Fresh Food

We all know we are supposed to eat healthy. We know we need to eat our vegetables and that "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away". For some reason, it is often hard to eat healthy. Why is that? I think part of it is because we live in a world where we want (and often get) instant gratification. We want food and we want it now! The quickest things to grab are often not the healthiest. At the food banks, it is hard to keep fresh produce around. There are always canned and frozen fruits and vegetables that will keep but I always wonder just what is in there that allows them to keep for so long. Just a thought. The SPFB has come up with a few ideas that help get fresh produce into the food boxes we hand out.

For those of you who don't know, the SPFB has a farm where they grow various kinds of fruit and vegetables and an apple orchard. The apple orchard was originally funded in 1994 and by 1997 around 25,000 pounds of fresh apples were being distributed through the food bank to their clients. The SPFB also has a program called "Produce for the Plains"; produce, which would otherwise goes to waste, is donated by local wholesalers to the SPFB for weekly distribution at three City of Lubbock Community Centers.

Why is getting fresh produce distributed even important? There are many reasons but I won't bore you with all of them (not today anyways). I do want to briefly mention an article I read yesterday titled, "The Healthiest Foods On Earth". The author wrote about various societies that have been known for healthy lifestyles and how each diet differed except for one thing, "all these healthy diets have in common the fact that they are absent foods with bar codes". They can be high in fat, low in fat, high in carbohydrates, low in carbohydrates, high in protein, low in protein -- they simply are full of foods that are free from bar codes and full of natural vitamins and antioxidants. It seems so simple. Yet, it is so hard sometimes. So I applaud the the SPFB in their constant (and successful) efforts to not only feed the hungry, but to feed them well.

Just One Is All It Takes

As I was searching about teens and hunger today I came across a website called "Teens Fighting Hunger". I was intrigued. This nonprofit organization was started by a 16 year old in 2007 and continues to raise money to eradicate hunger in children today. It all started with a paper the founder wrote for school, where she learned that 12.4 million children go hungry each month in the United States. She decided to do something about it. She and her fellow volunteers make jewelry to sell at farmers markets all across Oregon. All the proceeds go to help end hunger in the United States. I've included a link to a video of Teens Fighting Hunger presenting a check to the Oregon Food Bank in the amount of $10,000.

Wow. I know sometimes it seems overwhelming because there are so many needs to be met throughout our community, the United States and the world. Where does one even begin? What can I do, I'm only one person. I can't make that big of a difference. I am sure we have all had these thoughts, we are human after all. Whenever I get overwhelmed with what I can and cannot do, I remember the following quote and I have hope. Hope, that I just might be able to make a difference in my corner of the world.

I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do. ~Edward Everett Hale

So many times we think about we cannot do but the truth is we may never know the impact of helping just one person. That person may one day pay it forward to someone and that person just might turn around and help someone else and on and on it goes. In 2000, there was a movie based on this principle of "paying it forward". According to the movie, if one person does one good deed for someone and that person pays it forward to three people and each of those three individuals paid it forward to three more people, by the end of two weeks 4,782,969 individuals will have been on the receiving end of a helping hand. Who says one person can't a difference? Not me.

Downtown Art Market

In May 2009 Lubbock's Downtown Art Market (DAM) opened and has steadily gained momentum each month. I have to admit I didn't know what the DAM was until I started at the SPFB and learned about the GRUB farm's booth. So what is the DAM?

It is a place for local talent, artists and growers to showcase their homemade or homegrown products! DAM is located in Tornado Alley, right in the heart of downtown Lubbock. There are many great talents in West Texas and this monthly event is a great way to showcase just what West Texans can do and grow!

Not only is the DAM a good place for local artists, it is also a great place for the teenagers working at the GRUB farm to exhibit their hard work. Part of the GRUB progam is designed to teach adolescents life and job skills. The DAM provides a unique opportunity for them to learn business skills they might not otherwise be able to learn. For most of the teens who are a part of GRUB, this program is their only opportunity to gain these valuable skills. It can be life changing for them to be a part of this program. Thank you to Jenifer, the staff at the GRUB farm and the hard-working teens!

Thank You

I know I haven't posted a blog in a few dsys -- this is because I was out at the Can-Can Food Drive, the SPFB's annual summer food drive. There are so many inspiring stories that I almost don't know where to start. I want to share the entire week with everyone.

One of the overarching themes last week was how amazing it was to see the Lubbock community reach out and help re-stock the shelves of the SPFB. Lubbock has always been known as a giving community but to see it first-hand was humbling. It's one thing to see high rates of giving in times of prosperity but in a recession that has no end in sight, that says something about the character of a community. Thank you Lubbock. Thank you for helping us satisfy one of the most basic of human needs, the need for nourishment. Thank you for helping to instill hope in those who need a helping hand. Thank you for proving that it is not all bad news in the world today, that there are people willing to help their neighbors.

Food Drives

Have you ever donated food to a food drive for a food bank? More specifically have you ever donated food to a South Plains Food Bank food drive? I have. I remember when my daughters were in school and they would come home asking to take cans to school for the food bank so they could get out of doing homework or could earn an extra point on a test. I complied without questioning why the food bank needed the food or to whom it was going. I opened my pantry and pulled out the "mistakes" I had purchased at the grocery store. That can of cream-style corn when I meant to pick up whole-kernel. The canned baby shrimp I thought I would use in a salad, but didn't. The extra can of pork-n-beans I didn't use when I made baked beans. I never gave any thought to what cans I pulled out of the pantry to send to school for the food bank.

Now I work for the food bank and I see first hand the need for good nutritious food. The need for high protein, whole grain, nutritious food; food just like I would want to serve to my family. Not the dented cans or the cans missing their labels.

Today David Weaver, the Executive Director of the South Plains Food Bank, related a story to me that made me cry (okay - if you know me, you know this doesn't take much, but this is a very touching story). He was at the food drive site this afternoon when a young, twenty-something, man showed up. The young man asked about the pre-made sacks of groceries available to donate to the food bank for $5. He told David that when he was a child they received food assistance from the food bank and he got tired of the "same old food bank food" and would it be okay if he purchased items of his choosing. He returned a short while later with over $100 worth of food to donate to the food bank. I wish I could have taken a peek into his grocery bags. I bet there wasn't one single can of cream-style corn!

I'm not knocking cream-style corn. But I am in awe of this young man who is "paying it forward." If you would like to donate to the South Plains Food Bank's summer food drive you can donate at the food drive site at the United Supermarket at 82nd Street and Frankford Ave. or you can donate online at www.spfb.org

I wish I could be a fly on the wall when our families-in-need receive the food items donated by our imaginative donor today.

Mascera, Mudflap (KLLL), a tutu and the Can-Can Food Drive

Today as I was running a few errands before work I tuned in to KLLL's morning show. They have kicked off the Annual Can Can Food Drive for us in a huge way! We don't officially get out there until 11am with all the sponsors and volunteers but Jeff, Kelli and Mudflap were already promoting the food drive and getting people in to buy $5 bags of food to help re-stock the SPFB!

I started listening at 8am and their goal was to sell 20, $5 bags in an hour. First, let me explain about the bags of food. Every bag is filled with food, healthy food, that will go into the food boxes the SPFB hands out. United is selling them for $5 (they worth more than that) and the SPFB is able to feed one more family on the South Plains. Mudflap (from KLLL's morning show) was on site to sell those bags! They are at the register of the United on 82nd and Frankford. Okay, back to the goal. With 15 minutes left, they had already sold 39 bags so they increased their goal to 100 bags!! From 20 to 100 -- WOW!! There were some people who simply stopped by and handed their money to Mudflap and he then went and bought the bags. It's that easy!!!

I have to say that I'm glad I wasn't wearing mascera this morning -- ladies, you know what I mean. Any water in the eyes and that stuff just runs like mad down your face. I wasn't expecting to be so moved by the generosity of our fellow Lubbockites, but I was. I couldn't help but think, this community really does care. Maybe I'm an idealist or maybe people just really want to see Mudflap in a tutu (that's right, if our goal for the day is reached, Mudflap will wear a tutu tomorrow). However, I choose to believe that even in this time of economic hardship that is hitting us all, people still want to afford their friends and neighbors the right to eat. I think of the faces of the children that will be fed thanks to this food drive and I can't help but tear up a little.

Our goal for the week is 1000 bags ... so let's keep it going strong Lubbock!

Can Can Food Drive: Tuesday - Friday (THIS WEEK)

Join us at United on 82nd and Frankford for the 8th Annual Can Can Food Drive, the SPFB's summer food drive. The Food Bank truck, along with volunteers from Covenant and the Food Bank will be on-hand daily from 11:00 am until 6:30 pm to accept donations of food and money. We are partnering with The Texas Peanut Producers Board, Keva Juice, and United Supermarkets, KLLL, KLBK, Bodyworks and Latino Lubbock Newsletter to provide food to feed the hungry in West Texas.

As the heat rises on the South Plains, so does the number of clients served by the SPFB. During the summer months there is an increased demand for food boxes because children are at home, not eating breakfast and lunch at school. According to LISD, 65% of the 28,000 students enrolled this past year were eligible for the reduced lunch program - 17,520 children. On average, 500 boxes are distributed to needy families every week through the SPFB. Our warehouse shelves are empty by the end of June as the food donated during previous food drives depletes.

Not only are we going to collect food but we are going to have fun doing it! Keva Juice will provide some relief from heat and Bodyworks will have their climbing wall on-site for those who dare to climb up! Every child that climbs to the top will have a jar of peanut butter donated to the SPFB, in their name, by the The Texas Peanut Producers Board. So come out, have fun, and help those in need! For more information visit our website.

Goal: To fill a truck each day. The food collected through this drive is used in food boxes which are given out daily to families in need.

Freedom from Hunger (and Happy 4th of July!)

The word freedom has many definitions. This weekend we, as Americans, will celebrate our freedom as a country. However, there are millions of individuals across our nations that are not free from food insecurity. They have many freedoms but the freedom from hunger is not they currently know.

As discussed in previous posts, hunger affects the young and old, male and female, every race and ethnicity. Food insecurity can affect anyone and everyone. As citizens of one of the greatest nations on earth we should be able to provide the very basic of needs to our neighbors, food. While providing food may not solve all the problems in an individuals life, it is our sincere desire that it also provides hope. Hope that tomorrow will be the day they get that job that allows them the freedom to go to the grocery store and pay utility bills. Hope that their children will get a nutricious meal that night. Hope that they are not alone.

Please help us give Americans another holiday to celebrate -- Freedom from Hunger

The Greatest Generation

They have been labeled "The Greatest Generation". They are comprised of our mothers, grandmothers, fathers and grandfathers. They are also one of the most vulnerable populations at risk for food insecurity in our country today.

So what are we doing to help give them hope and a nutritious meal? Your donations are helping us feed, not only children, but senior citizens aross the South Plains. Summer is especially hard on the elderly. Water is always an appreciated donation. Even with the break in cool weather dehydration can cause major health problems for our senior citizens.

Hygiene

Brushing your teeth. Washing your hair. Using deodorant. Taking a shower.

These are all activities we most likely take for granted every single day. We get up and simply go through the motions without thinking about them or thinking about what it would be like if we didn't have the basic hygiene items needed.

While we have been increasing awareness for the need people have for nutritious meals, we sometimes forget there are other basic needs that are likely not being met either. Hygiene is one of those needs. The SPFB also gives out hygiene boxes that include items such as toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, Kleenex, and other similar items. We are currently running extremely low on hygiene boxes and need your help!

Next time you are picking up these basic items for your family, consider buying an extra set and donating it to the Food Bank. You can also visit our virtual food drive and donate online! We couldn't do this without you!

Lend a Helping Hand

One of the greatest assets the SPFB has are our volunteers. I mentioned the weekly volunteers in yesterday's blog; today I want to tell you how you, too, can get involved! We welcome volunteers, both individual and group, at any time. Below I've listed a few ways we utilize volunteers.

• Preparing donated foods and hygiene items for distribution: such as, sorting donated food; repackaging dry and frozen food; packing dry, frozen, and hygiene boxes.


• Helping in the kitchen.


• Working at reception desk (good telephone/people skills needed).


• Planning and working at various Food Bank on-going functions and special events.


• Opportunities are also available at Second Helpings soup kitchens and Kids Cafe programs. Contact the Food Bank for referrals to volunteer with these programs.

This spring I brought a group of high school sophomores to volunteer and not only were they able to lend a helping hand but we had a blast! They couldn't wait to get back out here ... from teenagers!! They laughed, they worked hard and they were given the opportunity to help others. Visit our website or call Meagan Bratton (806-763-3003) for more information.

What a difference a smile can make

Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet some of the wonderful, hard-working volunteers at the SPFB. Some of the men and women have been volunteering their time for many years and some, like me, are new. We are grateful for all they do.

They are the face of the food bank in many ways. They are who you talk to when you call the food bank and they are the first faces that you see as you walk through the doors. They make sure that every individual who walks through the doors of the SPFB are greeted with a smile and made to feel comfortable. They are good at what they do! They certainly make me smile sometimes all it takes is a smile to make another person's day.

It's been said that "A smile is the shortest distance between two people". Research has even indicated that 6 month old babies who smile are more socially adjusted as 2 year olds (Opportunities Today, 2008). Now that is powerful! For us adults, smiling is equally important. Not only does smiling make us feel better, it is contagious. It is a phenomenon known as "emotional contagion".

In this time of economic hardship, smiling is even more important. It gives hope. Which is what we strive to do everyday at the SPFB, give hope. Give hope to those who feel hopeless. There is so much more that happens when someone is given food. Without it there is no hope, it is difficult, if not impossible, to see past the hunger. Fulfill that basic need and suddenly there is hope for better times.

Awestruck

Hi SPFB blog readers. I'm going to be updating you about the exciting things going on at the Food Bank through this blog and I can't wait to get started. (In fact, I already did with yesterday's blog.) I am new to the SPFB and I am learning more and more each day about what an imperative service the SPFB provides for 21 counties across the South Plains. I have volunteered at the SPFB in the past and have been aware of the need to see people fed but to see first hand the lives that are improved on a daily basis has been an eye-opener. I am in awe of what is being done here, amazed that I get to be a part of it, and I want to share that with you! I want to meet you and tell you about what is being done about hunger on the South Plains.

Just yesterday I was able to visit one of the summer food sites that helps feeds children. At just that one site in Lubbock, 60 kids were fed a hot lunch today. These are children who, during the school year, receive reduced or free breakfasts and lunches at school. The meal they received at noon today may be the only hot meal they will eat today. Their bright faces and soft laughter filled the room as they were given the very basic of human rights, the right to nutrition. Soon, they were off to play and enjoy summer. How exciting to be part of an organization that aims to eradicate hunger! Thank you for all you do to help the SPFB feed our neighbors and friends.

Summer Hunger

Worldwide: Every five seconds a child will die from complications of hunger (Black, Saul, Bryce, 2003). 963 million individuals suffer from hunger and malnutrition (2008 Food Security Statistics).

United States: 1 in 10 households suffer from hunger, 35.5 million individuals, 12.6 million children (USDA Economic Research Service, 2005).

Let’s bring those statistics a little closer to home. Across West Texas, 1 in 5 individuals do not know where their next meal will come from or if there will be a next meal. Are they sitting next you in church? Are they playing with your kids at the park? Do they walk past you on the neighborhood walking path? Next time you find yourself in a large crowd think about how many people around you, statistically, do not know where they will get their next meal.

Summer is a particularly busy time at food banks all across the country. The South Plains Food Bank (SPFB) is no exception. At first glance one might wonder why summer? In the 21 West Texas counties the SPFB serves, 65% of the children receive free or reduced priced lunches during the school year, compared to a statewide average of 59% (2008 Kids Count Report). Translate that to summer and it stands to reason those same children are daily wondering if they are going to get even two full meals a day. This is commonly known as food insecurity.

So what exactly is food insecurity and what consequences manifest for the millions of Americans who suffer from food insecurity? USDA defines food insecurity as disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake (www.usda.gov). There are multiple physical and mental consequences of food insecurity. Immune systems are weakened, stomachaches and headaches are more common, fatigue and dehydration become realities and as a result there are more hospitalizations among individuals who suffer from food insecurity. Additionally, children can develop behavioral difficulties and become impaired in all aspects of school performance.

Seem a little overwhelming? Perhaps, but don’t let that stop you from lending a helping hand. The SPFB offers various opportunities throughout the year for you to get involved. For the next few days I’m going to highlight different ways the West Texas community can get involved and help ensure nutritious meals for our neighbors and friends.

“One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something.” Henry David Thoreau

Why for’s and what if’s

Before you find the right answer, you have to have the right question.

This morning at the South Plains Food Bank, we had about 15 children from Lake Ridge United Methodist Church volunteer with us. It is the first day of their Vacation Bible School program. Everyone put on hairnets and rubber gloves and went about the task of filling bags with pizza flour. One person opens the plastic bag, another drops in a label, another scoops and dumps flour, the bag is sealed and put in a bin. We will put a two pound bag of pizza flour into each food box we distribute to feed the hungry in our community.

The experience gives us a chance to talk about how children are helping, who is going to receive the bags, and how their work is helping feed others. But I like the other questions, kids ask, "Why do we have to wear hair nets?" "Why can't we just use our hands?" "Why are people hungry?" Questions about hair nets are pretty easy. ("Do you want a stranger's hair in your pizza!") Questions about why people are hungry get more complicated.

Last weekend I attended Bill's 85^th surprise birthday party. Eight-five years seems like a long time unless you know someone like Bill. Bill reminds me of the kids from Vacation Bible School this morning. He's full of energy and questions and caring. Bill's old enough to know he doesn't have all the answers, but he knows the right questions. "What would it take to make Lubbock hunger free?" "What if you had the resources you needed to feed everyone?" "What would it take to put the South Plains Food Bank out of business?" (He tells me I would have to get a real job then!)

Bill knows it's not enough to just ask the questions. He's spent a good chunk of time searching for the answers with us and trying to figure out how to put the South Plains Food Bank out of business.

The Lines Are Getting Longer

A friend of mine was in town for a few days. Naturally, I invited him to lunch. On our way I warned him that the restaurant we where we were going for lunch usually had a big crowd. Expecting a long wait, we arrived a little before noon hoping to avoid the line. To my surprise, there was no line. We were seated and served in no time at all. The food was just as good as ever, but plenty of tables were available the whole time we were there.

I saw the owner of the restaurant, Paul, and asked how his business was holding up. He smiled, pointed to the empty tables and said, “See for yourself. It’s been like this for a while. People just aren’t eating out as much.”

The irony of this hit me when I returned to the South Plains Food Bank after lunch. We had a
line of people out our door waiting to pick up food boxes.

Since late last summer, we have seen a 20% increase in the number of people turning to the South Plains Food Bank. The increase was even more dramatic in October and November when fuel prices were reaching its peak. I remembered what Paul said, “…It’s been this way for a
while.”

Magic

The food bank farm is a magical place. I have said this many times in the eight years I have worked there. Whether it is the magic that happens when a seed is planted and grows into food to feed a hungry person or the magic of a lost teen finding purpose in her life, there is magic. The magic happened again this morning when 100 three and four year olds from Sugar and Spice Pre-school visited the farm. The weather was warm and unusually calm for a spring day in Lubbock as two yellow school busses pulled up and one hundred little darlings came pouring out carrying pennies, nickels, dimes and a few quarters to throw into our wishing boat. We don’t have a wishing well, we have a wishing boat – home to about 25 koi fish that have learned to hide when small children throw money at them.

After our stop at the wishing boat we proceeded in a single file line, a very long single file line, to the opposite end of the farm where, in soil so soft the children sunk several inches, we planted green bean and pea seeds. One of the teachers asked me if we really expected the seed to grow, thinking of course my answer would be no. Farmer Roy overheard the question and answered for me, “Of course they will grow. When children plant something there is a magic that happens and it always grows.” So there you have it, straight from the farmer’s mouth – the food bank farm is a magical place!

Hunger Survey

OK... It's been a while since I've posted anything. I was talking to Jenifer Smith the other day. Jenifer has been helping out with our quadrennial hunger survey. We do it as part of a national survey conducted by Feeding America. The purpose is to give us a snapshot of the faces of hunger in the nation and here on the South Plains.

A couple of weeks ago, Jenifer went to interview clients at one of our agencies, St. Paul's on the Plains Episcopal Church. On Thursday morning, they host a Neighbor 2 Neighbor Breakfast for people in the South Overton neighborhood. South Overton is a once proud neighborhood that now is a crossroads for many homeless and low income people in Lubbock. Neighbor 2 Neighbor is a wonderful ministry that connects the church to the local community.

Jenifer showed up at 6:30 a.m. (which is no small feat in itself) to talk with clients and gather info for our survey. She spoke with a homeless gentleman, Jeff, who was coming by for breakfast. Although he is only in his mid thirties, Jeff's face is already weathered and lined from being outside so much of the time. Jeff is works as a day laborer on a steady basis. He lives "outside the library."

Part of the survey asks whether or not the participant has gone without food, has made choices between having medicine and having food, or skipped meals so someone else could eat. As Jeff responded to the questions, tears began to form in his eyes. As Jenifer put it, "They began to flood the lined channels of his face." As Jenifer shared the moment with him, tears formed in her eye. She found some tissue for him and her as they cried in silence.

Sometimes it never dawns on us... what our choices mean. Noha ben Shea says that, "Life is lived forward but understood backwards." Jeff never really thought about himself as homeless and hungry until that moment. And for the moment, all Jenifer could do was comfort Jeff and remind him of all the people in our community who care and try to help.

When Jenifer told me this story, she made a comment that stuck with me, " I wish I could wipe away his hunger as easily as I wiped away his tears."

Both Jenifer and Jeff were changed in this encounter. It's one of the the serendipties of the Food Bank that give us all a new awareness of one another and the possibilities of hope.

Help out this spring at SPFB!

We would love to have any groups or individual volunteers come to the food bank this spring! We have many opportunities available- sign up today!

Saturday Workdays (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.)

At SPFB:

- Saturday, April 5, 2008

- Saturday May 3, 2008

At the Carolyn Lanier Farm:

- Saturday workdays will be available starting in March. Contact Debbie Cline at 535-4563 for more information.

Kids Cafe Volunteers Needed!

Kids Cafe is an afterschool feeding program designed to combat childhood hunger. This program provides children with nutritious evening meals in a safe environment.
Dedicated volunteers are needed to commit two hours after school, Monday through Friday, on a continual basis during the school year. Three Kids Cafe locations are currently seeking one or two volunteers per location. Duties include helping serve meals and light paperwork/roll-taking. Background checks are required
Where: Kids Cafe's at Phea Boys and Girls Club

Wilson Boys and Girls Club

Optimist Boys and Girls Club
Time: Monday through Friday, 3-5pm
Contact: Becky Jennings at 806-763-3003 or Tammy Hester at 806-544-1332

Volunteer Coaches Needed
The West Texas Running Club is dedicating it's annual Prairie Dog Run on March 8th to the South Plains Food Bank and the Kids Cafe Program. Proceeds from the run will help feed hungry children at Kids Cafe Sites in Lubbock and other South Plains communities.
Volunteer running coaches are needed to create "Team Kids Cafe!" at each participating site. In addition to eating nutritious meals, kids will have an opportunity to join in the Prairie Dog Run. Along the way, kids can see how eating and exercise go hand in hand for a healthy lifestyle.
Volunteer coaches will meet two times a week, January through March. No experience is needed! If you are interested in volunteering as a coach, please sign up with Becky Jennings at 806-763-3003, or email at volunteer@spfb.org.

Do you qualify for Food stamps?

Alot of people don't know that they might qualify for Food Stamps because they think they make to much.
But the income limits were raised in October..
Look at the chart below and see if your family might qualify.

The income limits are based on your household size.

Household Size Gross Monthly Income Limit Net Monthly Income
1 $1,037 $798
2 $1,390 $1,070
3 $1,744 $1,341
4 $2,097 $1,613
5 $2,450 $1,885
6 $2,803 $2,156
7 $3,156 $2,428
8 $3,509 $2,700
9 $3,863 $2,972
10 $4,217 $3,244
Each Additional Member +354 +272

If it looks like your income is under the gross income amount for your household size. You should feel out an application for assistance.

Contact Denise at 763-3003 or email drudd@spfb.org

New York Times Article

In the Monday edition of the New York Times, there was a good article that describes the squeeze many food banks are experiencing, shrinking inventories and increasing demand. It's happening at food banks across the country. "Food Banks, in a Squeeze, Tighten Belts"

Stop by the South Plains Food Bank Website to see what else is going on.

I'm Thankful

Social Services Outreach:

With tomorrow being Thanksgiving it made me think of all the things I am THANKFUL for and one of those is working for the FOOD BANK. It has been WONDERFUL working with all of the amazing people here at the Food Bank , and also all the many agencies being able to reach out to help the many people that the food bank serves. I just wanted to say THANK YOU for allowing me to be part of the SPFB Family and allowing me to help in the mission to alleviate hunger here on the South Plains.

In October 60 applications were completed and submitted for assistance. This number does not include the many applications that were given to potential clients that wanted just information on the many programs. Trine and I spent two days at the Lamb County Food Box and what a wonderful experience that was helping those families in that area to get help with food and resources that were much needed.

One of my biggest joys this month was being able to help an older woman get help with medicaid assistance, along with food stamps she so desperately needed. She is on a fixed income and with the rise of costs in medical care she was not able to afford her much needed medicine plus she was also not able to afford to buy food. After playing the waiting game for her applications to be processed she was APPROVED. She will receive help with Doctor’s visits, medicine, and FOOD!! What a wonderful blessing it was to help her get the assistance she so desperately needed.

Agencies that I did outreach with/or referred potential clients to me:
Catholic Family Sevices Lubbock Meals on Wheels
Across the Street Ministries-Lubbock MHMR-Lubbock
Matthews Learning Center-Lubbock Bayless Elementary-Lubbock
Hutchinson Middle School-Lubbock Tubbs Elementary-Lubbock
Children’s Protective Services-Lubbock The Bridge-Lubbock
Neighborhood House-Lubbock Family Promise-Lubbock
Covenant Counseling-Lubbock Loaves & Fishes-Morton
Buckner’s-Lubbock Parenting Cottage-Lubbock
St John’s United Methodist Church-Lubbock Hope Community of Shalom
Community Health Center of Lubbock Superior Health Plan
Salvation Army Aspermont Food Bank
Hamlin Food Bank Kent Co. Food Bank
Early Learning Centers of Lubbock Hope Community of Shalom
Homeless Consortium First Care
Hodges Elementary Lamb County Food Box
Kent County Extension Program
Non-Agencies that I did outreach at/or referred potential clients to me:
Slaton Housing Authority
Nurscare-Slaton & Tahoka

If you are an agency or individual in need of assistance for Public Assistance. Please feel free to call me at 763-3003 or email me at drudd@spfb.org and I will try to help or answer any questions you may have on public assistance.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

Public Assistance Outreach

September was Amazing!

September was very busy doing outreaches at many of the schools in Lubbock. At Matthews Learning Center alone I was able to help many of the students with Medicaid and Foodstamps. We collected over 20 applications alone at that school.
Along with Matthews and Lubbock ISD, I continue to receive a lot of help and support from St. Johns/St Paul’s Churches. It is always amazing to go every Tuesday afternoon, and see all the wonderful people that work the voucher program. They have opened their arms and their hearts to not only me but also to the many, many people they help. It has truly been a blessing being part of such a wonderful program there.

In September we also received news that the Social Services Grant had been renewed so I look for to the next year being able to reach even more people that are in need of assistance! And try to do my part in trying to feed the Hungry.

I you would like more information on this outreach program please feel free to contact me at 806-763-3003 or email me at drudd@spfb.org.

New Volunteer Opportunities!

Come lend a hand with these upcoming volunteer opportunities! Call Becky Jennings at (806) 763-3003 to sign-up for any of these events!

Halloween Can Collection at the Science Spectrum
The South Plains Food Bank will be collecting food donations at the Science Spectrum on Wednesday, October 31, 2007. We are looking for volunteers to help collect donations! For more information, or to sign up for this opportunity, please contact Becky Jennings at (806) 763-3003.
When: Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Time: 5-7pm or 7-9pm
Location: Science Spectrum- 2579 S. Loop 289 # 250
(On the South Loop between Indiana and University)
Contact: Becky Jennings at (806) 763-3003 to sign-up!

Saturday Workdays
- December 15, 2007 (9am-12pm)
- December 22, 2007 (9am-12pm or 12-3pm)
Groups or individuals are welcome to sign-up for either of these dates!

Food Bank Farm

Volunteers are needed on Saturdays from 9am-12pm at the Food Bank farm, located at 76th and Ave B. Currently, the farm is preparing fields for winter and spring. Call Debbie at (806) 535-4563 for more information on this opportunity, or to sign up!

Become a Kids Cafe volunteer today!
Did you know that one out of every four children in the South Plains lives in poverty? Kids Cafe is an after-school feeding program designed to combat childhood hunger. The South Plains Kids Cafes provide children of Lubbock’s economically disadvantaged neighborhoods with nutritious evening meals in a safe environment.

The Kids Cafe Program is currently seeking dedicated volunteers, willing to help out a few hours a week on a continual basis.

Volunteers are needed to:
∗ Serve meals
∗ Plan and monitor after-school activities (ex. reading, games, mentoring)

For the safety of our staff and the children we serve, background checks are required for all Kids Cafe volunteers.

For more information, or to become a Kids Café volunteer, please contact
Tammy Hester at (806) 544-1332 or thester@spfb.org


Second Helping Soup Kitchen
The Bridge of Lubbock is in need of volunteers for the Second Helpings Soups Kitchen. Volunteers help serve meals at the soup kitchen and clean up afterward. Please contact Lisa Green to sign up for this opportunity.
When: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: The Bridge of Lubbock
1301 Redbud Lane, Lubbock, TX
Contact: Lisa Green at (806) 687-0772.

Stay tuned for volunteer opportunities with the 2007 U-Can Share Food Drive!

Unemployment down... hunger up

Recently, Texas Workforce announced that the unemployment rate for Lubbock and the region dipped to 3.5%. In spite of low unemployment, the South Plains Food Bank and our network of 230 agencies continues to feel the pressure of increased request for food assistnace.

Over the past two decades, The South Plains Food Bank, a Member of America's Second Harvest-The Nation's Food Bank Network, has witnessed a new and disturbing trend: employment is no longer a sufficient means to escape poverty. According to Hunger in America 2006, 36% of families served by the America's Second Harvest Network have one or more family member working. Additionally, nearly 18 million people live in working poor families.

The same study indicates the number of working families served by SPFB is in line with national averages with 33% of families served having one or more familiy members working. This fragile existence forces many people to make choices between paying rent or mortgage and putting food on the table. It forces some to choose between paying for utilities and buying food, while others struggle to choose between healthcare and a meal.

The South Plains Food Bank and soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and other hunger-relief organizations across the South Plains are seeing drastic increases in the number of working families in need of our services, children with working parents living in poverty, and people struggling to make ends meet.

When you volunteer at the South Plains Food Bank or one of our agencies, when you donate funds, and when you tell others about hunger and the South Plains Food Bank, you are making a difference in the lives of the hungry.

For more information on the South Plains Food Bank, visit http://www.spfb.org/.

Public Assistance Outreach

July was AWESOME!

With the summer flying by us, I have stayed very busy with
outreaches, and referrals from our agencies. Thank you to them!!
I was able to outreach some of our rural agencies this month like Loaves & Fishes- Morton, Kent Co. Food Bank-Jayton, Aspermont Food Bank-Aspermont, and Hamlin Food Bank-Hamlin. I was able to outreach and help many people in those counties and help them with the application process, or just answer the many questions/myths that they had about the Foodstamp/Mediciad/CHIP Process. It was very successful.

With summer rapidly ending and school about to start I look forward to August and working with several other agencies with their Back to School Fairs that are going on, and reaching even more people.

YTD Monthly FOODSTAMP allotment: $28,505
This amount is from the foodstamp applications that the SPFB has turned in.

Agencies that I did outreach with/or referred potential clients to me:
Catholic Family Sevices Lubbock Meals on Wheels
Across the Street Ministries-Lubbock MHMR-Lubbock
Matthews Learning Center-Lubbock Bayless Elementary-Lubbock
Hutchinson Middle School-Lubbock Tubbs Elementary-Lubbock
Children’s Protective Services-Lubbock The Bridge-Lubbock
Neighborhood House-Lubbock Family Promise-Lubbock
Covenant Counseling-Lubbock Loaves & Fishes-Morton
Buckner’s-Lubbock Parenting Cottage-Lubbock
St John’s United Methodist Church-Lubbock Hope Community of Shalom
Community Health Center of Lubbock Superior Health Plan
Salvation Army Aspermont Food Bank
Hamlin Food Bank Kent Co. Food Bank
Early Learning Centers of Lubbock Hope Community of Shalom

Non-Agencies that I did outreach at/or referred potential clients to me:
Slaton Housing Authority
Nurscare-Slaton & Tahoka

If you or someone you know needs assistance with Foodstamps, Medicaid, or CHIP please call me at 763-3003 or 438-8194.

Fall 2007 Volunteer Opportunites

As the school year starts this fall, we begin another busy season at the South Plains Food Bank! We have several upcoming events and volunteer opportunities at the food bank, farm, and orchard. Here is the fall schedule for Saturday workdays at the food bank (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.):


- Saturday, September, 2007


- Saturday, October 6, 2007


- Saturday, November 3, 2007


- Saturday, November 10, 2007


- Saturday, November 17, 2007


- Saturday, December 1, 2007


- Saturday, December 8, 2007


- Saturday, December 15, 2007


- Saturday, December 22, 2007 (9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)





If you or your organization is interested in volunteering on a Saturday workday at the food bank, please contact Becky Jennings at 806-763-3003.





Here are the Saturday workdays for the farm and orchard (9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.):


- Saturday, August 25, 2007 (Orchard)


- Saturday, September 8, 2007 (Farm)


- Saturday, September 15, 2007 (Orchard)


- Saturday, September 29, 2007 (Farm)





If you or your organization is interested in volunteering at the farm or orchard, please contact Jenifer Smith at 806-535-4470.

Thank you to all of our incredible volunteers last year!

Feeding Summer Fun!

The carefree days of summer days of lemonade, swimming pools and backyard cookouts are finally upon us. For too many of Lubbock's children, however, summer is a season of hunger. When school doors close for vacation, two key safeguards against childhood hunger the School Breakfast Program and the national School Lunch program are no longer available. To help bridge the nutrition gap during the summer months, the South Plains Food Bank is once again sponsoring the federally-funded Summer Food Service Program.

Tammy Hester is the Executive Chef and Program Director for the Food Bank's Summer Food Service Program. She says the program serves and average of 400-500 breakfasts and 500-600 lunches every day. Hester says the Summer Food Service Program provided at total of 15,975 meals in the month of June alone.

The South Plains Food Bank offers 12 summer food sites. They are :

Mae Simmons Community Center
Phea Boys and Girls Club
Copper Rawlings Community Center
Vandelia Church
Parkway/Guadalupe Neighborhood Center
Wilson Boy and Girls Club
Optimist Boys and Girls Club
Maggie Trejo Community Center
Asbury United Methodist Church
Central Church of Christ
GRUB
Bridge 2 Success

It is not too late to get involved with the Summer Food Service program. Anyone who comes to a participating site will be fed, though food is provided on a “first come first served” basis. Meal times at participating sties vary, but breakfast is generally from 8 to 9am and lunch is generally served around noon. The last day of the Summer Food program will be August 17th. Classes in LISD resume on August 29th.

In the future, SPFB hopes to sponsor even more sites, working towards the day when no child in Lubbock faces an empty stomach when the school bell rings for the last time.

"Food Banks Go Hungry"

That’s the headline for an article by writer Lauren Etter appearing in the today's edition of the Wall Street Journal on page B1. Food Banks, like the South Plains Food Bank, have seen a decline in the pounds of donated food given to us by grocers and food manufacturers.

The culprit? Better supply chain management and a drive for greater efficiency by food manufacturers have combined to reduce overproduction. That translates into less food available to donate to charities such as Food Banks and pantries. It’s a trend the South Plains Food Bank has been seeing first hand for the past several years.

Food manufacturers like Kraft, Kellogs and others continue to donate significant amounts of food to America’s Second Harvest some of which winds up serving the hungry here in West Texas. But the quantity of food coming through national donors has declined. To their credit, national companies and their foundations are supporting Food Banks in new ways through monetary donations.

While food donations are down, the number of hungry people in our country and in our region is increasing. It would be easy say that since food donations are down we’ll just cut back on the amount of food we put in food boxes or reduce the number of people we serve. To do so would be a disservice to both the hungry and to the volunteers and donors who join with us to feed the hungry. The mission of SPFB isn’t to just distribute what we have. It’s to feed the hungry. In a broader sense, it is to end hunger.

As food manufacturers and grocers have improved their ways of doing business, food banks have responded in new and innovative ways. SPFB is no exception. We are handling more fresh produce and dairy product, we are raising funds to purchase food for programs like the Kids Cafe, and we are growing, distributing and, through Breedlove, manufacturing, our own food.

All this to say that local food drives like the just completed Letter Carrier Food Drive (which brought in over 65,000 pounds) take on new significance as we work to insure we have enough food to meet the needs of the hungry. Working through our network of agencies, SPFB is providing food for more than 19,000 folks each week. That’s a lot of groceries!

Getting Ahead vs. Getting Fed

Grace, my soon to be thirteen year old daughter, is looking forward to the end of school and the beginning of Summer! She has a busy schedule planned. So it was with some interest that I read, an article by Sue Shellenbarger in yesterday's Wall Street Journal, "Helping overbooked kids cutback."

The story focused on the stress and anxiety children are feeling because their lives are becoming so busy with camps, music lessons, and all kinds of activities. The idea is that all these extra curricular activities give our children an advantage as the grow up and prepare for their life's vocation. I won't argue the fact.

At the same time, the end of school has a different impact for nearly 1 in 4 of the children across the South Plains. The end of school means the end of school breakfast and lunch programs that serve many of these youngsters. The meals they receive at school gives them the energy to learn, to play, and to develop into productive members of our community.

This summer, their focus won't be on activities to help them get ahead. Instead, they are looking for place to get fed. The South Plains Food Bank begins its Summer Lunch Program as soon as school lets out. In addition, we will start seeing more children showing up at our community soup kitchens.

Hopefully, getting fed this summer will help these children get ahead when school begins this fall.

My First U-Can Share Food Drive

I have been the volunteer coordinator at the South Plains Food Bank since May. This week I was able to experience the U-Can Share food drive for the first time. I was amazed as to how much preparation went into the event. Since October, I have helped plan every detail of the food drive with the U-Can Share committee. I was so excited when it finally kicked off this week. Every night at six and ten o'clock, I would tune in to KCBD 11 to watch the live broadcast at United Supermarket to see how many pounds of food had been collected.
On Wednesday, I finally got to go out to the site. When we got there, my husband and I helped organize the groups of schoolchildren for the six o'clock news broadcast. All of the kids were so excited to be on the news and proudly annouced how many pound of food their school had collected. After the broadcast, Donna Chandler explained to us how everything was done at the collection site. As the sun went down and it got colder out, we huddled by the space heater and waited for donations. I was suprised by how few donations came in, but it was probably due to the cold weather! Overall, it was fun to be a part of the U-Can Share food drive. I was amazed by how the community came together and got involved.
Back at the food bank, its been pretty busy. Groups have been calling me every single day wanting to volunteer. Everyone wants to get involved, not only with the U-Can Share food drive, but also at the food bank. We have had school groups, church groups, and businesses out here volunteering every day, helping us prepare for Christmas. It has been a fun experience for me, and it is wonderful that so many people are willing to help out the food bank at such an important time of year!

A Thanksgiving Wish

In this morning's mail was a Thanksgiving card from Marlena, a sweet lady in our community who cares about the hungry.

I was sitting in my living room looking out the door when I seen a man walking the alley. He would stop at each dumpster along his way and see if there was something he could sell for money. But what broke my heart was when he emptied a trash bag and put something in his mouth.

I went to the kitchen and fixed up a plate. I walked up to him and said, "Here, I want you to have this." He said, "Thank you" and went on his way.

I hope and pray that one day NOBODY will have to go hungry.

Marlena

The note on the card read "May this Thanksgiving bring you a harvest of happiness!"

Volunteers to the Rescue!

If you have come to the South Plains Food Bank lately, you probably noticed it looks a little different. The past few weeks we have been remodelling our front office. We painted the walls, put down new tile, and even got new furniture. All this remodelling meant one thing- lots of moving to do. When we put in the new tile, every bit of furtinute had to be removed from the front office. We weren't sure how we were going to get it all done until Alpha Tao Omega, a fraternity at Texas Tech University, gave me a call. As luck would have it, they wanted to volunteer on the afternoon we were scheduled to begin moving out. That Friday afternoon, a group of fifteen eager college guys came to the food bank to help out. In less than an hour, the entire front office was bare. They moved every inch of furniture out for us, but they weren't done yet. Still wanting to volunteer for another hour, the group made a pallet of hygiene boxes and helped clean out the back warehouse. At one point I even saw a few guys helping to rip up the old flooring! They were a huge help to us. It was amazing to see how much a group of motivated and eager volunteers could accomplish in two hours. We truely appreiate volunteers like Alpha Tao Omega.

Target's "Day of Giving"

On Thursday, Target stores celebrated their annual "Day of Giving." Each year, Target stores across the nation spend their "Day of Giving" volunteering at local organizations to give back to the community.

Our Lubbock Target store decided to volunteer with the South Plains Food Bank. Six Target employees spent three hours at the food bank making freezer boxes and dry food boxes that will be distributed to the Lubbock community. They showed up Thursday morning ready to work hard, and proved to be a huge help to the food bank. They were able to make three full pallets of freezer boxes in three hours. This is approximately 216 boxes to be distributed. On average, the food bank is able to finish three pallets in a day.

It was nice to see hard-working Target employees use their free time to volunteer. They were eager to participate and not only volunteered, but were happy to do so. They came ready to help and had an upbeat attitude that carried through the food bank. We enjoyed having them out for their "Day of Giving," and always appreciate our helpful volunteers.

Can Can Fun in the Sun Food Drive!

Covenant Community Outreach and KLBK-TV helped us host our 7th Annual Can Can Fun in the Sun Food Drive last week, capped off with the Too Hot to Run in the Sun Non-Run.

The Covenant Crew helped us raise around fifty-seven thousand pounds of food! KLBK followed us from parking lot to parking lot as our volunteers set up shop at three two United Stores, Market Street, Wal-Mart, and K-Mart. Bodyworks brought their rock climbing wall out for people who donated cans to the drive. I noticed that mostly a younger crowd took advantage of their offer. After the climb, Keva Juice volunteers were handing out healthy smoothes to rock climbers and others who were supporting the drive.

A large crowd was not on hand for our non-run. But on the other hand, a bunch of folks sent in donations to stay at home Saturday and support the South Plains Food Bank by enjoying a lazy morning...

Windy morning at the Farm

It was a windy Friday morning at the Carolyn Lanier South Plains Food Bank Youth Farm where our GRUB Kids were taking a break. I asked them to get together for a group picture. Then they asked Jenifer Smith, the Director of the Farm, Orchard, and Garden Division to join the photo... on the ground.

















In spite of blistering hot days, wind, and a lack of rain, the Farm and Orchard are looking good. The Grub team is working to make sure we have food for the clients served by the South Plains Food Bank and our network of agencies.
Here are a few shots of how the vegetables are growing.

If you would like to see more photos, you can find more at flickr.com page.

Nutty Update

Here are some photos from Just Plane Nutty at Kastman Park this morning. Everyone was having a great time and... collected a bunch of peanut butter. I know the people we serve at the South Plains Food Bank are going to appreciate everyone's hard work.

Southwest Airlines is Just Plane Nutty!

Southwest Airlines and their Peanut Fares first took off thirty-five years ago this month. In celebration of the event Southwest and America's Second Harvest, the Nations Food Bank Network, are teaming up to "Spread the Luv" with a virtual peanut butter drive benefiting food banks in communities served by Southwest, such as the South Plains Food Bank!

Beginning June 1, Southwest Airlines invites you to visit southwest.com and click on the Spread the Luv button to visit the Virtual Food Bank where you can purchase jars (or even cases) of peanut butter to benefit the South Plains Food Bank. Contributions made locally will help us feed hungry families this summer. Southwest is matching all contributions made up to $35,000.

Employees of the local Southwest team are hosting "Just Plane Nutty Day" at Kastman Park (Lynnhaven Drive and South Loop 289) from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Donate a jar of peanut butter and you are entered in a drawing to win two round trip tickets to any destination served by Southwest. In addition, the first 75 kids will get a free Ident-A-Kid card. There will also be activities for the kids such as a bounce house and games.

Kids Lend a Big Hand

Yesterday I saw first hand how eager kids are to help others. We have many church groups that come out to the food bank to lend a hand, and yesterday Lakeridge Methodist Church paid us a visit. Far more fifth and sixth grade children showed up than was expected, and I was a little worried that the food bank would be unable to accomadate that many children! However, we managed to find a job for each child, and the kids were able to accomplish a lot during their short visit to the food bank.

The kids were split into three different groups. One group bagged egg puffs for our freezer boxes we distribute. The second group sorted and boxed hygene products. The last group marked and sorted canned foods to go into food boxes. I was amazed at how hard the kids worked and how much was accomplished. When they first arrived, they were all very excited about the jobs they would be doing and dove right into their tasks. They moved so fast and there were so many kids helping, they were only able to stay and help for a short time because we ran out of things for them to do! In the end, they were a huge help. They sorted and boxed the entire stock of hygene products that had been donated to us throughout the past three weeks. They also sorted two full bins of canned food, as well as bagged half a pallet of egg puffs.

At the end of their visit, the kids were all very excited about their accomplishment. I heard over and over again, "where does this food go to?" "who are we helping?" They wanted to have a sense of their purpose with their volunteer work. They all wanted to know exactly how many cans they had sorted, how many bags of egg puffs they had made, and how many hygene products they sorted. Kids are funny in the sense that they need a number to put with their efforts. They truely were a huge help to our food bank, and their hard work paid off!

Hunger Awareness Day 2006 in Lubbock

The South Plains Food Bank joined with America's Second Harvest Food Banks and hunger relief agencies across the country in honor of National Hunger Awareness Day 2006. The goal of the event is to increase awareness of the needs of the hungry in America. At the same time, it is an opportunity to recognize the partners and volunteers who serve the hungry in our community.

First United Methodist Church in Lubbock hosts the Second Helpings Soup Kitchen. Today we had a picnic complete with hot dogs, face painting, music and health screenings. Our local Albertson's stores provided hot dogs, chips, cookies and beverages for more than 250 people. In addition, 50 of their employees prepared and served the meal. They were joined by guest servers (and news anchors) from KLBK and KAMC. (I think they just liked the hair nets!)

Al Solis was our Chef for the Day, preparing 600 hot dogs. He told me he never wanted to see a hot dog again. Awesome enterainment was provided by "Rendition."

After it was all over, one of the "regulars" at the Second Helpings Soup Kitchen asked if she could say a few words. Speaking on behalf of the people who are served each day by Second Helpings and the South Plains Food Bank, she simply said, "Thank you. You have blessed our lives by making them better." Her comments touched us all.

Standing in Line to Help

This is Jack. He can stack. Which his grandmom thinks is very talented. Jack has ten grandparents- three full sets of grandparents and four great's. And all in the same town and all of us standing in line and taking a number to spend time with Stackin' Jack. And of course we see to it(along with his parents) that Jack has everything he needs and many other things he doesn't even know he wants.

Today I met with three women to discuss a new program for the South Plains Food Bank in partnership with the Junior League of Lubbock. It will be called Food 2 Kids and it will be about providing backpacks of non-perishable, healthy, easy to eat, no-cooking-needed foods. These backpacks will go home on the weekends and holidays with kids who are referred to us by school counselors, principals and teachers. No labels on the backpacks, just pick them up at school and bring them back to be filled again the following weekend.

Food 2 Kids is for children without the luxury of folks waiting their turn to provide them with food, clothes, and other necessities of life. Some have loving families, same as ours, some live in ways most of us can't imagine.

I am glad to have another way to give help to kids. As mentioned in a recent call to our offices by a school counselor, some kids are trying to take care of their families rather than the other way around. She told of three little girls saving half of their food from school lunches to take home to an out of work mom and a sick grandmother. That's not the right order of things, but it is what we hear and see in our community every day. Our kids need to stay kids not elementary-age caregivers.

They need people standing in line to help them and give them what they need.

A note from 2-1-1

Kendra Jackson, the Area Information Center Manager for 2-1-1 Texas South Plains, sent us the following note. 2-1-1 provides information and referrals to people in need across the South Plains.

I wanted to send on a call we just got from Gordon and Juanelle Smith. Both are elderly and disabled Juanelle is going through chemotherapy right now.

They received food from the Food Bank earlier this week. Gordon was SO thankful. He said they hadn't had a good meal in awhile and it was nice to have so much food. You could just hear the happiness in his voice!

It is rare that we (at least here at 2-1-1) hear how people were helped, or how thankful they are for the help. I had to pass it on... THIS is the reason we are here, and the reason we stay.

As the Summer begins, notes like this remind me of two things. First, the needs of the hungry remain constant during the Summer. Second, we could not meet those needs if it weren't for our network of donors, volunteers, and great partners like 2-1-1.

Kitchen Confidential- a little story

This is a photo of my son, who is a great cook (like his mom). Last year he was an amateur chef for Kitchen Confidential.

Kitchen Confidential is a bus tour of fabulous kitchens in Lubbock. Each of the five homes on the tour feature a chef or two- pro and am, wine and/or coffee tastings, beautifully decorated dining and breakfast tables, fresh flower arrangements, and an astounding assortment of wonderful food to sample. All of the considerable funds raised are used to support the Kids Cafe program.

This year we invited some of our Kids Cafe kids to come to the Kick Off party. At first they were pretty awed by the lovely big home they were visiting. Me, too. Then they relaxed and reverted to their natural state- running, playing in the game room, and stuffing their faces. Me, too.

What a contrast to the homes they had come from- working parent or parents, not enough food or money to go around, and an uncertain future- more immediate- an uncertain tomorrow. One kid couldn't come because his mom had forgotten and left him home alone with little brothers and sisters.

Kids Cafes do a little bit to help these situations. We entice kids to come to safe places to eat a balanced meal with caring adults around.

Years ago when I was in the field of drug and alcohol abuse prevention, it was researched and found to be true over and over: children who choose not to use drugs do so because of the consistent presence of a compassionate adult in their lives- someone other than a stressed-out, overworked parent or grandparent or aunt.

Consider becoming one of those adults. Or send us money to open more Kids Cafes. Or buy a Kitchen Confidential ticket next year. Thanks.

Apple Orchard Update!

A stop by the South Plains Food Bank's apple orchard this morning showed our apples are on their way.

Each year presents the orchard with its own set of challenges. Last year, it looked like a bumper crop going into the Memorial Day week end. Then came a catastrophic hail storm that reduced our yield from an expected 150,000 pounds of apples to 30,000 pounds. The apples that survived were blemished by the hail. But the folks that received the apples in their food boxes last fall were grateful.

This year's crop is overcoming critical sub-freezing weather in December that apparently damaged some buds and sixty mile an hour winds in mid-April that knocked off a lot of blooms. In spite of it all, it is wonderful to walk among the trees and see our apples growing. With luck and grace, we should begin harvesting our Galas in late July or early August.

Today was my daughter's last day to attend Roscoe Wilson, her elementary school. Next fall, she's off to middle school. Gail Tutino, one of her favorite teachers, gave her a blurb attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson entitled "Success."

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

The Orchard is a great place to reflect on these thoughts. Thinking about the volunteers who help us at the orchard and the people who will be enjoy our apples this summer and fall, I know it's going to be a successful year for the orchard.

Helping the Poor

Several years ago while Carolyn Lanier was still the Executive Director for the South Plains Food Bank, she got together a group of community leaders to ask for their help on a project. Carolyn asked each of us to introduce ourselves and say something about why we came to the meeting.

As we went around the room, each of us said something about the organizations we represented and our particular role in efforts to feed the hungry. Bob Cass, then the City Manager of Lubbock, was among the attendees. Bob quipped that he was there because, "Carolyn lacks the power to tax."

Obviously, his answer stuck with me. Charities, such as food banks, as well as local, state, and federal governments all have vital roles to play when it comes to feeding the hungry. Because of the grass roots nature of food banks and the churches and social agencies we partner with, we are usually quick to respond to the needs of the hungry and offer a degree of flexibility that is sometimes lacking in government response. It might be tempting to ask, why not let charity do it all?

Mark Rosenman takes on this issue in his opinion article in the May 4, 2006 edition of The Chronicle of Philanthropy. "Helping the Poor Takes More Thank Charity" examines the unique roles played by charity and government. As Rosenman points out, "charitable contributions would have to grow 30 times faster that usual to make up the difference if government spending on social causes were eliminated."

The future lies in charity and government working in partnership to achieve the common goal of serving the poor and feeding the hungry. Working together allows us to build on the strengths and resources of one another.

David Loves to Blog

I am at the food bank to post my mail and make copies when I make a casual mention to David Weaver about a check I received in the mail today for the GRUB Program. Without even waiting to hear the end of my comment he interrupts me and tells me to write a BLOG about it. If you are checking the food bank BLOG site with any regularity you will realize that David loves to BLOG! So at his insistance here is my BLOG for today:
I recieved a check today in the amount of $20 to go towards a GRUB Scholarship. Every summer we look to local foundations and local donors to help us raise funds to support our summer GRUB program. During the summer we hire approximately 15 teenagers from our volunteer GRUB program to work on the farm. The lucky teens chosen for the summer program work 25 hours a week for minimum wage at the farm from 7:00 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday for 11 weeks. In addition to the early work schedule these young people do all of the manual labor on our 5.5-acre, chemical-free farm growing produce for distribution through the food bank and for our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Share of the Harvest Program. It costs approximately $1,800 for each teen we put through our summer program. Besides the hard work they perform they are learning life skills, job skills and leadership skills.
So...back to the $20 check - I mentioned to David that the $20 check I recieved today meant as much, if not more to me than if I had recieved a check for a full scholarship ($1,800) because I knew $20 from this particular individual was a good portion of her monthly budget. The fact that she sent me that check was a great validation to me and for my GRUB program. I have high hopes that I will recieve checks for $1,800 for full GRUB scholarships, but today's $20 check will have a special place in my heart. Thanks, Jenifer

Cadillacs and Pick-Ups at the Food Bank

There’s an old joke about a judge who is attends a costume party as a law book. On his way home he is arrested and booked into the local jail. Then everyone realizes he is a judge. The moral – don’t book a judge by his cover.

On occasion, people in the community say something to me to the effect that our food box recipients drive nicer cars than they do. Admittly, I have noticed that some people we help will drive a Cadillac – of course it may be a fifteen year old Cadillac. (If nothing else, it’s a testimony to the overall quality of the car.)

These observations came to mind last week when I heard Bob Hartsook talking about trends in fund raising. He referred to “The Millionaire Next Door” by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko. The authors take a look at the social and economic characteristics of millionaires in the U. S. Not the mega wealthy, but people who have amassed a net worth of one million dollars or more… people who may be living next door to you. However because of their life style, you would never know their worth.

Bob asked the audience to guess what kind of car was most commonly driven by these next door millionaires. We guessed a Cadillac, a Lexus, a BMW, a Buick. We were all wrong. The car most often driven by these folks – a used Ford pick-up!

The point is that we can’t always judge a persons situation in life by the cars they drive or the clothes they wear. It’s something to think about the next time I see a Cadillac or an old pick-up pull into the parking lot at the South Plains Food Bank. As a matter of fact, there are two Ford 150's that just pulled up. I hope we treat them like a million.

This Saturday fifteen members of the GRUB (Growing Recruits for Urban Business) Program volunteered at the Arboretum. This was a workday sponsored by the Lubbock Council of Garden Clubs as a way for garden club members to get to know the teens involved in the GRUB Program. We had a wonderful time and accomplished lots of much needed clean-up at the arboretum. To view photos of our fun morning go to: http://www.lubbockgardenclubs.org/grub/index.htm

Everyone invloved in the workday had a great time!
Jenifer

Outstanding Community Service and a gold medalist...

This afternoon, the Lubbock Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications held their annual Celebrity Luncheon to celebrate the positive contributions and achievements of those people who make Lubbock and the South Plains such a great place to live. Breedlove Dehydrated Foods received the Louise Allen Award for outstanding community service in recognition of our response to hurricane victims last fall. In accepting the award, David Fish reminded the audience that Breedlove can respond because of the outstanding staff, volunteers, and donors who are dedicated to feeding the hungry at home and around the world.

Donna Chandler, the President of the South Plains Food Bank Board of Directors, was named a "Gold Medalist" for 2006. Gold Medalists are people who have worked over the years to improve the quality of life for a broad spectrum of people living in Lubbock. Donna personifies that description.

Donna is a great story teller. When she was recognized, she used a story to frame her accomplishments:

When I was a young girl I was fascinated by the Olympics. My dream was to be an Olympic diver and win a gold medal. But the facilities at the Idalou swimming pool were lacking for an Olympic hopeful. So, I moved on to other dreams. Maybe my 6th grade basketball team could be district champs. Well we weren't but we did beat Petersburg the last game of the year, and that was the next best thing to winning district.

As you can probably tell I have always been a very competitive person. I always strive to be the best and I never give up. Little did I know at that time that winning and being the best was not where I would find real happiness?

The real gold would be found in other things in my life. The unconditional love and support of my family, my relationship with God, and the opportunities that I have had working with others to make a difference in the community we live in. Whether it was sharing our story of adoption, serving on the PTA, teaching our 3year old Sunday school class, or working with the U Can Share Food Drive I have always loved being involved.

This is my 16th year to serve on the South Plains food Bank Board. It has been such a joy. The staff, board members, and volunteers are my inspiration. They all have an undying faith that things can be better for everyone. If they see a need, they try to find a solution.

Not only do they distribute food, they started Second Helpings so that hungry people could have a hot meal every day of the week, Produce for the Plains helps families have fresh fruits and vegetables. There are 13 Kids Cafes that make sure 100's of children don't go home hungry after school. The Grub Program teaches at risk teens responsibility and respect. Breedlove is simply feeding the world. Every time I enter the doors I am amazed at the volume of work that is being done, yet everyone takes the time to be compassionate and caring to those in need. Who wouldn't want to be a part of an organization like this?

Working as a volunteer has made me realize that God has given each one of us a gift, a talent. What we decide to do with that gift is our choice. I have found that investing my talent with others can make a difference in this community.

So, from the 8 year old little girl on the high diving board back in Idalou, feet together, hands together, knees shaking, dreaming of gold, I would like to say thank you to The Association for Women in Communication for this wonderful honor.

Sculptor Eddie Dixon summed up the day when he received his gold medal. "This is nice. All my friends tell me I have to be dead before I can receive any recognition as an artist." Fortunately, Eddie, Donna, Breedlove, and all the other honorees looked pretty healthy. Congratulationsions to all.

Lend a hand to support the Good Sam Act

The story of the good Samaritan tells of the kindness of a stranger to a man in need. The volunteers and donors who give time, talent, food and money are modern day good Samaritans. Last year, the Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Act (Senate Bill 94) was introduced in Congress as a way to encourage the good Samaritians in our midst to donate food to agencies -- such as the South Plains Food Bank and Breedlove Dehydrated Foods -- that are feeding the hungry. If passed this bill will be of great benefit to the farmers and food manufacturers who are already such generous donors. If would allow them to deduct some of the fair market value of the fresh produce and processed foods they donate rather than the actual cost of the goods. Under the Good Sam law, they might afford to do more!

How do you know when people need food?

Over 150 people representing 65 of our partner organizations who feed the hungry throughout the South Plains attended the South Plains Food Bank's agency conference yesterday. Most of the folks who attended are volunteers with their churches and agencies. First United Methodist Church graciously allowed us to take advantage of their wonderful new facilities.

Along with topics such as Food Safety, Pest Control, and Nutrition, we hosted a session on Customer Service. Representatives from United Supermarkets, NTS Communications, and Concho Valley Regional Food Bank talked about their approaches to customer care. The bottom line is to treat people the way you would like to be treated. Since so many of our partners are faith based, it seems they should have a leg up on treating people with respect and dignity.

Our partners do a great job of taking care of the hungry in the communities they serve. That's the strength of our network. Of course the question always comes up, do these people really need help or are they just scamming the system? A gentlemen from summed up his attitude with a comment I can identify with. " Then the husband comes in to ask for help, you know they need help." More times than not, I've heard men say something to the effect of if I didn't have children to feed, I would do without.

getting the job Done

Hollis Lynch called me early last year to tell me about his plans to move his real estate business from Las Vegas to Lubbock. His plans included giving back to the community by donating 5% of his sales to the South Plains Food Bank. It is a promise he made.

Hollis made the move to Lubbock last October and has been getting established. Hollis is as good as his word. He stopped by today to make his first donation to the South Plains Food Bank.

We visited about the South Plains Food Bank, our partnerships with other churches and hunger agencies in the region, and Food Bank programs. The South Plains Food Bank and our agencies serve over 18,000 people each week. We can only do that because people like Hollis care about others and are willing to combine action with compassion. Hollis is getting the job done for his clients and he is getting the job done for the hungry across the South Plains.

Thanks!

A new year blooms

The orchard crew is wrapping up their pruning at the George Elle Rotary District 5730 South Plains Food Bank Apple Orchard just in time. Spring has arrived and 2,500 trees are leafing out and putting on blooms. It's a beautiful time at the orchard.

Since January Tommy Durham and volunteers from the TDCJ Montford Unit have been working to get the orchard ready for this years growing season.

Poet John Leax summed it up:


"A small orchard gracing a hillside, pruned to bear, is a sign of man's caring.
It fits into a scheme of many hills and many orchards, a scheme of many men caring."



Well, maybe our orchard isn't on a hill side, but it is a scheme of many people caring starting with George Elle, Howard Mercer, Cliff Breaud and a host of Rotarians and others who asked the question, "Wouldn't it be great if we could provide fresh apples to the hungry."

George is no longer with us, but what a wonderful legacy he left behind. Barring hail storms, which we had last year, we could have 200,000 pounds of apples to help feed the hungry throughout the South Plains. Harvest starts in late July!