July 2018
Ozarks Food Harvest Celebrates First Agency Pickup in Building Expansion
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e are excited to announce that the Ozarks Food Harvest warehouse expansion is complete. Thanks to many generous donors, The Food Bank will be able to serve more individuals across southwest Missouri through the 56,000 square-foot addition.
Currently, Ozarks Food Harvest distributes 19.6 million pounds of food annually. That equates to more than 17 million meals for our hungry neighbors every year. Before the expansion, we were forced to turn away one million pounds of food each year. Now, The Food Bank can accept more donations, and the operations team has more room for organizing and staging food products for agency pickups and deliveries. The new facility will also allow for growth within our volunteer program, which is critical to sort and pack food throughout the year.
On the morning of July 2, Bill and Debbie Carter from Parkview Christian Church backed their food pantry’s truck up into the new agency pickup area. Parkview Christian Church has been working with Ozarks Food Harvest for two and a half years, and Bill picks up the food pantry’s order every week. Bill and Debbie had a chance to see the expanded warehouse as their truck bed was loaded with the items they order each week.
IN THIS ISSUE
Leslie Helps Bill Carter with Parkview Christian Church load thetrailer
“The new pickup area is nice,” Bill said. “There’s a lot of room in the parking lot that makes it easy to maneuver my truck around.” With the new expansion, Ozarks Food Harvest will be able to provide more efficient service for all of our agencies. “The new addition was designed with the needs of our agency partners in mind, both now and in the future. This facility will allow us to grow to more effectively and to meet the increase of our agency network,” said Ozarks Food Harvest president and CEO Bart Brown. During the summer, the food pantry at Parkview Christian Church serves more than
Farm Bill Heads to Negotiation Quarterly Regional Meetings Why Advocate? September is Hunger Action Month
100 families each week. The agency also offers breakfast for high school students and hosts a Wednesday night dinner each week throughout the school year. Debbie, the Parkview Christian Church food pantry coordinator, places the pantry’s order each week and ensures that her volunteers have everything they need to serve the local community. She is thankful for warehouse associate Leslie Vesay’s assistance each time she visits The Food Bank. We look forward to serving all of our agencies with the additional space. Together, we can change the landscape of hunger for families in the Ozarks.
The House version of the bill calls for drastic SNAP cuts and strict work requirements that would increase food insecurity and place hardship on families unable to find work in the Ozarks. Reauthorization of the Farm Bill is scheduled to be done by October 2018, and The Food Bank asks for your help to let Missouri legislators know our network supports programs like SNAP, TEFAP and CSFP to make sure no one in Missouri goes hungry. For more information on how to contact your legislator, please reach out to Ozarks Food Harvest’s community partnership and advocacy coordinator Jordan Browning.
United States Capitol, home to Congress and The seat of the legislative branch of the federal government
Farm Bill Heads to Negotiation
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he Farm Bill, the major food and farm legislation that influences federal nutrition programs, is headed toward a conference committee to reconcile differences between the two versions of the bill in the House and Senate. Ozarks Food Harvest is currently advocating for the Senate Farm Bill to be used as the basis for the final bill as it includes critical provisions to protect federal nutrition
programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The Senate’s bipartisan version of the bill strengthens SNAP and TEFAP by reauthorizing funding so thousands of clients in southwest Missouri can continue to feed their families every month while also ensuring that The Food Bank has enough nutritious food to help communities in need.
Farm Bill scheduled for Oct. 2018
Quarterly Regional Meetings
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he next round of Regional Meetings begins July 24, with the last one taking place on August 1. Our quarterly topic will focus on accepting food donations safely. Did you know that agencies need to follow the same food safety guidelines as Ozarks Food Harvest when sorting through donations?
It’s all about spotting food safety hazards in an effort to better serve clients. After the meeting, we will tour the new warehouse expansion, then end with lunch provided by The Food Bank. Please RSVP to Member Services to reserve your spot!
Dates for each regional meeting are as follows: Eastern – Tuesday, July 24 at 11 a.m. Central – Wednesday, July 25 at 11 a.m. Northern – Tuesday, July 31 at 11 a.m. Western – Wednesday, August 1 at 11 a.m. We hope to see you there!
DID YOU KNOW? The Retail Pickup Program generated almost 30% of what was received and distributed in FY18. 2.6 million lbs. were distributed in FY18, as a result of OFH’s Purchased Product Program. 20,859 pounds of produce were harvested and distributed through the “Plant a Row” Program in FY18.
TEFAP corner
State Audits
A Food Program Representative, with the Food Distribution Unit of Family Support Division in Jefferson City, may be contacting you to conduct a site review for TEFAP. The state has a goal of reviewing TEFAP agencies every five years, so they are reaching out to many who have never been reviewed as well as those who have not been reviewed in a long time. Please make sure OFH has the following information correct (you may check this information online): main contact for TEFAP, phone number, days/hours of operation and correct address. The state will make a personal phone call prior to setting up the appointment, so it is important that OFH has updated information. The state will then follow up the phone call with an email stating the information they will be reviewing. Please make sure your agency has all the required documents they are requesting prior to the visit. If you are missing any documents, please notify The Food Bank immediately. Lastly, signage has been a large concern lately, so please let The Food Bank know if you need a sign. OFH has signs available for window or yard placement. As always, we appreciate your cooperation during the review and encourage you to reach out to The Food Bank if you have any questions.
CONTACT US Ozarks Food Harvest Member Services 2810 N. Cedarbrook Ave. Springfield, Mo., 65803 memberservices@ ozarksfoodharvest.org (417) 380-5007 ozarksfoodharvest.org
Director Q & A
Gwyn Dake
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ywn Dake, executive director of Miller Christian Service, has dedicated most of her life to helping meet the needs of the Miller community. Dake has been with Miller Christian Service since the mid ‘80s, when she started serving on the Board of Directors when MCS was started. Although she’s been there since its inception, Dake wants to make one thing clear: “This was not the activity of one person, but the culmination of many people, with the goal to fulfill the needs of this community. I never want anyone to say I did this all myself”. Q: What led you to working at Miller Christian Service? A: I had time on my hands! Q: What did you do before working at MCS? A: I raised seven kids, I sat on the bleachers. Q: What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying? A: Making people feel at ease. They don’t want to come in, be there, so I like to make them feel at ease. Q: Most challenging? A: Finding volunteers. I have a super group of volunteers, who know what is expected of them: to serve with respect. Q: What is your most memorable moment? A: Building our brand new pantry, 40 x 60 ft.
Why Advocate? W
ith the negative portrayal of Congress in the news media, advocating for a cause might seem as effective as pouring water into a tub filled with holes. The perception of competition among different causes, lobbyists’ goals and legislators’ preset agendas can make the average person wonder what influence they can have over their representatives. However, research tells a different story. In a survey conducted in 2004 and 2005 by the Congressional Management Foundation, three of the largest factors in influencing an undecided legislator were constituent visits, a representative of constituents visit and email correspondence. It’s also shown that the majority of legislative ideas come
SAVE THE DATE
OFH CSFP/Senior Box coordinator Kim Hansen speaks with Gwyn Dake at the 2018 Member services Conference
Q: What do you do in your spare time? A: Try to stay out of trouble. And I spend time with my family because I have a wonderful group of 20 grandkids, and I love to cook! Q: What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done? A: Camping with 14 people all the way to California and back (when kids were all small). Q: Who would you most like to swap places with for a day? A: I want to be Santa Clause on Christmas eve. Q: When do you not want to be interrupted? A: When I’m talking. Any last thoughts? Working in a pantry, you get more than you give. A hug and a smile, that interaction. How the people change their attitude after they come for a few months and realize we are here because we want to help. I want to be a good example for my family.
from meeting with community leaders and constituents. Therefore, we can predict that legislators are more likely to listen (and vote) to the constituents they heard from most, not necessarily the majority opinion of the population. To make sure a legislator knows the right decision to make, it is vital that their constituency is engaged and keeps them informed of how policy decisions will affect those they are elected to serve. It is our responsibility to our clients to make sure their voices are heard with their legislators to bring about concrete change. As Thomas Jefferson once said, “We do not have a government of the majority. We have a government of the majority who participate.”
The Ozarks Food Harvest Agency Conference ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 2019 COMING SOON!
On September 13, Hunger Action Day, schools, businesses and families across the nation will sport orange for the day. Help raise hunger awareness by asking agency employees and volunteers to wear orange, and take photos of your groups. Post them on your agency’s social media channels using #HungerHeroes and #HungerActionMonth, and send your photos to Ozarks Food Harvest so we can share them, too! Throughout the month of September, post motivating Hunger Action Month content on your social media channels. Ask followers to partner with your agency to help fight hunger in the Ozarks, and invite them to purchase a t-shirt or stop by your agency to learn more. Make sure to tag Ozarks Food Harvest so we can share your posts. We encourage you to branch out and create your own hunger awareness initiatives for the month. It takes everyone working together to make a difference in our community. We can’t wait to see how your agency helps impact the Ozarks this fall. Hunger action month promotion table at ozarks food harvest
September is Hunger Action Month
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very September, food banks, advocacy groups and individuals across the country unite to fight against hunger. It’s a month focused on spreading the word and taking action on the hunger crisis, and we need your help increasing awareness in the Ozarks. Before September arrives, order orange t-shirts for your team, and encourage employees and volunteers to wear them throughout the month. You can also purchase Hunger Action Month t-shirts from The Food
Bank beginning August 1. Each $10 shirt will help provide 20 meals to a neighbor in need. Generate buzz about Hunger Action Month with an orange-themed table in your agency’s lobby. Include a bright orange table cloth, orange candy and engaging handouts about what your agency is doing to fight hunger in the Ozarks. Encourage traffic by putting orange candy on the table. Don’t forget to add an e-mail sign-up sheet for visitors who are interested in learning more.
Good News at The Food Bank Arvest’s 1 Million Meals Campaign
Walmart’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change.
For the eighth consecutive year, Arvest Bank collected nonperishable food and fund donations for Ozarks Food Harvest during the annual 1 Million Meals campaign. Arvest Bank locations in Springfield and Nixa collected 770 pounds of food and $6,500 to support feeding programs across southwest Missouri. This donation will provide 26,641 meals to children, adults and seniors across The Food Bank’s 28-county service area. Thanks to Arvest Bank, its employees and customers for supporting families in need in the Ozarks.
Ozarks Food Harvest will receive an incredible $156,833 from Walmart’s Fight Hunger. Spark Change. initiative. Throughout the month of April, shoppers could make a donation at the register or contribute by purchasing specially-marked items at any area Walmart location. This funding will allow The Food Bank to provide more than 627,000 meals for struggling families in southwest Missouri. Across the nation, Walmart secured more than 230 million meals. A big thank you to Walmart for its continued support of The Food Bank through campaigns, grants and the Retail Pick-Up Program.
Ozarks Food Harvest is also hosting a variety of fun and engaging events throughout Hunger Action Month. To learn more and get involved, visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/events.
Truman Elementary first graders
LOOKING AHEAD... Food Bank closed Monday, Sept. 3 Food Safety classes- Aug. 22 and Sept. 26 from 1-3 p.m. September is Hunger Action Month