Capital Area Food Bank of Texas | Feedback | Spring 2010

ca p ita l a r e a f o o d ba n k o f T e x a s 8201 S. Congress Avenue A u s t i n , Te x a s 7 8 7 4 5

Non-Profit Org US Postage PAID AUSTIN, T X

A d d r e s s s e r v ic e r e q u e s t e d

Permit #646

Donate online at austinfoodbank.org

The mission of the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger.

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Hunger in America 2010, p2 | To Give is to Be Human, p3 | Thank You and Upcoming Events, p4 & 5 | The Good Things You Dream Will Come True, p6 | Social Innovation, p6 | Hunger Heroes, p7 | Message from the President & CEO, p8

Photo courtesy CAFB

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Hunger in America 2010: Central Texas Report Hunger in America 2010, released in February

by Capital Area Food Bank and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, shows that nearly 300,000 Central Texans —including 123,000 children—receive emergency food each year from CAFB and its Partner Agencies. The findings represent a staggering 79 percent increase since the previously released study in 2006, and represent the largest increase in CAFB’s 29-year history.

The numbers mean moms and dads must choose between paying their rent or mortgage and feeding their children. Older adults retired on a fixed income must choose between paying for medical expenses and eating.

People who were recently laid off are now lef t searching in a struggling economy for a paycheck sufficient to support life’s basic necessities, and to feed themselves and their families.

To download the full report, visit HungerisUNacceptable.com.

The methodology incorporated into the 2010 study includes data collected from February through June 2009. The Capital Area Food Bank conducted face-to-face interviews with 354 people seeking emergency food at food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs, as well as interviews with more than 250 agencies that provide food assistance.

Nationally, Feeding America collected quantitative and qualitative feedback from 61,000 face-to-face, in-depth interviews with people seeking emergency food assistance and more than 37,000 agency surveys, making this the largest, most comprehensive study ever conducted on domestic hunger.

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Donate online at austinfoodbank.org

To Give is to Be Human Pedro Mercado’s story, January 2009, Catholic Charities Angels of Hope Food Pantry Client (Translated and interpreted by Alese Colehour, CAFB Communications Story Bank VISTA)

My name is Pedro Mercado, and I’m here with my two-year-old granddaughter, Stephanie. This is the first time I’ve visited a food pantry. I am a teacher at Brown Elementary School in northwest Austin, and I have six grandchildren and three grown children. They work odd jobs whenever they can, but are looking for more stable employment. I have been an activist in the Hispanic community for nearly three decades.

I work with underprivileged youth, tutoring and mentoring them so they have a chance to get ahead in life.

There are people in the world who are dying of hunger. Food pantries like these are one way to contribute, one way to extend a helping hand.

The food the people receive here supports us by leaving our limited income available to secure other resources for our children. It allows our whole family to have full stomachs. Because you help us, we are able to pay our taxes and other bills. For this, we are grateful.

It allows our whole family to have full stomachs. Because you help us, we are able to pay our taxes and other bills. For this, we are grateful.

This country has so much potential. It is important we use our resources wisely. Thirty years ago, when I first arrived from Mexico City, I had to learn different ways to think and learn about different cultures. I realized, though, that everyone has something in common—a need to live. The experience of living is a miracle. Everyone will eventually reach their last day and pass on, but we have an important mission: leave the world better for those who come after us. No matter what race you are or what beliefs you hold, we are of the same planet. If we do good for others, we will live well.

The future I would like for my grandchildren is one of peace: a world where race doesn’t matter and where they will have enough to eat, an education, and good health. I hope they will be able to overcome oppression and have a little more space to live. Today, there are children who are completely incapacitated. There are so many things we can do to stop this from happening. In fact, we have an obligation to do so.

Photo by Alese Colehour

The Food Bank gives the community hope because what it does is embrace humanity. To give is to be human.

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cafbeventscafbevents

thank you to our community eve and participants, january — m HERE ARE A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.

Austin CROP Hunger Walk Organizers expect to raise more than $20,000

Tuaca Body Art Ball Raised more than $1,500

Touchdown! Cen successful Sou

H-E-B, Central Market and Randalls shoppers, and m

Bowl weekend into a time of unprecedented giving to provide more than 750,000 meals for hungry food were donated.

Special thanks to our Souper Bowl of Caring partners: H

and local media outlets KEYE TV; FOX 7; KVUE-TV

TV; Telefutura; Telemundo; Univision-KAKW 62; KA La Jefa 107.7; and the Austin American-Statesman.

26 Miles for 26 Charities

Turnquist Partners Realtors Food Drive

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Pecan Springs Elementary hosted the 2010 Central Texas Souper Bowl of Caring Kick-Off.

JOIN US FOR THESE UPCOMING EVENTS:

ent coordinators march 2010 !

friday, january 1 – wednesday, june 30 “THE BIGGEST LOSER” POUND FOR POUND CHALLENGE Lose weight while helping to nourish hungry Central Texans. Join us in the Pound for Pound Challenge, created by NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” and Feeding America. For every pound you lose through June 30, 2010, General Mills will donate 14 cents to Feeding America — enough to deliver one bag of groceries to the Capital Area Food Bank. Simply take the online pledge at pfpchallenge.com, begin your sensible diet and exercise plan, and watch your weight loss generate pounds of groceries for those in need!

friday, april 16 – sunday, april 18 17TH ANNUAL AUSTIN REGGAE FESTIVAL AUDITORIUM SHORES (RIVERSIDE AT SOUTH FIRST ST.) FRIDAY: 3 - 10 P.M. SATURDAY & SUNDAY: NOON - 10 P.M. Join thousands of reggae fans and enjoy great music, vendors and family fun. NEW THIS YEAR—A third day has been added to the festival. Daily entrance fee is $15 (including tax) with a requested donation of two healthy, non-perishable food items. Purchase tickets in advance for $12.50 (including tax and service charge) at all Planet K locations. Proceeds benefit the Food Bank. Note: No dogs allowed.

Thank you to our sponsor, Brown Distributing.

wednesday, may 12 – monday, june 28

Cars and Coffee

H-E-B “HELP END HUNGER” At H-E-B stores all across Texas, help end hunger by adding a $1, $3 or $5 donation to your final grocery bill. Tear-off coupons are available at every register. Funds collected will benefit food banks serving the community where the funds are raised. Funds from Austin-area H-E-B stores will benefit the Capital Area Food Bank.

ntral Texans score another uper Bowl of Caring

saturday, may 8 18TH ANNUAL NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS “STAMP OUT HUNGER” It’s the largest one-day food drive in the nation! Letter carriers across the US will collect bags of healthy, non-perishable food while on their routes. Look for your bag in your mailbox, fill it with healthy, nonperishable food and set it by your mailbox on Saturday, May 8 to be picked up. Donations collected in Central Texas stay local.

more than 100 area churches and schools helped transform Super

g and serving. The Souper Bowl of Caring enabled the Food Bank Central Texans. More than $102,000 and 580,000 pounds of

H-E-B, Central Market, Randalls Food Markets, the Austin Toros,

monday, july 19 - saturday, july 31

V; KXAN Austin News; The CW Austin; News 8 Austin; My Austin

10th ANNUAL KEYE TV FOOD DRIVE Our local CBS affiliate and the Capitol Area Boy Scouts of America join for one of the largest food drives in Central Texas. Participate by placing healthy, non-perishable food on your doorstep for Boy Scouts to pick up on Saturday, July 31. Or, donate at any Austin-area Randalls by purchasing pre-packaged bags of food at the entrance of the store, or by adding $1 or $5 to your grocery bill when you check out. Thank you, sponsors: KEYE TV, Randalls and the Capitol Area Boy Scouts.

ASE 101; The River 102.3; Relevant Radio 970; La Que Buena 104.3;

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Hyde Park Baptist Church youth held a food drive during the 2010 Central Texas Souper Bowl of Caring. Students donated more than 1,300 pounds of food to nourish hungry Central Texans.

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2009 Austin Reggae Festival

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

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The Good Things You

Dream Will Come True

By Alese Colehour, CAFB Communications Stor y Bank VISTA

Laura, 9, has busy working parents. She stays after school every day at Hillcrest Elementary and has dinner at Kids Cafe.

“I like everything they give me here,” she says. “Especially the chicken and rice. My parents are always busy so I have to catch the bus to my grandma’s house [after Kids Cafe].”

Laura’s mom cleans houses for a living, and her dad is an electrician.

“I like that after school I get to eat this delicious food, and then I get to learn more so I can do better at school,” she said about the tutoring program at Hillcrest. “We learn how to write and how to use punctuation and capitalization.”

Laura asked us to share some advice with you: “Sometimes life can be a little tough,” she says. “But be happy, have fun, and be strong, and the good things you dream will come true.”

Social Innovation

Digital Marketing Nourishes our Neighbors Map out all 355 CAFB Partner Agencies on our new Google maps. You can zoom in and click on locations to learn more details about each agency and view maps of agencies by city and by type of service. This map is just the beginning of additional features to be added to our website throughout the year. Stay tuned for a truly interactive experience. Check out the new maps at: austinfoodbank.org/get-help/partner-agencies.html.

Austin Reggae Festival goes mobile! Text “AustinReggae” to 30644 and receive updates about the festival, and participate in fun contests and giveaways.

The iPheedANeed iPhone App helps you make choices for work play, and volunteering, and delivers news that helps you “feed the need” to end hunger. Download this free app at: iPheedANeed.com.

Finding the perfect community event just got a little easier. Follow @events4good on Twitter to learn about events, cause related marketing and event-related volunteer opportunities benefiting the Food Bank.

Listen to our Hunger Stories podcast, created by Alese Colehour, CAFB’s Story Bank VISTA, and hear clients share their hunger experience in their own words at austinfoodbank.org/stories/

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Photo courtesy CAFB

“When I grow up, I want to be an author,” she told us. “A poet, actually.”

Donate online at austinfoodbank.org

Hunger Heroes:

Serving Together to Turn Hunger into Hope Photos by John Lyon

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Sandy Dochen and Susan Baughman

Jim & Wanda Mills

Terrell Blodgett

Ron Oliveira and Judy Maggio

Our annual “Hunger Heroes” Appreciation Luncheon in March honored our Hunger Heroes who “turned hunger into hope” in 2009. Through generous donations of time, talent and treasure, we provided nourishment for nearly 300,000 hungry Central Texans.

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Karin Dicks, Kristi Fontenot, Michele Walker-Moak, and Amanda Webster

Gil Jester, Marie Hand, and Carmen Jackson

Rex Couch, Andi Crow, and Carlos Rangel

Dana Shelton, Eddie Garcia, and David Davenport

Today, the number of Central Texans seeking food assistance is up more than 60 percent from a year ago, and many sought services for the very first time. 48,000 people received assistance from the Capital Area Food Bank last year, including 21,000 children.

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Mickey Bentley, Eric Butzow, and Brandon Ulry

Shobie Partos, Laura Estes, Eddie Garcia, Leslie Lockett, and Danny Flores

Wayne Glander, Cathy Roach, Spider Ryan, and Cris Garza

Our impact is a direct result of those unique contributions. We celebrate our

Hunger Heroes: Serving Together to Turn Hunger into Hope.

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message

CAFB Officers & Board of Directors

from the president & CEO

JIM BAUDIN (Chairperson), 3M, Retired

MICHAEL J. TOMSU (Immediate Past Chairperson), Vinson & Elkins

As the leader of a large social sector organization, I manage large numbers on a daily basis. Numbers such as 22 million pounds of food distributed, 18 million meals provided, costs associated with transportation, purchased food and building occupancy come to mind as I write this letter. But no matter how many or how huge the numbers I oversee, one number is emblazoned in my memory, a number that jumped off the page at me from the Hunger in America 2010: Central Texas Report.

MELISSA ANTHONY, anthonyBarnum Public Relations

48,000

MATT DOW (Vice Chairperson), Jackson Walker, L.L.P. JAYNA BURGDORF (Secretary), Community Volunteer CATHERINE P. THOMPSON (Treasurer), Motion Computing

I shouldn’t have been surprised by the number, but somehow seeing it in print shocked me. It’s been clear to all of us at CAFB that we’ve been in “disaster response” mode since long before Hurricane Ike hit the upper Texas coast in September, 2008. When gasoline prices topped $4 a gallon, that abrupt increase pushed many Central Texas families into the hunger line. After the devastation of Ike, the economy then lurched in the wrong direction, hitting Austin’s tech industry particularly hard. This time, the challenge faced by us and the other food banks in Texas was severe and sustained. And since this crisis was national in scope, help wasn’t on the way from communities outside the impact zone. So, eighteen months after the cracks in the economy widened and the effects of the recession filled the hunger line with families and children, pushing CAFB Partner Agencies, we share the impact of this crisis.

SUSAN A. BAUGHMAN, Clark, Thomas & Winters, P.C. JOHN CYRIER, Sabre Commercial, Inc. MARK DOWNING, Silicon Laboratories VANESSA DOWNEY-LITTLE, City of Austin, Retired RICK GESING, Applied Materials DR . KENNETH L. GLADISH, PH.D., Austin Community Foundation DR . DEBORAH KERR, PH.D., Consultant LESLIE LOCKETT, H-E-B

Capital Area Food Bank currently provides food for 48,000 Central Texans a week. Of those 48,000 people, 41.1 percent, or nearly 19,000, are children.

MELISSA MITCHELL, Ernst & Young DAVID MONTOYA, University of Texas School of Law

I understand it’s my job to manage numbers in the millions and ensure that your investment is well cared for and properly used, and that the social impact it makes is the greatest community return on investment we can provide. I am confident in our ability to deliver on that promise. But this is a number that cannot be dismissed, managed, or briefly considered and set aside. As the President & CEO of Capital Area Food Bank, I seek opportunities to better understand this number. I recently visited the CAFB Reaching Out Center in Pflugerville to visit with staff, volunteers and clients on a busy and chilly Friday. During my time at this amazing food pantry, this bastion of care and love for those in need, the number 48,000 began to make sense. You see, it’s not one large number – it’s not a football stadium filled with fans, or equal to the crowd at a large outdoor music festival . . .

HANK PERRET, Consultant SUE SNYDER, Jackson Walker, L.L.P.

feedback?

Questions, comments, or suggestions?

Change of address? Receiving duplicate copies?

It’s the one.

Kerri Qunell, Vice President, Communications kqunell@austinfoodbank.org

That number represents the little girl who asked me if she could play in the toy area while her mother walked through the distribution line. That number represents the man who told me he was a recent CAFB donor and volunteer, but now, after being laid off, is in need of help. That number represents the single mom working two jobs to keep her family fed and a roof over their heads, or the senior alone for the first time in his life after the loss of his partner.

read it online!

Download & subscribe to CAFB publications at austinfoodbank.org

subscribe to our blog at

48,000 is the child, the mom, the recently unemployed, the senior, all members of our community, reaching out for help, reaching out for food – 48,000 times a week.

austinfoodbank.wordpress.com

subscribe to our podcast at

Hunger is unacceptable. It just is.

austinfoodbank.org/stories

go mobile with our iPhone app iPheedANeed.com

connect with us on:

David M. Davenport President & CEO

@events4good

Ca pita l A r e a Fo o d B a n k o f T e x a s 8201 S. Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 78745 (512) 282-2111 ext. 228 n e w s l e tt e r d e s i g n b y t r ib e z a .

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