Archive for September, 2009

September 25, 2009

Interesting Food Stamp Facts

Author: Brady Koch

One of the programs I oversee here at Second Harvest is our Benefits Connection Program. This team of food bankers goes out into the community with laptops and scanners to complete food stamp applications at our partner feeding programs.

Since this program started a year ago it has generated over $6 million in food stamp dollars. We love this program, because the clients get to pick exactly what food they need for their family with these dollars.

I’m in the middle of researching some national statistics about food stamp use and found a wealth of information from the USDA.

Those who know me, know that I love numbers! I thought you might be interested in some of the facts about food stamp participants nationally:

• 49% are children
• 9% are over 60 years old
• 41% of all participants lived in households with earnings
• 13% have incomes over the poverty line
• 15% have no cash income of any kind
• $691 is the average gross income
• Average food stamp household received monthly benefit of $212.
• Only 7% of applicants get the minimum amount of $10.
• Average household size is 2.2
• 44% are Caucasian
• 33% are African-American
• 19% are Hispanic
• 4% are of other races

If you’re interested in Benefits Connection, or any of our other food outreach programs, please contact me.

Brady Koch
Director of Agency Relations & Programs
407.295.1066 ext. 30
bkoch@foodbankcentralflorida.org

September 24, 2009

My Word: Is it time to redefine poverty?

Author: Dave Krepcho

The U.S. Census Bureau released its latest figures on poverty this past week…no surprise, it has increased. It is at an 11 year high of 13.2%, or 39.8 million people. The poverty rate for children is at 19%. In Central Florida this equates into just over 100,000 kids. To get a better picture of the magnitude, you could fill up the Amway Arena five times over with children. Local schools are reporting large increases this year in the number of children that are attending and are homeless.

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines poverty as: “The state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions.” This definition sure is fairly subjective and relatively speaking, can put a lot of people into the same boat.

The U.S. government’s definition of poverty is stated in different terms and is based on a 50 year old formula of three times the typical food bill and doesn’t take into account the rising costs of medical care, transportation, child care and housing expenses. Has life changed a bit since the television show “Leave It To Beaver” ? The U.S. poverty rate for a family of four, equates into approximately $21,000 of annual income. Do the math; you cannot make ends meet, even when you have income as an under-employed person — if you’re fortunate to have a job. And based on how the unemployment rate is calculated, we are given a skewed picture, it’s actually worse. Some government calculations report it close to 17%.

The typical American household made less money last year than it made a decade ago, according to new figures from the Census Bureau. Economic growth in the current decade has been slower than in any decade since before World War II. Income inequality also expanded. There are now more than 2.1 million people in the State of Florida receiving Food Stamp benefits as opposed to just over a little over 1 million two years ago.

After Hurricane Katrina, the former head of FEMA commented… “We’re seeing people we didn’t know existed” in reference to the overwhelming poverty in the Gulf Coast. The comment was somewhat prophetic because today, in this slow moving disaster of economic meltdown, many people who didn’t imagine themselves out of work and money are seeking help for basic human needs. It took a while for them to surface because of pride, embarrassment, and even shame. People can only hold out for so long, eventually they need to eat.  These are people at the poverty level, up to 150% of that level, including blue collar and some college-educated white collar workers.

The top three requests for emergency help through the 2-1-1 Call Line are utilities assistance, rent, and food. At Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, our partner feeding programs are experiencing increases for food ranging from a “low” of 30% upwards to 400%. We’re distributing at or near disaster relief levels. The major increase in demand is driven by first time users of the food assistance system. Existing recipients are benefiting from our services more frequently.

The Central Florida community has come together in the past during disasters, we can do it again. While poverty may or may not need to be redefined, the current situation certainly shows a whole new added population needing help.

Martin Luther King said…”The time is always right to do what is right.” Please consider helping any number of local non profit organizations providing basic human needs during this slow moving economic disaster. To paraphrase Merriam-Webster’s definition of poverty….it’s socially unacceptable to have so many people in need of basic human services; especially the kids.

Dave Krepcho
President/CEO
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

September 17, 2009

14 More Days Left of Hunger Action Month

Author: Maria Diestro

I can’t believe that Hunger Action Month is halfway over.  There are only 14 more days left in September and the days are moving fast. We aim to finish the month with a bang!  Thank you for spreading the word about Hunger Action Month. If you haven’t yet, please send this ecard to all of your family and friends and encourage them to support the fight against hunger.

Portraits of Hunger Update!  Our online voting contest ends this Friday. Drumroll .. the top three photos as of 2 p.m. this afternoon are: Snack Time Smiles, Courage, Loneliness (in no particular order). Voting ends tomorrow at 5 p.m. Click here to vote! Don’t forget that you can vote more than once.  

Its time to continue with our Hunger Action Month Ways to Fight Hunger Countdown :

#13 Way to Fight Hunger: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Sony Pictures new movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” is helping raise awareness about domestic hunger with children and their parents. By becoming a Hunger Helper like the characters in the movie,  kids learn about hunger and how they can make a difference in their community.  Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs hits theaters this Friday.

Feeding America has also created an area on their Web site where kids can become hunger helpers.  One feature of the site is the Food Catcher game. For every gold apple that you catch Sony will donate 1 meal to Feeding America. I have only been able to get 3 apples, I hope you can do better than me. Once you finish, you even get a certificate that you can print out with your name on it. What a creative way to get kids involved in the fight for hunger!

PSA video of Flint explaining why its fun to be a Hunger Helper:
 

#12 Way to Fight Hunger: Cheesecake Factory Drive Out Hunger Tour
During Hunger Action Month, The Cheesecake Factory will visit 30 cities in 30 days on the “Drive Out Hunger” Tour collecting soup cans in support of Feeding America and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. David Arquette helped launch the tour in LA on September 1 (picture to the left).

 The grand finale party is going to be in Washington D.C. on September 30. We hope you get involved in this amazing campaign.

There are 3 ways that you can participate:

1. Orlando Tour Stop. The Drive Out Hunger Tour will be at the Cheesecake Factory at The Mall of Millenia on Monday, September 21 from 7 a.m til 10 p.m.  The first 500 people that bring in 2 cans of soup will get a free slice of Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake. XL106.7 will also be there providing some entertainment. Tamar Kaprelian – a former Cheesecake Factory staff member, now an accomplished singer/songwriter – will also be there.  Her hit song, “New Day” was featured on the popular MTV series “The Hills,” and is now the driving anthem behind the ‘Drive Out Hunger’ Tour. A portion of her song’s sales are going to Feeding America in September. 
 
2. You Dine, We Donate Event. Just bring 2 cans of soup when you dine on September 30th, and Cheescake Factory will donate 10% of your check to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

3. Buy Stefanie’s Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake. When you buy a slice, Cheesecake Factory will done 25 cents to Feeding America. If you buy online, Cheesecake Factory will donate a $1.

Stop by the Drive Out Hunger Web site for full details of this campaign. Make sure to check out the map of where the bus tour is now and also the photo mosaic from photos of people at each of the stops. I hope to see you bright and early on Monday morning at the Cheesecake Factory at Millenia Mall!

Maria Diestro
Online Services and Communications Manager

September 15, 2009

Macy’s Wants to Provide 10 Million Meals

Author: Maria Diestro

Macy’s Come+Together Campaign has launched and it aims to raise 10 million meals for Feeding America and its network of food banks. In case you didn’t know, Second Harvest Food Bank is proudly within that network. The campaign runs from September 13 to October 21. Below is a short summary of the campaign and how YOU can get involved. For full details visit Macy’s Come Together Web site.

#16 Way to Fight Hunger: Macy’s Come Together Campaign

Dinner’s ready and you’re invited! On September 15th (today), Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida will help our local Macy’s stores host a celebration as part of the national kick off event . We will join more than 650 participating Macy’s stores in a simultaneous “first course” meal. Everyone will get their first taste of the Come Together campaign as Macy’s hosts The World’s Largest Dinner Party. There will be a selection of appetizers and in some stores a live dj.

Join a Second Harvest Food Bank representative at any of the following 8 Macy’s locations in Central Florida at 6 p.m. today. We look forward to celebrating the campaign launch with you. Locations: Altamonte Mall, The Florida Mall, Melbourne Square Mall, Orlando Fashion Square, The Mall at Millenia, Oviedo Marketplace, Seminole Towne Center and Volusia Mall. You won’t want to miss it!  Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida will directly benefit from the Macy’s Come Together campaign.

If you can’t make the kick-off event, below are the three ways that you can participate.

HOST a Dinner to Raise Money:
Macy’s has dedicated a whole Web site to equipt you with everything you need to host the most memorable dinner party ever. Macy’s Culinary Council, made up of 15 world-renowned chefs including Emeril Lagasse, Tyler Florence, Todd English, Wolfgang Puck, as well as entertaining authority Martha Stewart, will serve as the experts of this campaign, offering up dinner party themes, recipe ideas, product suggestions and even their suggested playlists, to help America host delectable and entertaining dinners. Invite your closest friends and help Macy’s provide 10 million meals nationwide. The website lets you register your dinner party. Its also will help you create invitations that you can send to your friends. After your dinner party is over, you can go straight to the site and donate the money that you collected.

Here is a behind the scenes look at the commercial currently airing with some famous faces:

GIVE a $1 Donation at any Macy’s: Macy’s will match your donation dollar for dollar until the goal of 10 million meals is reached. Thank you Macy’s!

SHOP for a Cause on October 17: On October 17, Macy’s will give back to the Central Florida area through funds raised during their in-store and on-line Shop for a Cause event.  For $5, participants will experience a unique shopping day at their local Macy’s store, including great discounts, special events, and an opportunity to win $500. $5 tickets are available at either your local Macy’s store or at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.  Funds raised through Shop for a Cause directly benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

One last thing, Macy’s is also giving you the chance to enter its Come Together Sweepstakes. Win one of four pretty cool prizes on the Come Together Web site.   Prizes: 4-night Disney Cruise Line Bahamian Vacation, a 5-night stay at any small luxry Hotels of the World location, a HP TouchSmart PC and my personal favorite: Dinner for 4 at one of our celebrity chef’s restaurants. Good Luck!

Come Together and Help Fight Hunger!

Thank you to Macy’s for inviting Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to the table!

Maria Diestro
Online Services and Communications Manager

P.S. I will be posting another blog later this week on more Hunger Action Month events. Meanwhile, don’t forget to check out our 30 Ways in 30 Days calendar.

September 14, 2009

A Local Look at the 2009 Economic Impact Results

Author: Brady Koch

This morning Feeding America, the national organization that coordinates the efforts of 205 food banks throughout the nation, released the 2009 Economic Impact Survey results. This survey was presented to food banks, their partner agencies, and the clients served at these agencies. Sadly, the overall findings aren’t shocking. With a recession and rising unemployment, the demand for hunger relief in America is growing at an alarming rate.

The demand for food has grown an estimated 30% nationally. More than half (55%) of food banks reported that they or the agencies who help distribute the food they provide have had to turn people away in the last year. These national numbers mirror those collected in Central Florida by our local food pantries and soup kitchens.

In my position with the food bank I get to see these statistics embodied on a daily basis. I can attest that 98% of our agencies are seeing first-time clients and that 56% of our agencies are seeing large increases in children needing hunger relief. Ultimately, I also witness the sobering fact that 78% of partner agencies on the national level have had to reduce the amount of food provided or the frequency of food distributions in their community.

Absolutely every one of the volunteers and staff at our 539 partner feeding programs has the passion to fight hunger. Lately the need has been relentless and our partners haven be working, stretching and digging deep to provide for their community. It is an honor to partner with nonprofits and faith-based operations that give so much and ask for nothing in return.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida was able to provide over 21 million lbs of food to local pantries and kitchens last year and as is evident in the survey results, we need to provide more. Hunger has a solution, and we would like you to be a part of it. Please contact me to learn more about ways you can help fight hunger in Central Florida.

Brady Koch
Director of Agency Relations & Programs
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
407.295.1066 ext. 30
bkoch@foodbankcentralflorida.org