Community thatCares - Food Pantry of Waukesha County

Food Pantry of Waukesha County
30
TH
ANNIVERSARY
Board of Directors
Mary Baer
Larry Bucholtz
Linda Caldart-Olson, President
Susan Dwyer, Treasurer
Leticia Hoisington
Mayra Martinez
Lisa Mautz
Tina Neis, past President
Matthew Nelson
Tim Probst
Brad Schimel
Barbara Syrjanen, Secretary
Steve Vangsnes
Steven Youngbauer
(
EVENT
summer | fall 2008 newsletter
)
Celebrating a
Community
That
Cares
Success of Crucial Spring Food Drives Reflects
Community’s Generosity
Once again the people of Waukesha County have come through
for their neighbors by generously donating to the recent drives
that provide the majority of food supplies available for clients
during the summer months. Historically pantry use spikes
during June, July and August when children’s lunch and breakfast
programs are not available at school during the summer break.
Sunday, October 26th
Staff
Theresa Barndt
Charlotte Borchert
Nancy Camara
3:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Country Springs Hotel & Resort
Judy Cesarec
Michael Jonas
Jerry Oven
Karen Tredwell, Executive Director
Stamp Out Hunger Drive photographs credited
to John Ernst
215 w. north street
waukesha, wi 53188
tel: 262.542.5300 | fax: 262.542.4177
e-mail: [email protected]
web: www.foodpantryofwaukeshacounty.org
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We feel it is essential to acknowledge the ongoing grassroots
support from the community. In doing so, we designed a unique
gathering to welcome all in the community to break bread, share
anecdotes and to celebrate how much can be accomplished
when we join forces.
Please mark your calendars for we are hosting a distinctively different event. Just think simplicity - no silent auction, raffle tickets
or pledge forms in sight. Guests will mingle freely and sample
entrees from five food stations. Each food station will be coordinated by a renowned chef and display their creative culinary
skills. “Food for the mind” will be provided as well by exhibiting
delectable tidbits of information about The Food Pantry’s history
at each food station. Invite family, friends and colleagues to a feel
good, no-hassle-event. I’ll look forward to seeing you there.
Tom Constable, Event Chairperson
Volunteers sort food at the collection site on the day of the drive to expidite the stocking of
pantry shelves.
The Scouting for Food Drive held in April supplied more
than 23,000 total pounds of food to the Food Pantry of
Waukesha County (FPWC) and The Salvation Army. Both
organizations benefitted from the 20th annual drive coordinated
by the Fox River District Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.
“Our shelves were becoming pretty sparse so we are thrilled
with the response in April. The volunteers that sort and inspect
the donated food reported that The Pantry received muchneeded items like canned fruit & vegetables, canned meats &
fish, cereal and soups. A substantial amount of personal care
items were also received and these are always appreciated
by our clients,” said Karen Tredwell, FPWC Executive
Director. “We are very grateful to all those who assisted in
this effort – Scouts of all ages, families of Scout members, Boy
Scouts representatives and, of course, the bighearted residents of
Waukesha County that contributed food.”
The 16th Annual ‘Stamp
Out Hunger’ Food Drive
coordinated by the National
Association of Letter Carriers
and The United States Postal
Service (USPS) was a huge
success. Although the drive
occurs across the nation on the
same day, the proceeds generated
from the drive benefit local food
pantries. More than 85,900
pounds of food collected at
the Waukesha, Brookfield and
Elm Grove post offices will be
distributed between the Food
Pantry of Waukesha County
Family members of USPS employees show
(FPWC) and The Salvation
their support by helping to collect food Army’s Food Pantry. Pantries
even the very young ones do their part.
in Butler, Eagle Hartland,
Menomonee Falls, Mukwonago,
Oconomowoc, New Berlin, North Lake, Pewaukee, Sussex, and
Wales will receive the food collected in their respective areas.
“This drive would not be possible in our area without the efforts
of numerous local individuals and corporate citizens. Besides
the hardworking letter carriers, other US Postal employees and
their families and friends, over 160 energetic volunteers
manned the collection sites and collected food along postal
routes,” said Michael Jonas, FPWC Associate Director,
acknowledging the participants and donors. “The positive
energy present the day of the event is contagious. You can’t
help but get excited when you witness this much food arriving!”
“This is the largest annual drive staged to benefit the Food
Pantry,” said FPWC Board member Barb Syrjanen. “On
behalf of our clients, we thank the people of Waukesha County
for their thoughtful generosity. The Stamp Out Hunger drive
comes at a crucial time in the year when we badly need an
influx of donated food supplies.”
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
It Is Better To Give Than Receive
Dear Friends of The Food Pantry,
As we all continue to be affected by the rising cost of fuel and food, so do, are the
clients of the Food Pantry. It probably comes as no surprise that a recent survey
administered by UW Extension through Waukesha schools showed a high number
of families who are at risk for hunger and food insecurity.
Mission
Hunger hurts. It denies dignity, lessens human energy
and impairs the potential of
people to succeed. Therefore:
The Food Pantry of Waukesha
County will advocate to increase awareness of hunger in
the community and promote
collaborative action to provide
food to those in need.
Vision
To eliminate hunger in
Waukesha County.
Non Profit Status
The Food Pantry of Waukesha
County is a non profit community organization, maintaining
501(c)3 status, and all donations
are tax deductible.
The Food Pantry of Waukesha
County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. In
accordance with Federal law
and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution
is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color,
national origin, sex, age, or
disability.
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You may wonder what food insecurity means. It refers to the lack of access to enough
food to fully meet basic needs at all times due to lack of financial resources. UW
Extension’s survey indicated that 1 in 5 families completing the survey were food
insecure. Further information indicated that while many were eligible to receive free
and reduced meals through school programs, 19% of those eligible did not use the
programs. These results led FPWC staff to look at significant action to provide more
access to more food. We are currently working with UW Extension to further survey
FPWC clients from across the county to uncover reasons for the low participation.
Sharon Garvens from HUSCO International with carts of cereal.
Preliminary results indicate that there is often lack of knowledge about programs
that may preclude usage. Difficulty understanding the application forms is another
reason often cited as a reason for not using school meal programs, accessing
Food Stamps (now Food Share) and other programs. As we continue to survey
more clients, FPWC staff has begun to look at additional ways to ensure access to
food. Recent efforts have already produced some results: increased distribution
of information about the food-buying co-op SHARE has already improved client
participation. A staff member from Hebron House of Hospitality is now on-site
one day per week to assist clients with registration for Badger Care +, which will
improve access to much-needed health care.
A Client Advocacy group was recently developed to obtain feedback from clients about
services at FPWC. Discussion about types of food needed for families indicated that
more fresh produce was needed as well as a desire to grow one’s own food whenever
possible. Immediate responses from area garden centers (see article) will guarantee that
many of FPWC families will be able to
grow their own produce this summer.
We look forward to completing
the survey process so that FPWC
can look at the results to further
supplement existing programs and
create new ways to assist our families
as we continue to strive to end
hunger in our own community. As
we approach our 30th year of service
to the community, it is exciting to
experience continued support from so
many compassionate people as well
as to create innovative approaches to
further alleviate food insecurity.
Please Donate Extra
Garden Fresh Produce
Later this season when the
bounty of your garden is realized, please bring your extra
homegrown produce to The
Pantry for distribution. It is
best to bring the produce before 1:00 p.m. each weekday
so it may be distributed
For complete survey results, please visit
www.uwex/ces/cty/waukesha/wnep/coalition.html
Dr J, as he is affectionately known at The Pantry, with a rack
of assorted garden vegetable plants ready for distribution.
Sharon Garvens made a trip to
the store with FPWC staffers to
purchase $400 worth of cereal for
clients using money raised from
the HUSCO International
employees coffee fund. Sharon
contacts The Pantry regularly
to determine what food item is
needed most, and then heads off to
the grocery story with coffee funds
in hand.
Long-time FPWC friend Dr.
John Ernst was able to arrange
for several hundred vegetable
and flowering plants to be
donated and distributed to clients.
Recipients were thrilled to be
able to grow their own fresh
vegetables and were excited to
share gardening tips amongst
themselves. Some of the plants
were potted and used to spruce
up the facility’s exterior. Special
Thanks to Yerke Frog Alley
Greenhouses and Garden
Mart, both garden centers in
Mukwonago, as well as Piala’s
and Carrao’s in Waukesha.
Immediately following the recent flooding in the area caused
by heavy rains, The Food Pantry
offered assistance to people
dealing with the aftermath by
providing batteries, cleaning
supplies, personal care items
and, of course, food,. “I know
The Pantry can extend a helping
hand during this time of special
need because the community
is responsive and will always
come forward to aid others.”
said Karen Tredwell, FPWC’s
Executive Director. “The recipients were extremely grateful.”
One significant donation
came from the Helping Hearts
employee group at Waukesha
State Bank. When some of the
employees heard from news
reports that cleaning supplies
were needed they sprang into
action and coordinated an
incredible donation of 50 cleaning kits – buckets filled with all
things necessary to clean and
Thinking Outside the Barrel
disinfect a home.
St. Andrew Lutheran Church has developed an innovative way to help The
Food Pantry. The church, located at 2641 Pebble Valley Rd., Waukesha, has
offered to be an off-site collection point for food donations for the Food Pantry
of Waukesha County.
In this time of increased fuel costs, this offer is particularly helpful. Donors from
the north west side of Waukesha will be able to drop their contributions off at St.
Andrew’s without making the trek to downtown Waukesha.
The grand opening of the drop-off site is July 13. Non-perishable food as well as household and personal hygiene items can be dropped off at the church Tuesday - Friday from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.
The phone number at St. Andrew’s is 262-542-6500.
Elizabeth Amaya, Carla Bodway and
Heather Pfalz of Waukesha State Bank
Thank you for your help, St. Andrew’s!
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