News from the Central Texas Food Bank
Holiday 2016
What’s INSIDE Waco Family Gets By With Your Help
Welcome Derrick Chubbs Living On Almost Nothing Community Kitchen Provides New Opportunities Your gift has double the impact this holiday season. Details inside.
That’s great news to Gene, who lost his job at the beginning of the summer. He tells us Waco’s economy slows down when the Baylor students are out of town – “it’s better when they’re here.” To save on childcare costs, Gene took care of Jocelyn while school was out and says it was actually a blessing to be able to spend time with his daughter. This summer, he coached Jocelyn as she learned to swim in the deep end of her local pool. “She’s been off in the 8-foot without her noodle!” her father beams. “I’m very proud of her.”
“With the pantry helping us out, we make ends meet”
Jocelyn is nine years old and just started fourth grade in Waco. At school, she likes science and social studies and has lots of friends. And this past summer, she accompanied her father, Gene, on a visit to the food pantry at Caritas of Waco, a Partner Agency of the Central Texas Food Bank in McLennan County. At the food pantry, Jocelyn and Gene pick up milk, bread, vegetables, fruit, canned goods and other staples. Caritas uses a client-choice model, meaning Gene gets to individually select the items the family needs and will be able to use. As a veteran, Gene also has access to a case management program at Caritas that helps low-income veterans attain greater selfsufficiency and move out of poverty. At home, Gene cooks from scratch and teaches Jocelyn to do the same. She describes how she prepares carrots, her favorite vegetable: “I like to get a cheese grater and just grate it, and I put ranch dressing, chop up some cherry tomatoes and mix it up with lettuce.” “She also is very in love with blueberries and raspberries,” her dad says, prompting a giggle from Jocelyn. “So we add them to the cereal. Sometimes we add some cool whip and make
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Times get hard sometimes and we really appreciate you, because food is a necessity and my kids need proper nutrition. it a treat.” Even though they’ll prepare a special treat from time to time, the family stays focused on eating healthy and balanced meals. Gene was recently diagnosed with diabetes and made some changes to lose weight and improve his nutrition. “At Caritas we have a chance to get fresh vegetables,” he says. “I try to stay away from fried foods, so we take advantage of getting our fresh vegetables and eating a little healthier.” Right now, access to fresh produce is on the rise for people in need in McLennan County – for families like Gene and Jocelyn’s. This is thanks to an innovative new partnership between Caritas and the Central Texas Food Bank, the “produce hub.” The produce hub is a used 40-foot-long shipping container purchased by the Food
Bank, retrofitted to serve as a cold storage space for fresh produce and placed in the back parking lot of the Caritas facility. When Caritas needed more cold storage space, the 2,375 cubic-foot container was a smart alternative to costly renovations. To beautify the storage unit, art students from Baylor University generously donated their time and talent to decorate the produce hub with a mural spanning the entire length of the container’s side. The produce hub is already putting more healthy food on the table for Central Texas families, children and older adults. “We’re on a pace to have nearly 3.5 million pounds of food come through the produce hub in its first year, allowing us and other food relief charities in the area to get even more fresh, nutritious food to our neighbors in need,” says Buddy Edwards, Executive Director at Caritas of Waco.
She also is very in love with blueberries and raspberries. But in the fall, he says, “school’s getting ready to start back up, Baylor’s going to be back, the economy’s going to pick up, and I’m quite sure I’m going to have a job.” In the meantime, his wife still has her job as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the VA, and their family of four is down to one income. “We work and we don’t have any food stamps or Medicare or anything coming in,” Gene says. “We’re on a really strict budget with just her working and not me. But with the pantry helping us out, we make ends meet.” Gene wants the Food Bank’s supporters to know his family is grateful for the help. “Thank you for adding to our nutrition,” he says. “Times get hard sometimes and we really appreciate you, because food is a necessity and my kids need proper nutrition. I just want to say thank you from my heart.”
Welcome Derrick Chubbs The new President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank, Derrick Chubbs, is no stranger to helping families. His dedication to providing relief to those who crucially need it is manifested through his work at several local and national level nonprofits these past years. However, his journey began in the private sector working for leading tech companies such as IBM, Pervasive Software and Dell. Though he held senior leadership positions, his true calling was to make an impact on the lives of others. The long-time Austin resident began serving his community as a volunteer in leadership roles for a number of nonprofit organizations in Central Texas, including Easter Seals Central Texas. His spirit of service was finally appeased when he became the CEO of the American Red Cross of Central Texas in Austin in addition to serving as the Texas State Relations Representative. He continued his work with the Red Cross as the Division Vice President for the Southwest and Rocky Mountains Division, and went on to become the National Vice President of Humanitarian Services for Disaster Workforce Readiness at the Red Cross, leading the national strategy in producing a U.S. disaster workforce to manage, execute and support disaster services. Derrick will now lead the largest hunger relief organization in Central Texas that serves more than 46,000 individuals a week in a vast 21-county service territory that extends from Waco to San Marcos and from Fredericksburg to Luling. “I’m very excited to be joining the Central Texas Food Bank,” Chubbs said. “As a long-time Austin resident, I know that it’s a great organization. It’s well respected in the community and well run. Its mission of feeding our neighbors in need has always been important and will become even more vital as the region continues to grow. I’m looking forward to this opportunity to carry on the Food Bank’s legacy, while helping to chart a path for the future of hunger relief in Central Texas.” His experience in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors and passion to help others and make a difference will help the Food Bank as it continues to expand to help close the meal gap in Central Texas.
Living On Almost Nothing By Kathy Green, Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy
In their book, “$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America,” authors Kathryn J. Edin and H. Luke Shaefer describe families across America subsisting on virtually no cash (approximately $2 a day), and how they struggle to live in today’s society. Most of these families work. However, earning $9.00 an hour or less, they cannot make ends meet without assistance. Their survival depends on a patchwork of benefits like SNAP, housing vouchers, school meals, assistance from family, help from charities and the minimal income they use to pay bills. Nothing is left for “extras” such as entertainment or eating out. They hope that no emergencies occur, such as a serious illness or broken car. After all, they cannot afford to miss work or pay for medicine or repair bills. At the Central Texas Food Bank, we see many of these families. They are not coming to our Partner Agencies because they’d rather get their food from them instead of a grocery store. They visit the pantries and soup kitchens because they often have no other option. These families are constantly making basic needs choices: Will they pay the utilities or buy food? Will they put gas in their car or dinner on the table? Fortunately, we are here to help. Nevertheless, getting food assistance from the Food Bank is not a long-term solution. To truly address poverty and its resulting symptom of hunger, we must support public policies that advance meaningful work for our clients. A job with a living wage, and the workforce education and affordable child care to help them get and keep that job are essential. Without such initiatives, we will continue to have families stuck in a cycle of living on “$2.00 a day.” In our advocacy and public policy work, we first and foremost support legislation and initiatives that advance federal nutrition programs and constructive food policy. However, we know that this is just one part of helping those living in poverty or just above it. As we go forward during the next legislative session and next Congressional session—both starting in January—we will look to support those policies that provide self-sufficiency through strong work opportunities.
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UPCOMING EVENTS Austin Empty Bowl November 20, 2016 11:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Central Texas Food Bank 6500 Metropolis Dr., Austin, TX 78744 The 20th annual Austin Empty Bowl project will take place at the new Central Texas Food Bank on Sunday, November 20, from 11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. Attendees can choose from an array of hand painted bowls and enjoy delicious soup for just $20. Proceeds from the event benefit the Central Texas Food Bank and Meals on Wheels Central Texas.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING FIGHT HUNGER! 1. Shake Shack Stand for Something Good Campaign On Tuesday, September 6, customers at the South Lamar Shake Shack location had 15 percent of their meal purchase donated to the Food Bank.
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Stuff the Bus December 9-11, 2016 Austin area Whole Foods Markets Capital Metro and Whole Foods Market are hosting the 5th Annual “Stuff the Bus” food drive, benefitting Central Texas Food Bank. There will be a Capital Metro bus located at the Whole Foods Market Domain location and the Whole Foods Market Downtown location that customers can fill with donations during the food drive. All Austin area stores will also accept instore donations of food. Monetary donations can be added to your final in-store purchase at the register from December 1–14. Holiday Sing-Along & Downtown Holiday Stroll December 3, 2016 6:00 P.M. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701 This annual holiday event takes place along Congress Avenue, with caroling beginning at 6 P.M. and the tree lighting at 7 P.M.. Attendees are invited to stroll down Congress while enjoying live music, local vendors and family-friendly activities. Donations are collected around the Capitol Christmas tree for the Food Bank. Armadillo Christmas Bazaar December 14-24, 2016 10 A.M. - 10 P.M. daily Palmer Events Center 900 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704 The Armadillo Christmas Bazaar is an 11-day, fine art shopping destination featuring national and local award-winning artists, with live music and two full bars in a festive, lively atmosphere. Bring donations of non-perishable food items and drop them off at the Food Bank’s collection boxes.
3,8.Hunger Action Day Hunger Action Month sponsor, Whataburger, generously sponsored a special Hunger Action Day event on September 8. Whataburger provided dinner for our evening volunteers as they prepared to help us sort food donations, because nothing runs on empty! 4,9,15. Keller Williams Annual Food Drive Realtors from all over Austin came together at Riverbend Church on September 17 to collect donations for the Food Bank from surrounding neighborhoods. This year, their donations provided 14,307 meals for Central Texans at risk of hunger.
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5. SFC Farmers’ Market Fresh Food Drive The Central Texas Food Bank is partnering with the Sustainable Food Center at their downtown farmers’ market on the second Saturday of every month to take donations of fresh produce. The “Fresh Food Drive” helps us raise awareness about donating fresh produce, along with non-perishable items, to the Food Bank. 6,11,14. Hunger Action Month The Food Bank joined the Feeding America national network of food banks in raising awareness about hunger all September long.
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Holiday Volunteer Shifts November and December Central Texas Food Bank 6500 Metropolis Dr., Austin, TX 78744 In the weeks leading up to the busy holiday season, we need volunteers to sort food donations at the Food Bank for distribution to our Partner Agencies across Central Texas. Warehouse volunteers help ensure all of the food we distribute is safe, healthy and high quality. Each shift can host up to 120 volunteers, with limited space for youth volunteers, ages eight years and older. View available opportunities on our website at www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/volunteer
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2. Geeks Who Drink Quiz for a Cause The Food Bank was the beneficiary of the September Geeks Who Drink’s Quiz for a Cause at The Highball. Geeks Who Drink features pub trivia for teams of up to six people each, covering topics ranging from television to geography to politics, and it raised more than 684 meals for the Food Bank!
7. Feed it Forward WP Engine and EZCorp helped “Feed it Forward” during Hunger Action Month by asking employees to donate to the Food Bank during a time when they would normally receive a catered office lunch. Together, these two companies collected donations that will provide more than 16,000 meals. 10,12,16. Volunteer Appreciation Lunch We honored our outstanding volunteer leaders, ambassadors, and administrative volunteers at an appreciation luncheon hosted at the Food Bank. These volunteers have committed to at least one volunteer shift every week and many have volunteered with us for several years. 13. Jacoby’s Burger for Burger For every burger sold at Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile during the month of July and August, Jacoby’s pledged to donate that same amount of meat to the Central Texas Food Bank. This year, they exceeded their goal, donating more than 500 pounds of meat!
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Community Kitchen Provides New Opportunities At 2:30 P.M. on a Wednesday, two assembly lines formed around a kitchen table. Tray, spaghetti, meat sauce, weigh, seal. Repeat. Five hundred meals later and the food was ready to be frozen. And just like that, food distribution at the Central Texas Food Bank changed forever. The new facility includes a community kitchen that will allow the Food Bank to distribute fresh, quality meals across our 21county service territory using food that might otherwise end up in a landfill. Though we distributed 38 million pounds of food last fiscal year, the Food Bank isn’t always able to distribute food quickly enough to our nearly 250 Partner Agencies before it can no longer be used. Through our new initiative called Value Added Meals, we will be able to reduce food waste at the Food Bank while increasing distribution of nutritious cooked meals. With the help of Food Bank Chef Kimberly Granato, volunteers will prepare meals like spaghetti, Swedish meatballs, and egg noodles from food that might otherwise go to waste. The meals will be frozen to extend their shelf life and Partner Agencies will have the option to order them for their clients. The pilot program kicked off in early October with a goal of preparing and packaging 500 meals each day. Production will include two meal sizes - one pound that is roughly two servings and a 2.75-pound meal that serves three to six people. Though the Food Bank will cover the cost of preparing the meals, Partner Agencies who order the meals will incur a small shared maintenance fee to help with the packaging and production. The fee will vary depending on the size of the meal, but will be just a fraction of what a frozen meal at a grocery store costs.
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Clients can complement the Value Added Meals entrée with other fresh produce or canned food items they usually receive at a Partner Agency to complete their meal. The Value Added Meals program is just the beginning of new opportunities the kitchen will open for the community.
There are so many things we can do now. Once we start children’s meals in the summer, the idea is to never look back. Another program is culinary training. Set to begin in March, it will train students in culinary arts to help them find a career in the food industry. Our goal is to be an accredited program with a culinary arts instructor that will train 40 students in the first year. Participants will receive the job skills they need to be successful in return for help in the kitchen supporting our programs. “The students go out into the community and they become great advocates for the Food Bank and for the program. They help other students that come after them because they’re out there doing good in the community and working, so it’s really just a full circle kind of process,” Chef Kimberly said. Until the program kicks off in the spring, the Food Bank will rely on volunteers, externs and interns to prepare the meals. For the volunteers, it’s a new and exciting opportunity to help feed families facing hunger.
“We get to do a lot of different things, so you’re always changing up what you’re doing, so that was the coolest part,” first time kitchen volunteer, Jade Burgoyne, said. “I enjoyed it. I like being able to help people because people need food, not everybody can get that on their own, you know for whatever reason or whatever circumstances their families are in. It’s nice to give something back.” With one in four children in Central Texas at risk of hunger, the Food Bank strives to make sure children get nourishing meals at our Kids Cafe after school programs and during the summer at our summer meal sites. We currently purchase the meals for our children’s programs from PepsiCo, but have wanted to move the meal preparation in house. For the first time, the kitchen will allow us to cook and prepare meals for the children ourselves. By making our own meals, not only will we save money, but more importantly we’ll be able to serve quality fresh hot and cold meals for the first time. We will begin by making 1,500 children’s meals a day during the summer, but hope to be able to produce 5,000 meals a day in the future. “The freshness, the quality is going to be so much better. [Chef] Kim is going to be able to do a better job with the nutritional component,” Chief Program Office, Emily DeMaria, said. “There are so many things we can do now. Once we start children’s meals in the summer, the idea is to never look back. We’ll produce it for all of our programs.” We’re excited to reduce waste at the Food Bank and to be able to provide families with different meal options. With talk of Chef Kim baking the bread for kids’ sandwiches, the different meal possibilities for all of our neighbors are endless.
You’re DOUBLING Holiday Cheer Jamie and her husband Isaac live in Central Texas with their three boys – Keagan (11), AC (8) and Milo (1). Isaac works as a counselor at a children’s mental health facility and Jamie used to have a job in insurance adjusting. Jamie’s job required a lot of travel and their son AC has special needs. Jamie says, “I always have to be a phone call away in case he has an outburst.” In order to be there for AC and take care of her youngest that isn’t in school yet, she’s not working right now. Living on only one income for the moment stretches the family’s budget thin. When they find it hard to get through the month, they visit Food Bank partner agency Reveal Resource Center for a little extra help. Of the family’s finances and visiting the pantry Jamie says, “We are not comfortable. This helps us in the between times. This gives us more money for things like diapers.” Thanks to your support, families like Jamie’s have somewhere to turn when they need a helping hand. And until Jamie and Isaac get past this rough patch, they are grateful for the help they receive with groceries. Unfortunately, Jamie’s family is not alone. There are 471,000 people at risk of hunger right here in our own Central Texas community. And 166,050 of those people are those most vulnerable among us – children. They need your help this Thanksgiving season. Before you gather with your own family to share a traditional holiday meal, remember those who may not have the same opportunity to enjoy turkey and pecan pie without a little help.
This helps us in the between times. This gives us more money for things like diapers. When you make a donation today and have it matched, you’re bringing hope for the holidays to our neighbors in need. Right now, thanks to a generous matching gift challenge by the Beaumont Foundation and Texas Jacobson Aviation, every $50 you give will provide 400 meals – that’s incredible. Remember, give before December 31st and your kindness will go twice as far for people in need. Families across Central Texas are so grateful for your generous gifts. Thank you.
ORDER YOUR HOLIDAY CARDS! This holiday season, let us mark one thing off your list with Central Texas Food Bank Holiday Cards! Let your family, friends, and neighbors know you’ve made a donation on their behalf and spread the spirit of generosity to your loved ones this year.
Card features a holiday family photo and There’s No Place Like Hope for the Holidays on front. To order, call Kathryn Abercrombie at 512-684-2134 or email kabercrombie@centraltexasfoodbank.org or visit us online at centraltexasfoodbank.org/holidaycards Suggested donation: $3 per card.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Heidi Baschnagel, Chair National Instruments Corporation
Hon. Jeff Rose Texas Third Court of Appeals
Joyce Mullen, Vice Chair Dell, Inc.
John Sanchez Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Terry G. Knighton, Secretary Luminex Corporation
Clint Scott CLS Partners
Kevin J. Koch, Treasurer McLane Company, Inc.
Sheldy Starkes, MBA, PMP Booker, Starkes & Patodia, Inc.
Jen Alessandra SolarWinds
Leslie Sweet HEB Grocery Company, LP
Melissa Anthony Sinn anthonyBarnum Public Relations
Anneliese Tanner Austin Independent School District
Kenneth Gladish, Ph.D. Seton Foundations
Jason Thurman PlainsCapital Bank
Hari Jayaram Applied Materials
Michael G. Watkins, MD, FACC Seton Heart Institute
Timothy M. Lee thinc.small, LLC
Scott Weatherford Jackson Walker LLP
Pat Massey IBM Corporation
Mark J. Williams
Stephen Portner
Barrett Wood WoodGen, LLC
FEEDBACK? Questions, comments or change of address? Email: communications@centraltexasfoodbank.org Read it online Download and subscribe to Food Bank publications at centraltexasfoodbank.org
THANK YOU HOLIDAY SPONSORS
MESSAGE from the PRESIDENT & CEO
In my last letter I told you about all the exciting changes taking place at the Food Bank during the summer, including our rebranding and our move into the new facility. Now that we’ve been settled into our new home for a few months, I’m happy to report that we’re distributing more food than ever, seeing new levels of efficiency in the amount of food our volunteers sort and are now preparing and packaging client meals in our production kitchen. We’re also nearing completion on planning for our garden and orchard spaces, which we will plant soon. Your support and generosity have made all of this possible and I am truly grateful to you for that. I have one more change to tell you about. This is my last letter to you as President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank. I’m retiring after 13 years of serving on the board and then as CEO. The last six years have been the most rewarding of my professional career, as I’ve had the privilege to lead an incredibly dedicated team in the fight against hunger. I’m pleased to announce that Derrick Chubbs takes over as the new President and CEO on November 7. Derrick possesses a unique combination of leadership in both nonprofit and for-profit settings. But equally important, as a long-time Austinite, he has a genuine sense of caring for, and commitment to, the people of Central Texas. I think he’s the right person for the job at the right time, with the skills and track record to chart a course for the future of hunger relief in Central Texas. (You can read more about him elsewhere in this issue.) I truly believe that hunger is unacceptable. So for me, leading the Food Bank has always been more of a passion than a job. That’s why I’ll be hanging around for a little while to help with the transition in whatever ways I can, then volunteering whenever possible. After all, the holidays are coming up and that’s always a crucial time for Central Texans in need. No one should go hungry, especially during the holidays. There are thousands of our neighbors out there like Gene and Jocelyn (featured in this issue) who need your help to give them hope for the holidays. As I pass the leadership mantle to Derrick, my heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation go out to so many: to the Food Bank staffers, board members and partners I’ve worked with through the years, who have risen to every challenge with creativity and determination; to the members of our generous and caring Central Texas community, who provide the means to serve nearly 46,000 people every week; and to you, for giving us the tools we need to carry on the fight. You helped us build the Central Texas Food Bank we’ll need to face the challenge of fighting hunger in the coming years. In doing so, you have all contributed to making this a truly inspiring experience for me. And for that I thank you.
Hank Perret President & CEO
Our mission: To nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger. 6500 Metropolis Dr., Austin, TX 78744 | 512.282.2111 /CentralTexasFoodBank
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