Fall 2013

A New Twist on Time Management

Youth Summit Successes

First Annual Partner Agency Conference

Can You Hear Me Now?

The Quarterly Newsletter of

IN THIS ISSUE:

Making Time to Take Action

Letter from the Director 2

Solving Hunger Together 4

Volunteers Make a Difference 5

Making Time to Take Action 6

Stacking Cans Against Hunger 8

Youth Summit 2013 9

Thank You, Donors 10

Well Done! 12

Calendar of Events 14

Agency Conference 15

Kids In Need 16

The calls began early in the week and just kept coming. While it’s not unusual for me to receive an occasional call from a person who needs help, it was un-usual to get so many calls in a row. And why were they calling me?

We have a designated phone number and a whole cadre of staff members who take similar calls every day. They help callers find a food pantry near where they live or refer them to a place that has the services they need.

As I took the time to listen, patiently and with intent to really hear them, I wondered how many people who answer the phone really take the time to listen anymore. And what would make a person call a perfect stranger to tell them their story and ask for help? Every caller was desperate for food for their family or themselves, and clearly this was a call they’d rather not have to make. There was a pride, and at the same time a sense of embarrassment, as they told me about their circum-stances.

They often began with a declaration that they were not calling for them-selves, but for a family member, parent or friend. It was often hard to hear them because they were talking softly as if each word was hard to get out. They shared their background – how hard it’s been to make ends meet and that they were good people in a temporary situation. Searching for some sense of dignity, they often said they just needed a helping hand, not a hand out.

It didn’t take long to unravel the mys-tery of why I was receiving the calls. It turns out that through a clerical error, my direct number had been listed as a help line. It was a mistake that was a hidden gift.

It’s clearly more challenging for people now - the desperation stronger, the options more limited. Somehow, as

CONTENTS

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Fall 2013

CAN YoU HEAr ME Now?Bill Bolling, ACFB Executive Director

the stock market rises and Wall Street is making more money, things haven’t yet trickled down to the working class. This is reflected in ACFB’s distribution num-bers doubling over the past four years. All boats have not risen in this recovery; there is a growing fear that perhaps they never will.

At the same time, there is toxicity and resentment in the air about the fact that so many people need help, as if they aren’t making the same efforts as others. It’s reflected in the vehemence of talk radio, as if the poor are the enemy of what is good and right about America. It’s reflected in the proposed $20 billion cut in the SNAP (food stamp) program by the House of Representa-tives. Eventually the Farm Bill failed in the House primarily because many House members thought the cuts were not deep enough!

Why are things so stuck? Why can’t we change this dynamic? Why can’t we find middle ground, a way forward for decent hard-working people?

As Americans, we hold independence as one of our highest values. We see it especially with the elderly, so many of whom grew up during the war or through hard times that demanded they be self-sufficient. They were the savers, those who delayed gratification to build the middle class. And now they find themselves in need, often with nowhere to turn. It’s also felt by parents whose responsibility to feed and nurture their children is limited by low paying, dead-end jobs.

As we look at hopeful signs in a slow recovery, we are often reminded that the high unemployment figures may be the new normal. If this is the case, why are such draconian cuts in food stamps and other assistance programs being proposed? Why the environment of meanness? Why now?

Letter from the Director

EDITORSAngie Clawson

Amy Hudson

CONTRIBUTORSBill Bolling, Angela Boroden,Ben Burgess, Angie Clawson,

Michael DeCoursey, Chris Ferguson,

Sarah Fonder-Kristy, Dejaun Gayle, Daphne Hill, Keesha Gay-Martin,

Steve Hargrove, Amy Hudson, Greer Johnson, Valderia Mathis,

Barbara Overton, Carol Richburg, Suzanne Roush, Greg Sims,

Naretha Timberlake, Vilma Wallace,

and Allison Young

COVER PHOTOAllison Young

INSIDE PHOTOSAngela Boroden, Angie Clawson,

Jaime Lee and Allison Young

DESIGNFain & Tripp, Inc.

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It’s staggering to see how the wealth gap has grown in the past 30 years. The top 1% of Americans own 40% of the nation’s wealth and take home 25% of the annual income, while 80% of Ameri-cans own only 7%. The top 1% own 50% of all the stocks, bonds and mutual funds, while the bottom 50% own only 0.5%. Essentially, half the country has little savings and investment in the stock market. So, the news that the stock market is doing well literally has no effect on nearly half of all Americans. (Source: Ariely and Norton study on wealth inequality in America)

Following these trends, one can see how we’re losing the middle class and creating a permanent “emergency” for the working poor. So, why would we cut the most basic support systems to those in dire need of help?

When I stop to think about the thousands of people in the Food Bank network who work hard to make things better for their neighbors in need, I’m struck by the community of caring that has been created over the past 34 years. But we have not yet found our voice to better address the systemic issues that allow poverty to continue in the con-text of such great wealth. We have not spoken in one clear voice about how to address the deeper challenges.

Finding our voice is often harder than operating food banks and pantries. It requires that we educate ourselves be-yond the usual lose/lose framework that the media and political parties continu-ally offer us. It insists that in the busy-ness of life we cannot be neutral about hungry children or elders in need.

What prevents us, we may ask, from knowing and speaking to our core val-ues?

No one will listen – that our voice is not strong or clear – that we don’t know enough to begin – that we have nothing significant to say – that we will say it wrong – that people will not receive our message well – that others will disagree – that we might look foolish – that we will be ostracized – that our efforts will not really make a difference – that we

will fail. If you can relate to these fears, you’re

not alone. But the challenge is to go ahead and speak up. Just knowing you didn’t remain silent is reward in and of itself. Even better, by using your voice, you actually could make a difference. Reward does not come without effort; isn’t that what we were always taught as children?

September is Hunger Action Month. There’s no better time to find your voice and take action. Read our cover story on page 6, visit www.acfb.org and ex-plore the areas that interest you most. If you have questions, send an email or pick up the phone. We’d love to hear from you!

Volunteer, write a blog, make a con-nection, test your democracy. The only thing you risk losing is your frustration and sense of powerlessness. Join the community of hope. Be engaged, edu-cated and empowered.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS2013/2014 OFFICERS

ChairArlene Glaser

Vice ChairMary Moore

SecretaryJackie Parker

TreasurerDavid Eidson

Advisory Board ChairKathleen Ciaramello

2013/2014 BOARD MEMBERSMartha Brooks

Joe ChowSteven J. de Groot

Ed FisherPatrick JonesRobby KuklerDavid Leeds

Matt McKennaJackie Parker

Margaret StagmeierAndrew StithWayne Vason

Lesley T. WainwrightJerry Wilkinson

GENERAL COUNSEL

David Long-Daniels

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Bill Bolling

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.

acfb.org

If you enjoyed reading this article,

please visit acfb.org’s “Sharing Stories” Blog

for a longer version, and

add your own comments!

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the busiest day of the week for all of their outreach. The first Wednesday and third Saturday of the month

POTM Food Pantry holds their mobile food pantry. Every other Wednesday, the on-site food pantry is open. “Being able to provide a free mobile pantry is a great community service,” said September Chapman of Peace Baptist Church. “These efforts allow POTM to fill empty plates and know that one less individual and family is not going to bed hungry.”

POTM is inspired to know they are impacting the health and wellbeing of the community. The friendships made, priceless hugs and testimonies, and the hope of making a difference in the lives of the people they serve inspires them to keep going.

“A client came to our pantry saying she was glad we were still open. She let us know that being able to get food from the pantry helps her to be able to buy medi-cine,” said Chapman. “Many of our clients are senior citizens living on a fixed low income. Our pantry and commodity food boxes supplement what they can buy themselves, making it possible for them to purchase other necessities such as medicine.”

According to Chapman, POTM became an ACFB part-ner agency in 2001, the same year the pantry opened. She says the partnership has been a pleasant and rewarding experience, allowing them to grow beyond measure and helping them to meet the growing de-mand for food assistance in their community.

“At the end of the day, seeing the smile on people’s faces knowing they have received quality food, or hear-ing a senior citizen say they can now get their medicine without having to choose between that and buying groceries, is what our work is all about,” said Chapman.

To learn more about Peace on the Move Food Pantry and how you can get involved, call 404-288-1750.

Peace on the Move (POTM) Food Pantry started in 2001 at Decatur’s Peace Baptist Church with the hope of significantly reducing the number of men, women, children and seniors who are hungry in the community. Every Tuesday through Friday the Food Pantry opens its doors to distribute food and clothing, and provide as-sistance to anyone in need.

POTM Food Pantry offers additional programs such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) which provides monthly food boxes for seniors, a mobile pantry, clothes closet, and benevolence assistance for rental, mortgage, utility support and prescriptions. They also assist seniors with personal needs. Wednesday is

Solving Hunger Together

IMpACTINg THE HEAlTH ANd wEllbEINg of THE CoMMUNITYPeace on the Move

POTM Volunteer Andreana Holmes prepares food for distribution.

POTM Client Johnny C. Gay meets with volunteer Effie Wilson to secure his monthly Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) food box.

If you would like to learn how your organization can become a partner agency and receive food from ACFB, visit acfb.org and click “Agencies” at the top of the page.

doES YoUr NoNprofIT fEEd THE HUNgrY?

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Volunteers Make a Difference

Ally Financial and Cobb/Douglas Community Service Board

gUIdINg forCES for good

Featured Volunteer Opportunity:

MobIlE food pANTrIES

At the Atlanta Community Food Bank, there are numerous oppor-tunities to volunteer and give back to help solve hunger. Through Kids In Need, sorting food at the Product Rescue Center (PRC), Hunger Walk/Run and the various Community Gardens projects, you’re bound to find the right fit for you or your group.

Since their first annual food drive in November 2008, Ally Finan-cial has given their time to the Food Bank. From that very first food drive, the Ally team contributed 3,123 pounds of nutritious nonper-ishable foods. Over the past five years, being involved with ACFB has not only provided Ally employees an avenue to give back, but also an opportunity for teambuilding to further develop mutual trust, friendship and morale amongst the team members.

“We are always amazed by the sheer number of organizations and groups across the metro Atlanta area that the ACFB is able to reach,” said Cindy Balint, Analyst at Ally Financial. “It is a true inspiration to see how one organization can make such a tremen-dous impact.”

For the Ally Financial team, volunteering at the ACFB allows their organization to make an impact outwardly and inwardly. “We give back to our community, and we build camaraderie and morale within our business unit,” said Balint.

For over a year now, the Cobb/Douglas Community Service Board has been volunteering at the PRC twice a week, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The volunteers at Cobb/Douglas give their time consistently because they know that they are helping to feed the community.

When asked what the best part about volunteering is, Valencia Wilder, Employment Specialist/Training at Cobb/Douglas Com-munity Service Board said, “Helping feed the hungry, sorting and packing the food items donated by the community and meeting the many different people who come out to volunteer weekly.”

Cobb/Douglas holds strong core values which uphold the organi-zation. “Our organization believes not only in making a difference in the lives of those we serve, but also for communities we serve,” said Wilder. “We are committed to these values as our guiding force because ultimately we are part of this community and we believe in making a difference in our community.”

The Food Bank appreci-ates the constant dedication demonstrated by both Ally Financial and Cobb/Douglas Community Service Board.

Want an incredible team building experience for your corporate group? Helping to distribute food at one of our mobile pantries could be the perfect fit. “The experience of volunteering at a mobile pantry is one of our new-est options and it’s very rewarding,” said ACFB Volunteer Program Manager Vilma Wallace.

The ACFB works hand in hand with our partner agencies to host the mobile pantries in underserved communities by sending truckloads of food to pre-designated agencies each week. With each pantry delivery, as many as 200 men, women and children come out to receive food boxes. “Many people tell me they don’t know how they’d make it without the mobile pantry,” said ACFB driver Jerry Johnson.

Volunteers help set up the distribu-tion area by unpacking and organizing food to be distributed, then bagging or boxing up food and handing it out to recipients. Volunteers must be able to bend, lift at least 20-30 lbs., and stand for 3-4 hours. The pantries are often held outdoors, so volunteers should dress comfortably for the weather. If you are interested in this experience, email volunteers@acfb.org.

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Ally volunteers Kathryn Bailey (l) and Patricia Nacinovich (r) help pack Commodity

Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) boxes for distribution to nearly 2,000 seniors each month.

A volunteer provides food to a family at one of ACFB’s mobile food pantries.

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Making Time toTake Action

Volunteer to help check out teachers or stock the shelves in Kids In Need.

Have a discussion about the issue of hunger with colleagues, friends or family.

Volunteer to help sort and pack food boxes in the Product Rescue Center.

Participate in Go Orange Day by wearing Orange on September 5.

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A New Twist on Time Management

Have you ever felt like there just weren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done? Not enough time to get homework finished, pick up groceries or even get the whole family together for dinner. We all feel that way some of the time. Learning how to juggle busy schedules for ourselves and our families just to meet the things we need is hard enough, but what about fitting in those things we actually want to do that we feel we don’t have time for? Like taking a yoga class, learning to cook, or volunteering. Why do those items always get pushed aside? Time management isn’t just for work or home. It’s for all the hours we’re given each day.

Most people would say that they want to do something meaningful with their time. With Hunger Action Month com-ing up in September, there’s no better time to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Whether it’s volunteer-ing, hosting a food drive or spreading the word of what the Food Bank does, it’s now time to take action.

Hunger is still a serious issue within our country and com-munities. Recent data shows 1 in 5 Georgians don’t know where their next meal is coming from and food stamps are under the knife in Congress. While any time of year is perfect for getting involved with the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s hunger relief efforts, this September, we, along with the other Feeding America food banks across the nation, will take a mo-ment to shine the spotlight on the issue of hunger and encour-age everyone to take action.

Each year we create a special calendar for Hunger Action Month called “30 Ways in 30 Days”. The calendar provides events you can attend and volunteer activities, as well as ideas to explore and other actions you can take. You can find it on our website at acfb.org/30Ways.

So why wait? Find the time and take action this September!

HErE ArE A fEw HIgHlIgHTS for HUN-gEr ACTIoN MoNTH 2013:• Sept. 5 – Go Orange Day. Wear orange to show your

support for hunger relief. Have fun – get silly!

• Sept. 10 and 22 – Public Screenings of “A Place at the Table” documentary about hunger in America

• Sept. 12 – Kaiser Permanente Walk/Run and Corpo-rate Food Challenge

• Sept. 23-29 – Inman Park Restaurant Week

• All Month – Panera Bread food drive. Bring non-per-ishable donations to any metro area Panera.

VISIT ACfb.org To SEE THE fUll CAlENdAr!

Attend and donate to an event like Strike Out Hunger or donate to the community-wide food drive.

Have a great meal with friends and family while giving back at one of ACFB’s Supper Club locations.

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AAA STACkS THE CANS AgAINST HUNgEr

23rd ANNUAl CAN CAN bAll

The Atlanta Apartment Asso-ciation (AAA) is hoping to hit the jackpot again this year for the At-lanta Community Food Bank with its annual food drive and fundraiser – Food-A-Thon. The kick off was held June 12th at the Cobb Galleria for the five month long effort involving more than one million metro area apartment residents, companies, employees and vendors who com-pete to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars and nonperishable food items to benefit the Food Bank. This year’s theme, “CANsino,” is per-fect since the stakes are high after members raised a record breaking $941,000 and 156,000 pounds of food last year!

“The Atlanta Apartment Associa-tion never ceases to amaze me,” said Food-A-Thon Co-Chair Tracy Bowers of Matrix Residential. “I know we set an unbelievable record

The Atlanta Apartment Association invites association members, apartment community vendors, Atlanta residents and Food Bank supporters to a high rolling evening at Can Can Royale, the 23rd An-nual Can Can Ball, benefiting the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

The black-tie optional event will take place Friday, August 23 from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel located at 165 Courtland Street in Downtown Atlanta.

Guests will enjoy an evening full of promise featuring live enter-tainment, light fare from a number of Atlanta-area restaurants, danc-ing and of course a spectacular silent auction all to benefit the Food Bank’s efforts to feed those in need.

Tickets are $75 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cancanball.org or call 678-298-2254.

last year, but I am confident our as-sociation members will once again rise to the challenge.”

AAA members work extremely hard each year to host fun, engag-ing events to raise funds and food. Highlights of some of those include a golf tournament, a field day com-petition, movie nights, car washes, and many other creative activities

to which guests have to donate canned goods or pay an entry fee to attend.

The 2013 Food-A-Thon will culmi-nate at the Food Bank on Friday, Oc-tober 18 when association members will parade into the Food Bank’s parking lot in costume hoping to deliver enough food and money to equate to more than 850,000 meals.

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2013 YoUTH SUMMITThe Atlanta Community Food

Bank’s commitment to fighting hunger goes well beyond distribut-ing food to people in need. One example is the annual Youth Summit on Hunger and Poverty, held each summer. The program was started seven years ago by ACFB Education and Outreach Manager Lindy Wood, in the hope that it would build a stronger network of educated young people and encourage more sus-tained action by them.

This year, the Food Bank held two four-day Youth Summit ses-sions. The competitive application process yielded a diverse group of participants with a commonality of a passion for service. Each group spent four days with Food Bank staff members and gained an in depth knowledge of hunger and poverty, while also providing service in the community.

Service is a key component to the Youth Summit. Throughout each of the four days, the students vol-

unteered in community gardens, helped sort and package food in the Food Bank’s Product Rescue Center, and distributed food to hundreds of families at Mobile Food Pantries. The service doesn’t stop when the Youth Summit ends. All students who participate agree to complete a Hunger Fighting Action Step during the next school year. Examples this year include partici-pant Erin’s idea to develop recipe cards for food distributed at her lo-cal food pantry and Taylor’s hope of engaging his community in a Food Stamp Challenge.

ACFB Education and Outreach Intern Dejaun Gayle had the opportunity to assist with this year’s Youth Summit. “I am deeply impressed and pleased with the work that the Atlanta Community Food Bank does through the Youth Summit and equally astounded at the impact it has on the students,” said Gayle. “Once the students be-came comfortable with each other

through teambuilding exercises, the ideas and feedback exchanged in the Hunger 101 discussions were inspiring.”

For the staff members at the Food Bank, the Summit goes beyond the fact that 40 youth spent four days out of their summer dedicated to service and learning about hunger and poverty issues. “At the end of each session of the Youth Summit, I’m even more hopeful,” remarked ACFB Executive Director Bill Bol-ling. Education and Outreach Coordinator Chris Ferguson, who ran the Youth Summit said, “The teens inspire us in our daily work. They reinvigorate and remind us that we’re not alone in this fight against hunger and that there are people out there of all ages who care if their neighbor is hungry.”

Be on the lookout for information on the 2014 Youth Summit on Hun-ger and Poverty next February!

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Thank You, Donors

NESTlé gIVESTHEIr VErY bEST

Chances are every person who reads this has grown up with some kind of Nestlé product. Nestlé has become ingrained in not only the food industry, but in our culture itself. What everyone might not know is that Nestlé strives to go above and beyond their day to day business goals, as they work to help those in need by participating in programs that fight hunger across the country.

For more than 20 years, Nestlé has been a strong partner of the Atlanta Community Food Bank with operations just South of Atlanta in McDonough. We have enjoyed many wonderful partnerships with food donors during our 34 years, and Nestlé certainly sits near the top in not only their food donations, but also their employee support. We would like to thank Nestlé, and in particular, a person who has been our advocate there for a long time.

Since 1993, we have had the plea-sure of working with a great friend and hunger-fighter, Butch Caldwell.

Before Butch joined Nestlé in Atlanta he worked in Chattanooga and served as a board member at the Food Bank there.

Nestlé regularly donates bever-age products such as NesCafe, Cof-feemate, and Nestlé Quik, as well as various products from their other brands like Power Bar, Digiorno, Stouffers & Lean Cuisine, Buitoni, Juicy Juice and Carnation.

“Rather than destroy product, we will try to find every opportuni-ty that we can to donate something that meets the donation criteria,” said Caldwell. “I am also always interested in ways we can feed

Power Bar products are among the donations that

Nestlé makes to the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

children.” In the past fiscal year, Nestlé

donated over 1.2 million pounds of food and grocery items. Since 2001, they have donated over 12 million pounds. “We have always had a great relationship with the Food Bank,” said Caldwell. “They have been easy to work with and the food goes where they say it’s going to go.”

Butch Caldwell retired this sum-mer after 20 years of hard work and dedication. We congratulate him on his service with Nestlé and with us at the Food Bank, and offer him our sincere gratitude!

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NATIoNwIdE INVESTS IN CoMMUNITIES

Thanks, Partners in Sharing!

Thank You, Donors

Nationwide Insurance continues their giving streak with the Food Bank. They recently gave $30,000 to support our fight against hunger, their fourth year in a row. Nationwide has a commitment to invest in the communities in which they work. Beyond this gift, they are also a sponsor of the annual Hunger Walk/Run; they have senior leadership represen-tation on our Advisory Board; and they bring their employees to vol-unteer. Carlos Foster, Nationwide

Every day, thousands of

children, seniors and strug-

gling families are counting on

food provided by ACFB to get

by when times are tough. We

count on a special circle of

supporters, too - our Partners

in Sharing monthly giving

society. Now more than 350

members strong, these donors

are making a tremendous

difference. For every dollar

they give each month, ACFB

can provide enough food for 4

meals. Want to join the club?

Visit acfb.org/monthly-giving

or call 404-892 FEED (3333),

x1210 to learn more.

Director of Sales and Regional Op-erations, Southern States Region, said of the partnership, “It is a privilege to serve the community and I have witnessed the many ways that the Atlanta Commu-nity Food Bank has impacted the lives of others. We are excited about our continued partnership with ACFB and look forward to a productive year.” Nationwide is a national supporter of food banks across the country, making signifi-cant gifts in multiple cities.

(l-r) Nationwide Director of Sales and Regional Operations, Southern States Region Carlos Foster and ACFB VP of Development Sarah Fonder-Kristy

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Well Done!

Sign up to receive the Supper Club e-invitation so you don’t miss out! Visit acfb.org.

Gather with friends and family for an excellent meal while supporting the Food Bank. Each month, a different restaurant hosts Supper Club and donates 20% of the evening’s proceeds to benefit ACFB. What a great way to try out the best restaurants in town while supporting hunger relief!

Thanks to last quarter’s host restaurants: Gio’s Chicken Amalfitano in May, 5 Seasons Brewery and Six Feet Under in June, King + Duke in July as well as our monthly sponsors CBS Atlanta, Ethic, Inc., Jezebel Magazine, and Sports Radio 92.9 The Game.

MoNTHlY SUppEr ClUbMAkES gIVINg bACk EASY

Don’t miss our exciting line-up of upcoming classes! See our calendar of events on page 14 for the current class schedule, or visit acfb.org for full details.

Learn the finer points of gourmet cook-ing with Atlanta’s best chefs and support the Food Bank at the same time! Simple Abundance Cooking Class participants enjoy demonstrations, tastings and a chance to win fabulous door prizes. Each exciting course is held at one of four Cook’s Warehouse locations, and is made possible by the generous support of many sponsors. 100% of class proceeds benefit ACFB. We are extremely grateful to the talented chefs who donate their time and to The Cook’s Warehouse for donating the class space.

lAST QUArTEr’S SIMplE AbUNdANCE CHEfS: • Chef Woody Back of Restaurant Eugene• Chef Chris Hall of Muss & Turner’s and Local Three Kitchen & Bar• Chef Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene• Chef Jimmy Meas of Aja/Here to Serve Restaurants• Chef Jason Paolini of Restaurant Eugene• Chef Joe Schafer of King + Duke• Chef Landon Thomas of The Iberian Pig

SHArpEN YoUr CookINg SkIllS AT A SIMplE AbUNdANCE CookINg ClASS.

Atlanta Homes & LifestylesBella Cucina Artful FoodsCabot CheeseThe Cook’s Warehouse

Gordo’s Print ServiceHey Roger, LLCNational DistributorsSherlock’s Wine Merchant

MoNTHlY SIMplE AbUNdANCE SpoNSorS:Sponsors & Door Prize Providers

oUr SINCErE ApprECIATIoN To THoSE wHo orgANIzEd or pArTICIpATEd IN THESE EVENTS ANd proMoTIoNS bENEfITINg ACfb MAY 1, 2013 – JUlY 31, 2013:

brINgINg HopE To THE TAblE

Atlanta Street Food Festival

Burge Organic Farm Event

Can-a-Palooza at the Darlington Food Drive

Doctor’s Against Hunger Golf Tournament at Cobblestone Golf Club

Farmhouse 17 Grand Opening Event

Georgia Restaurant Association Golf Invitational

Letter Carrier’s “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive

Neighbor’s Pub Proceeds Night Fundraiser

Pinewood Tippling Room Fundraiser

Modern Luxury’s “To Live and Dine in Atlanta”

“SpringFest” at Twain’s Billiards & Tap in Decatur

Watershed on Peachtree Anniversary Party

Yardhouse Fundraiser

We would like to thank Kroger, participating manufacturers and Kroger customers for another suc-cessful “Bringing Hope to the Table” campaign this summer. This two-week campaign raised $107,160 for ACFB’s hunger relief efforts as shoppers and associates purchased select items in Kroger’s family of stores that pledged to support Feeding America’s network of food banks.

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Well Done!

STAMp oUT HUNgEr

Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and their families came to ACFB Saturday, May 11 to help unload and sort donated food that was picked up at mailboxes throughout the day for the NALC’s annual “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive. Metro Atlanta Letter Carriers col-lected 132,711 pounds of nonperishable food items to help those in need.

We would like to extend a big thank you to Attorney General Sam Olens, the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar and all who par-ticipated in the 2nd annual Geor-gia Legal Food Frenzy. The Frenzy raised a total of $141,015.27 and collected 19,299 pounds of food for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. That marks a 30% increase over last year’s inaugural effort and means more struggling families will get the food they need!

Statewide, the drive engaged 249 law firms representing 14,000 employees. Collectively they raised the equivalent of 840,000 pounds of food to benefit Georgia Food Banks this summer when the need for food assistance typically rises. Walter G.

gEorgIA lEgAl food frENzYSammons, Jr., from Warner Rob-bins won the overall competition by raising 9,218 pounds of food, the most per capita statewide. We are proud that 6 of the 10 state-wide award winners hail from our

service area. Attorney General Olens has

already set the statewide goal of surpassing the 1 million pound mark next year. We can’t wait to help make that a reality!

(l-r) Elizabeth Fite of Kutak Rock and ACFB Executive Director Bill Bolling

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VISIT ACfb.org for UpdATES ANd fUll dETAIlS oN All EVENTS bENEfITINg ACfb!

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Calendar of Events

8/5 Simple Abundance Cooking Class with Chef Chad Clevenger of Alma Cocina at Cook’s Warehouse Midtown

8/9 Braves vs. Marlins Strike Out Hunger at Turner Field

8/10 Can Can Pub Crawl

8/15 Supper Club at Bantam + Biddy and Chick-a-Biddy

8/16 Braves vs. Nationals Strike Out Hunger at Turner Field

8/19 Simple Abundance Cooking Class with Chef Emily Hansford of Miller Union at Cook’s Warehouse Brookhaven

8/23 Atlanta Apartment Association Can Can Ball at Sheraton Atlanta Downtown

8/30 Braves vs. Marlins Strike Out Hunger at Turner Field

10/8 Supper Club at Oppulent in Roswell

10/21 Lend Me an Ear at Shakespeare Tavern

TBD Simple Abundance Cooking Class

9/1 Panera Bread serves as a drop off location for ACFB’s Community-wide Food Drive. Bring nonperishables to any Panera in September.

9/12 Kaiser Permanente Corporate Run/Walk at Turner Field

9/13 Braves vs. Padres Strike Out Hunger at Turner Field

9/16 Simple Abundance Cooking Class with Chef TBD at Cook’s Warehouse

9/23-29 Supper Club as part of Inman Park Restaurant Week

9/23 Simple Abundance Cooking Class with Chef Virginia Willis of Willis Culinary Productions, LLC at Cook’s Warehouse Midtown

9/27 Braves vs. Phillies Strike Out Hunger at Turner Field

During Hunger Action Month in September, all Panera

locations will serve as drop off sites for the Atlanta

Community Food Bank’s community-wide food drive.

Don’t know if there is a Panera near you? Visit ACFB.org

to find a location. Please help those in need by donating

nonperishable food items in honor of Hunger Action Month!

pANErA brEAd food drIVE

15

Building Capacity to Solve Hunger

The Atlanta Community Food Bank hosted its first annual Partner Agency Conference “Building Your Ca-pacity” on May 3rd at the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel. 244 people were in attendance representing 125 partner agencies. The conference gave agencies the opportu-nity to come together and learn from one another by sharing best practices, challenges and successes.

We had an incredible line-up of sessions that ad-dressed everything from community building and grant writing to strategic planning and volunteer utilization. Some of the sessions were actually facilitated by repre-sentatives from our partner agencies, giving them the opportunity to share common experiences and motivate one another. Several of the attendees found the peer-to-peer interaction to be very empowering. It was a good reminder that they are not alone in some of the chal-lenges they face on a day to day basis.

Ultimately, the goal of the conference was to build relationships that will help improve capacity, deliver stronger programs and strengthen our communities. After the conference, a common theme we heard from several attendees is they felt better equipped, informed, rejuvenated and better connected to each other and the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Other highlights from the conference included the address from our keynote speaker, The Rev. Dr. Joanna Adams. She motivated and inspired attendees to keep up the amazing and tireless work they are doing to make our community a better place. Bill Bolling, the Executive Director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank gave an update on the organization’s strategic plan and how it is connected to building capacity for our partner agencies. The conference was so well received by at-tendees that we plan to host another conference again next year and hope to make it an annual tradition!

INAUgUrAl CoNfErENCE

A TrEMENdoUS SUCCESS

“I wAS INSpIrEd ANd MoTIVATEd bY HEArINg THE work of oTHEr AgENCIES ANd NETworkINg wITH THEM.”

“I lEArNEd To THINk oUTSIdE of oUr progrAMS ANd STArT THINkINg IN TErMS of bUIldINg CoMMUNITIES.”

“I gAINEd A grEATEr ApprECIATIoN of THE rolE of AdVoCACY ANd CoMMUNITY oUTrEACH IN ENdINg HUNgEr.”

SUBJECT GRADE COMMENTS

Teacher Shopping Visits A + Increased from 4,919 visits in 2011-12 school

year to 5,161 visits in 2012-13 school year.

Supplies Distributed A + Increased from 438,814 pounds of brand new

school supplies to 474,428 pounds of supplies

Students Served A + Increased from 380,469 to 391,519 students -

almost 400,000 students served

Nonprofit Org.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDAtlanta, GA

Permit No. 3763732 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., NWAtlanta, GA 30318-6628(404) 892-FEEDACFB.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

kIdS IN NEEd rEporT CArd

As kids are heading back to school, ACFB’s Kids In Need school supply distribution program is already geared up for another terrific year. Doors opened in July for teachers at eligible schools to shop for brand new, free school supplies. Thanks to our wonderful community of donors and volunteers, last year’s Kids In Need report card showed improvement in all “subjects”!

Kids In Need currently serves elementary, middle and high schools in 12 school systems: Atlanta Public Schools, Clayton County, Cobb County, DeKalb County, Douglas County, Fulton County, Gainesville City, Gwinnett County, Hall County, Henry County, Marietta City, and Spalding County school systems.

If you are a teacher and your school belongs to one of these systems and 80% of your students are enrolled in the federal free and reduced lunch program, you may qualify for free school supplies.

If you would like to donate new school supplies to Kids In Need, visit http://www.acfb.org/about/our-programs/kids-need.