Capital Area Food Bank of Texas | Feedback | Summer 2013

Our mission: to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger.

CAFB Board of Directors Mike Tomsu, Chair, Vinson & Elkins LLP Heidi Baschnagel, Vice Chair, National Instruments Corporation Melissa Mitchell, Treasurer, Ernst & Young Vanessa Downey-Little, Secretary, City of Austin, Retired Melissa Anthony Sinn, anthonyBarnum Public Relations John Cyrier, Sabre Commercial Inc. Matt Dow, Jackson Walker LLP Mark Downing, Intersil Corporation Mohamed el-Hamdi, Ph.D., Samsung Austin Semiconductor LLC Kenneth Gladish, Ph.D., Seton Foundations Terry G. Knighton Joyce Mullen, Dell Inc. John Sanchez, Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Sheldy Starkes, MBA, PMP, Booker, Starkes, & Patodia, Inc. Leslie Sweet, H-E-B Grocery Company LP Catherine P. Thompson, Motion Computing Inc. Jason Thurman, PlainsCapital Bank Mark J. Williams

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message from the President & CEO

For many children, this time of year is full of anticipation.

School’s about to start, kids get to see friends they haven’t seen all summer and catch up with them, but most of all, they are excited to get the new school year going. Every school year is a new beginning, where kids start over or expand on what they learned the previous year or during the summer.

Children full of anticipation believe that a brighter future is within their reach. Many of us know this feeling as hope, and the foundation of hope is opportunity.

feedback Summer 2013

There are many factors that can limit or expand opportunity for our youth. Consistent access to nutritious food can be one significant limiting factor.

In the 1930s, seniors were America’s poor. By 2003, children had joined seniors as America’s face of poverty with 1 in 6 children living in this substandard condition. Studies released in 2013 indicate that individuals with jobs have increasingly joined the ranks of America’s poor – 10.4 million of them!

Many of these working poor have children to support, and today, nearly 1 in 4 children in our service territory is as risk of hunger.

Children who never experience hunger are 2.5 times more likely to grow into healthy adults than kids like them who, at some point didn’t have enough to eat. Unfortunately, in Texas in a given year nearly 1 in 5 households - and 28 percent of children – experiences food insecurity.

To get a firsthand look at the ever changing face of hunger, I’ve been on the road here in Austin and to Teague and Temple (among other cities) gathering data for our Hunger in America Study – Central Texas Report and speaking with the clients you help us nourish every day. This experience continues to reinforce (for me) the importance of our work and what it means when families know that their Food Bank and Food Pantry are there for them in their time of need. It’s more than a mood lifter or belly filler – it’s an attitude shifter knowing we are there for them.

Here at the Food Bank, the models for change and the programs we provide are designed to create meaningful change in the lives of those in need. They are directly influenced and inspired by the people we serve. With your support, food becomes the fuel for anticipation and learning, a better tomorrow and the belief that the best is yet to come.

The hope is real!

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Capital Area Food Bank of Texas 8201 S. Congress Ave. Austin, Texas 78745 | (512) 282-2111 Color printing generously donated by Ginny’s Printing Inc.

HANK PERRET President & CEO

Our mission: to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger.

Nutrition is a fundamental part of this support. Children who experience hunger are at risk for behavioral problems, low achievement and poor health outcomes. In Central Texas, 1 in 4 children is at risk of hunger, according to Feeding America’s recent Map the Meal Gap research released earlier this year.

With so many children at risk in the community, Southwest Key partnered with the Food Bank to fight back. The Food Bank brings nutrition education classes and expertise to the families who participate in Southwest Key’s programs, in addition to the monthly food distribution.

By encouraging families to lead healthy lives, Southwest Key is ensuring that families have the ingredients needed to create successful students.

“We strive to provide a quality education for these children so they don’t have to stand in line for food again,” Sanchez said.

Ingredients for Success

Sara and Stephanie are clients of the Capital Area Food Bank partner agency Southwest Key in Austin

Sara has a demeanor much older than her 10 years of age. She stood in line at the Capital Area Food Bank mobile food pantry, still wearing her East Austin College Prep school uniform, even though school let out over three hours ago. This food distribution at Southwest Key is in partnership with the Food Bank to bring healthy food to the families in the surrounding community.

became quite serious as focused on translating in American Sign Language.

Like many of her classmates from the East Austin based charter school, Sara stays after school with her mom to wait for fresh produce, canned goods and other healthy foods. She stood at the elbow of her mother, Stephanie, and waited patiently for the right moment. Stephanie is hearing impaired and her daughter Sara helps her communicate with the Food Bank volunteers, like when she asked if they have any extra produce for their family.

Families like Stephanie and Sara’s are the focus of the Capital Area Food Bank’s collaborations with organizations like Southwest Key, the operator of the East Austin College Prep charter school.

“She wants to know if there are any more melons,” Sara said on behalf of her mother. Sara’s face

The groceries, especially the fresh fruits and vegetables, Sara and Stephanie receive from the Food Bank help stretch their monthly budget to make sure the family stays afloat in this tough economic time.

“We realize that to improve the quality of life for children, we must also support the families,” said Juan Sanchez, founder and president of Southwest Key, “Children don’t live in isolation. For children to be successful, they need a strong, supportive family.”

With the new school year already underway, the healthy food provided by the Food Bank is very much appreciated by families like Sara and Stephanie’s.

“We strive to provide a quality education for these children so they don’t have to stand in line for food again.”

Dr. Juan Sanchez

Just before they departed the monthly delivery of groceries by the mobile food pantry, a volunteer was able to procure a melon for the family.

“Thank you!” Sara exclaimed, as her mother took the fruit.

“She loves melons,” Stephanie signed, referring to her daughter.

“She deserves the best,” Stephanie continued, “because she’s the best.”

Stephanie beamed at Sara, and Sara smiled up at her mother as she translated these last words.

1 in 4 children in Central Texas lives in a household at risk of hunger. Visit austinfoodbank.org/donate to help us make sure the school year starts off right for Central Texas students.

For more on our events, follow us on Twitter: @cafbtx

join us

for these upcoming events: Hunger Action Month Tours Capital Area Food Bank Month of September Join us for an open house tour at the Food Bank warehouse.

You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at our warehouse and learn how we help nourish 48,000 Central Texans every week. Tours last about 20 minutes. Guests must wear closed toed shoes and tops with sleeves for safety reasons.

Visit austinfoodbank.org/ham to RSVP.

Hunger Action Month film Screenings Carver Museum Sept. 18 and 25, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Goldwasser Real Estate’s 10th Annual Rock & Restock featuring The Whiskey Sisters (pictured) and Alpha Rev raised $7,100.

Summer Food Service Program Kickoff at El Buen Samaritano with Chef Bull.

21st Annual Stamp Out Hunger raised 84,935 pounds of food and $1,762

Thank you for helping us fight hunger in Central Texas A special thank you to everyone who made these events successful!

Hunger is a complex issue impacting thousands of Central Texans in our community. Join us for two films that explore the issues that surround food insecurity. Visit austinfoodbank.org/ham to RSVP. • Sept. 18, we will screen “Poor Kids,” a PBS Frontline documentary on how poverty impacts children. A panel will follow the film, featuring child health and policy experts.

• Sept. 25, we will screen “Farm-City, State,” a film focusing on Austin’s local food economy. Director David Barrow will be present for a question and answer session following the film.

Hunger Action Month Google+ HangOuts Sept. 6 and 27, 11 a.m.

Learn more about food insecurity from the comfort of your office. We will host Google+ Hangout video conferences with national experts on hunger and policy. Visit austinfoodbank. org/ham to learn more.

• Sept. 6, Joel Berg of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger will talk about hunger relief.

• Sept. 27, Kevin Concannon, USDA under secretary for food nutrition and consumer services, will discuss policy initiatives on food insecurity.

CANstruction Barton Creek Square Mall Nov. 9-6

Over 100 Target employees volunteered in Product Recovery for the 2013 Target Day of Service.

APLA/APES 4th Annual Golf Tournament raised $35,020.

Awesome volunteers at our 80s Volunteer Theme Awesome volunteers at 80sNight Volunteer Night! !

CANstruction brings together Austin-area architects, engineers and builders to showcase their talents by designing and building giant sculptures made entirely of canned foods. These amazing structures will be built on November 9 at Barton Creek Square Mall and on display throughout the week. All of the food used in the structures will be donated to CAFB. For more information, please visit: austinfoodbank.org/canstruction

For a complete list of upcoming events, visit austinfoodbank.org/events

Learn how you can help at austinfoodbank.org

Success tastes like breakfast The Hunger Warriors

The Hunger Warriors from Elsa England Elementary in RRISD present a donation to the Food Bank as part of their service learning project on child hunger.

Thank you for nourishing dreams

What do you call the gathering of over 100 Central Texas elementary school students on a field trip to the Texas State Capitol? A free day for the students? A stressful day for the elementary school teachers and chaperones? We call it the beginning of a movement: the Hunger Warriors.

As summer comes to an end, many of us will look back on a carefree season of fun in the sun. But for thousands of Central Texas families, summer is the hardest time of year to keep food on the table.

Like all great things, the Hunger Warriors have humble origins. At Round Rock ISD’s Elsa England Elementary School, third grade teacher Rachael Brunson wanted to bring the issue of child hunger into the classroom. “The face of hunger is misunderstood” Rachael explained. “Children have the misconception that hungry people are lazy.”

We know that no child should ever go hungry – especially during their active summer months. That’s why the Capital Area Food Bank turns to the community each year for its Summer Meals That Matter campaign.

She developed a year-long experiential learning project to educate her students on the issue of hunger in their community and to empower them to take action. With the support of an education grant from Sodexo, the third grade class developed community service projects, raised money and even presented to younger students on the issue of hunger.

This year’s Summer Meals That Matter campaign launched May 15 and concluded Aug. 15. Our goal was to raise 500,000 meals for children and families at risk of hunger this season. With your help, we blew our goal away, raising over 600,000 nutritious summer meals.

Rachael understands the pain of child hunger too well. “I grew up hungry and ashamed,” she said.

“I often went without lunch because I didn’t want the other kids to know I was so poor.” Sharing her experiences inspired the students to want to do more. Elsa England Elementary School teamed up with Travis Heights Elementary School in Austin to write letters to community leaders and create art projects to raise awareness of hunger.

During the last legislative session, the Hunger Warriors discovered there was a bill at the Texas Capitol that could make a big difference in the lives of children at risk of hunger. The Breakfast Bill, sponsored by Rep. Eddie Rodriguez and Sen. Eddie Lucio, would bring school breakfast for children attending schools with large populations of low-income students.

The Hunger Warriors held a rally on May 9 in support of the Breakfast Bill. Holding signs and singing chants, over 100 Central Texas students stood together in support of programs to end child hunger.

Emboldened by the chants of the children outside, Sen. Lucio pushed to pass the Breakfast Bill that very morning. The students screamed with delight when they learned that they had been a part of a historic move to end child hunger in Texas.

The project did more than impact hunger relief in Central Texas. It changed how the students saw themselves. “My students realize that they do have a voice and they can make a difference,” Rachael explained. “I know that they will be advocates for those who are less fortunate.”

No doubt, the Hunger Warriors will change the world. They already have.

To help us reach our goal, we had help from two special matching gift sponsors, who challenged our donors by offering to match donations up to a certain total dollar amount. First, Walmart pledged to match every Summer Meals That Matter donation up to $25,000. Once we met that goal, SolarWinds stepped in to match an additional $10,000 worth of gifts – for a total match of $35,000!

Your generosity during the Summer Meals That Matter campaign made a big difference to children like Sylvia and Lorenya, who will be starting middle school this fall. These bright young girls love science and journalism and serve as mentors for younger students through their after-school program. They have big dreams and can’t wait to go to college and pursue exciting careers.

Thank you for sending children like Sylvia and Lorenya back to school ready to learn, play and achieve. Thank you for providing summer meals, and more importantly, for nourishing big dreams.

It is never too late to help Central Texas children at risk of hunger!

Visit austinfoodbank.org/donate to help today!

By Kathy Green, Senior Director of Advocacy & Public Policy

This session, the Texas Legislature passed one of the most important bills you may have never heard of: the School Breakfast Bill. The School Breakfast bill requires that school districts with large populations of low-income students must provide free breakfast to all students. But what is the connection between education and nutrition?

According to the Food Research and Action Center, kids who eat breakfast at school have improved attendance, decreased tardiness, better behavior and higher test scores. Hunger advocates have known this for a while. Expanding access to breakfast means that more children have what they need to succeed.

The bill failed in three previous sessions. However the persistence of hunger advocates and the education community kept the movement alive. We applaud the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Eddie Rodriguez of Austin and Sen. Eddie Lucio of Brownsville, for bringing all parties together and moving this bill to the governor’s desk.

Starting this school year, children across Texas will benefit from a healthy breakfast to kick start their day. Best yet, this meal will help them achieve all that they can be.