Program to form a coalition of government, nonprofit, academic, and health systems agencies to develop a strategic plan.

Recently, more than 80 representatives from various sectors gathered to learn more about the Food as Medicine Partnership’s work. The partnership’s current activities include:

• Broadening community connections

• Exploring the process for identifying food insecurity within health systems, schools and other community settings

• Connecting food resources with those who need it

The greatest outcome of the planning partnership was discovering the vast number of organizations that recognize the need to address health disparities in our community and the common sense approach of food.

Food insecurity has been associated with increased health problems and complications in low-income adults and children. Lucretia Jackson (3)

Lyla KruschkeMarcella HaysMargie CloseMarian Drier (3)Marian Gesche (15)Marian Steinmetz (2)Mom and DadNancy Erickson (2)Nancy Schultz (2)Norma Telform Our son, Justin BieseckerRalph & Rosella BechlyRay MorleyReino, Agnes & Ray PajalaRichard RevoirRoger D. HansenRoger GibsonRoger Kressin (4)Roger WilsonRudy SmiejaRuth Traaseth (2)Sally SlowiakTheodore L. GerryVern SmithWalter Johnson Wanda Wortman

Yahya Bakhtiar

HonorariumsArtisan Forge Studios LLC Avery Clarke Beck & Romig FamiliesBecker GrandchildrenCentral Lutheran Church in ChippewaCheryl ThiedeEmily MooreConnie Beck’s BirthdayDouglas Knight’s 80th BirthdayEasterEd & Sue MichefskeHope ReinJim Beck’s BirthdayLakeshore School Weekend Kids’ Meal ProgramMaggie MeinenMarit Barquist’s Volunteer Service (2)My ChildrenNoah & William SylvesterPadre John’s 50th BirthdaySalvadore CanalesStephen Your Family

Memorials & Honorariums Given Between January 1 and April 15

Feed My People Receives Financial Boost to Consistently Provide Nutritious FoodsGrants will provide roughly 1.4 million servings of nutritious food and reach tens of thousands of individuals in west central Wisconsin.

Feed My People’s Nutritious Food for All program received a $120,000 two-year grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation and a $20,000 Hometown Health grant from Mayo Clinic Health System.

These grants make it possible for Feed My People to consistently stock more healthy food options for its programs and the nonprofit hunger relief network that it serves.

Providing food pantries and related programs with nutritious food is important because it promotes health and prevents illness. Research indicates that individuals with limited or uncertain access to adequate food are disproportionately afflicted with diet-related chronic diseases. As an example of this disparity, it is estimated that 7% of Eau Claire County adults have diabetes while 24% of the patients seen at the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic are diabetic.

“A healthy community is one that includes all of its citizens having access to adequate amounts of nutritiously appropriate food,” said Emily Moore, Feed My People executive director. “We strive to help those we serve avoid the long-term health consequences associated with food insecurity and unhealthy diets.”

.................................“A healthy community is one that includes all of its citizens having access to adequate amounts of nutritiously appropriate food.”

Emily Moore, Feed My People Executive Director

Food as Medicine Planning Partner Agencies....................Chippewa Valley Free Clinic....................Eau Claire Area School District....................Eau Claire City/County Board of Health....................Eau Claire City/County Health Department....................Eau Claire Hmong Mutual Assistance Association....................Eau Claire YMCA....................Feed My People Food Bank....................Group Health Cooperative....................Hospital Sisters Health System – Sacred Heart Hospital....................JONAH....................Marshfield Clinic....................Mayo Health Systems....................Security Health System....................UW-Eau Claire, Department of Nursing....................UW-Extension....................UW Health....................Western Dairyland....................Woodsedge Apartments....................

NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE PAID

EAU CLAIRE WIPERMIT 2055

2610 ALPINE ROAD • EAU CLAIRE, WI • 54703-3573

715.835.9415 • fmpfoodbank.org