In this issue...Community Perspective

Moving 30,000 Pounds of Food Daily

Going the Extra Mile

Upcoming Events

HUNGER HERALD

“I don’t think that we would be able to do what we do or serve the amount of people we do without delivery,” said Pastor Smokey, Pantry Coordinator for Loaves and Fishes Community Pantry serving the community of Gilman. The pantry is located in rural Taylor County, just under 60 miles from Feed My People (FMP). The food bank delivers a variety of items to the pantry each month including meat, produce, bread, dairy products, and canned goods. “It would be impossible for us to pick up the amount of food that we have delivered.”

FMP has provided free delivery throughout our service area for over

Serving Rural WisconsinFree delivery makes what could be impossible, possible.

a decade allowing agency partners to receive the type and quantity of food they need to effectively serve families in their communities. According to the most recent data from Feeding America, Feed My People is the only food bank in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota that provides free delivery to its agencies.

In 2015, almost 90,000 miles were driven to deliver food to FMP’s partners. With two semis, four straight trucks, and over 7,250 miles to cover each month, free delivery can be challenging.

Continued on page 2.

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

Feed My People Food Bank: Ending Hunger in West Central Wisconsin

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“With delivery we are able to better use our resources to help those in need.”

Donna Cordes, Turtle Lake Area Food Pantry

FMP delivers to Durand Food Pantry.

Emily Moore, FMP’s Director

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Message from FMP’s DirectorAt the start of each new year, Feed My People Food Bank renews its partnership with the many food pantries, meal sites, and other programs that reach our neighbors in need of food.

Throughout our 14 county service area, there are nearly 130 locations, each with dozens or more volunteers. As I think of the thousands of people involved in assuring no one goes hungry in west central Wisconsin, I am inspired.

Together, we are working for a common cause. We are committed to each other because we are dependent on one another to fulfill our mission of solving hunger. Because of the strength of all these dedicated individuals and nonprofits, I’m motivated each day to address barriers for getting food to those who need it. Together, ending hunger is possible!

Continued... Serving Rural WisconsinWe are fortunate that almost half of the miles driven are by volunteer drivers who commit their time and positive attitudes to getting food to those who need it.

When asked about the impact of FMP drivers, Dawn Webb a staff member at Chippewa Falls Head Start shared, “Charlie is such a joyful person. He’s a bright spot on a Thursday morning! He is always so sweet and encouraging.”

All delivery routes stop at multiple hunger-relief agencies to get the most use out of the miles being driven. “It seems smarter to have one truck on the road making six stops than to have six small pantries trying to get volunteers to come pick up orders. To be honest, I don’t know if we could do it,” said Donna Cordes, a volunteer at Turtle Lake Area Food Pantry located in rural Barron County. “With delivery, it seems like we are able to better use resources to help those in need.”

Feed My People will continue its commitment to providing a consistent supply of nutritious food for those we serve. By keeping our trucks on the road, our agency partners are able to keep food on their shelves with a shared goal of reaching children, seniors, and families who struggle to put food on the table.

2016 Board MembersOfficersCindy Hangartner PresidentAttorney at Weld Riley, SC

Courtenay Johnson Vice PresidentCommunity Member

Joanne Mellema SecretaryPhysician at UW-Eau Claire Student Health Services

Craig Moore TreasurerAssistant Professor of Business at UW-Stout

Rev. Paul Oppedahl At-LargePastor of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church

Newly ElectedJennie ChildsManager of Community Engagement at Thrivent Financial

Scott PolenzDistrict Administrator at Marshfield Clinic

Cheryl ThiedeSenior Director of Social Services at AIDS Resource Center of WI

Continuing On...Matt FlanneryVice President of Bremer Bank

Jenn KilmurrayCreative Director at River Prairie Creative

Randy LundbladCommunity Member

Thomas SahrDirector of Food and Nutrition Services at St. Joseph’s Hospital

Roy SchlachtenhaufenSenior Portfolio Manager at US Bank

Ann SondereggerDirector of Cornell Food Pantry

UPCOMING EVENTSSee Feed My People’s online calendar for more information.

SNOLF TournamentFebruary 21 • Noon • The Edge Pub and Eatery

Empty BowlsMarch 3 • 11 AM until 7 PM • The Florian Gardens

CVASing ConcertMarch 6 • 2 PM & 7 PM • Trinity Lutheran Church

FMP Open HouseApril 14 • 4:30 - 6:30 PM

Memorials Alan JohnsonAlex & Josephine GabrysArnold TalfordArvin ThompsonBarbara Thompson (3)Beirne Moore RuckerBernice Borton (3)Bernie & Catherine Stackhouse Betsy SotkaBetty GelnerBetty JasperBill FlatenBrian L. JonesBruce AtkinsCalvin BaehrCarol Fairbanks (11)Cassie McMahonCatherine RoeChristopher IannoneClara Detwiller Clyde FennerCollette HalfordConor R. McLaughlinDad Sr. Jones Dale & Jean NassetDale Ruosch, Club Chaplain of the Beaches Corner Classic Tractor ClubDavid Beck (2)David DuaxDavid SatreDeanna ApplehansDon Lee (3)Donald “Buck” Kistner (2)Donald Kwick

Donald LipscyDonna BrettingenDonna M. StromwallDonna ThoeDonovan ReidtDorothy BoweDorothy C. Holm (2)Dorothy E. HarleyDorothy KuziaDorothy RuffDr. John HansenDr. John J. FlynnEd & Laura WagnerEd HoranEdward & Ruth Sheedy Eleanor WoodEmil & Mary Ferguson (2)Emily & Gregg Moore’s Great NieceErnest (Pete) SeymourErvin & Genevieve HackerEugene GoettlEvelyn Amdahl NyreEverett Blakely Sr.Family, Relatives, & FriendsFlorence MattsonForrest D. JonesFred KawellFred SteffenGeorge M. & Patricia CarrollGeorge PathosGlen Geissler (2)Glenn Niemuth (2)Gregory FedieHarley Peet Harold Bothman

Harold DrungHarriet Tomter (9)Helen StolarzHelen WuebbenHerb Anderl (3)Herbert D. BoweHibbard C. KrumholzIla Lue BooksInasu & Annamma PerincheryJacque FalkJake Mikkel BrownJames WellsJames WrasseJan PetersonJanet SmithJanice Gubrud (2)Jay A. & Floyce M. MissmanJean ThidemannJeff Hauser’s FatherJeff KrumenauerJerry JacobsonJim Wells (2)Jimmy & DickJohn “Jack” O’ConnellJohn FettingJohn HarterJohn Lokken (2)John Severson (Xcel Retiree)John WaltonJustin BieseckerKenneth ZurcherKim NelsonLaurence CookLee JacksonLoren DewitzLouise Fortmeyer

Memorials & Honorariums Given Between Nov.1 and Dec. 31Lucille RadtkeLucretia Jackson (31)Mabel O’NeillMargaret BourgeoisMargaret GutcheMargaret O’MaraMaria & Modest RipeckyjMarian & Richard DuesterbeckMarvin CartwrightMary Ann JacobsMary O’SullivanMatthew deGrood (3)Melvin Freeman Jr.Mildred ‘Millie” NyhusM-P-S KomroMr. & Mrs. CF Heine (2) Mr. & Mrs. R.A. Perkiser (2)Murrell PriceMy Classmates: Doris Anderson & Darlene HansonMy HusbandMy Husband, JohnMy Mom, MargeMy Mother Who Never Let Anyone Go HungryMyrtle McAdow & Tom CookNatalie (Bousfield) LinsePat GallePaul & Betty GehrkePaul RicePeggy JacobsonPhyllis FabinyRebecca Ann MorttRichard & ElsieRichard H. PetersonRichard Hanson

Community PerspectiveThis anonymous letter to the volunteers at Trinity Food Pantry, a FMP partner agency in Eau Claire, expresses the grateful perspective of one family served through the generosity of our community.

I wanted to send a note to say thanks. This past week, I visited your food pantry. For me, it was one of the most humbling and difficult decisions I have ever made. For some reason, I had it in my mind that it would be an awful experience. Instead I was greeted by friendly faces, kind words, helping hands, and a lot of love for my family. You made my kids feel like it was the best “shopping” trip ever because they got to pick anything out and they didn’t have to put it back.

You made them smile, and feel comfortable. They have no idea our family is struggling this year, and you kept it that way. Thank you!

I have spent most of my life on the other side of the table. I have in some sort or another served in mercy ministries almost my entire life. As an adult, I have served as a missionary in Central America, worked in the inner city, and worked at homeless shelters among others. In all those years, I never thought it would be me waiting in that line.

We are a one income family and fall just above the poverty limit. So we don’t get Food Share, but my two youngest get WIC. We adopted my oldest. She has some unexpected special needs, so I had to quit working to stay home with her. This has been a wonderful blessing for our family. We just have to be very financially careful. Our youngest was born last September. My husband

Memorials & Honorariums Given Between Nov.1 and Dec. 31 Richard O. Joles

Richard Revoir (1)Robert & Vera DanielsRobert & Viola AndersonRoger A. HedringtonRoger SchillingRonald Christenson Ron & Dee Hillestad (2)Ron StevensRose Mendolia (2)Rudy Smieja (2)Russel SchroederRussell D. SpencerRussell H. JohnsonSandy & Bob AdamsSharon ResslerSherry MilesShirley & Carroll SmithSister Joel Jacobi (2)Stephanie GeskeStephen J. Brantner Steve EllensonThomas & Theresa JanczyThomas G. Jentlie (10)Tim Crowell Tom HebertTim O’ConnellTom O’ConnorTom Tomlinson (3)TonyVeteransVicki SetlaVicki’s Mom: Shirley MyrenVictor A. GrayVirginia Hansis Virginia K. WussowWesley Paulson (6)William (Bill) GrutzmacherWilliam & Florence SchausWilma Mousel

Zelda Z. Brown

HonorariumsAndy & LeAnne Arbs Ann Oberding & Tim Carlislie’s Wedding Anna Cass’s 100th BirthdayArnold & Carol Anderson Arnold Anderson Arvid Jereczek Austin Bender’s ConfirmationBarry & Lupe Bolding Betty Buchmann Bob & Karin Baumgardner Bob & Lisa Boyd Bode Lynn, attaining rank of Eagle Scout Nov. 2015 Brian & Rita Henry Bryan & Amy Green’s Family Past & Present Carol Braune Carol Cutsforth for Christmas (2)Carrie, Ashley. & Ty Charlie & Nancy Walter for Christmas (2) Cheryl Gunderson Children & Grandchildren for Christmas 2015 Chipp Co. Clerk of Courts, Co. Clerk, Reg. of Deeds, Co. Treasurer, Reg in Probate & Judicial Staff Christmas 2015 (2) Christopher Wood Chuck & Linda Morreale Circle of Friends Clarence A. Hoffman Sr. & Jr.Cory & Robyn Thomas David & Lynn Nelson Dayton & Florence Misfeldt

Deborah Konkel Doctors at All Family Dental Doro/Northland Companies Elaine Lonning Electric Cooperatives in Barron, Clark, Jackson, Jump River, Price and Taylor Counties Fredel Family Gladys Rankin God Grandchildren: Eli, Charlie, & BellaIn the name of ADK Jack & Vivian Vaudreuil James & Stephanie Gerdes Jan & Gale Otterholt Jesus’ Birthday Jim & Kathy Syrstad Jim Fering Joanne Stange John & Jill Walterman John & Wendy Syrstad Judy Thompson for her many years of dedicated service to FMP Julie Crivits Kerri Nelson Kim & Charlene Lynum Larry the Biker “Biking for Bread” (3) Leona Krumholz Linda & Jesse Vogel Loretta Tritz M.J. Consort Maggie Fischer Marie Seidling Mark & Mary Robarge Marlene Arntson Martha & Michael Sawyer Martha Peet Mary Gilles’ 80th Birthday (2)

Mary Rose Willi’s Birthday Mike & Elise Piraino Mike & Kathy Nelson Mr. & Mrs. Randy Lundblad Mr. & Mrs. Robert C. Dickey My Children Neoma Dole’s 100th birthday Our daughters, Melissa & HeatherPastor Deborah Nissen Pastor Mary Ann Bowman Pat & Jim Schlewitz Payroll Dept. at Ashley FurniturePeace Church Peg Williams Peter & Chloe Kofman Phoebe & Arne Peterson Prince Grandchildren Roger Elliot’s Retirement Rosario & Betty Oddo Ryan & Shanna Waite Sharing Group Stella Clark Stephen Perkiser (2)Steve & Lori Scott Suzanne Becker (2) Tanner & Jasey Gingras Tanya Larsen Ted Ted Swatzina Thanksgiving (2) Thomas Sahr’s Board Service Tim O’Connell Timothy Nelson for Christmas Tom Larsen Tony Sedesky Tracy Boyd & Christmas Truax United Church of Christ Tschernach Family Vince & Julie Maro Wayne & Kathryn Erickson

had some unpaid time off when she was born. We were prepared for this. She has since had two hospital stays and many trips to Minnesota for doctor appointments. (Three times this week alone, and I think she will be readmitted to the hospital today.) We were not prepared for this. It has been devastating to our budget.

I have somehow managed to make the mortgage, but that’s about it. It will probably be this way for a few months. Eventually our daughter should be stronger, and our budget will go back to normal. In the meantime, I really wanted you to know how very thankful we are for your assistance. It’s often a thankless service. Your staff was so gracious and kind.

Thanks for serving those in need. Thanks for feeding my kids!

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Going the Extra MileWhether the truck can park near the curb or 100 yards away, FMP drivers will get the food where it needs to go.

Climbing snowy bluffs, driving down tight alleyways not built for trucks to fit through, and delivering food as close to the door as possible is all in a day’s work for Feed My People’s dedicated drivers.

Tony Pfaff, staff driver, spends time driving five days a week to partners as far away as Minong, Park Falls, and Arcadia. “I get as close to the door as I can. Whatever they need I try to do,” he shared. All the drivers’ helpful and positive attitudes are probably part of the reason why many of them are on a first name basis with the site coordinators and volunteers. Some sites even have a hot coffee and donut waiting for Tony when he arrives.

While he enjoys the coffee and donuts, Tony’s job is not easy, especially with cold, snowy Wisconsin winters and hot, humid summer months. Yet he battles the weather and tricky driving conditions to get food where it needs to be. Tony explained why he drives week in and week out, “Just for the people—for the kids. I hear a lot of stories from pantries about struggling families. Having my own kids I can’t imagine. It makes me grateful for what I have and makes me want to help in any way I can.”

Moving 30,000 Pounds of Food Daily Volunteer drivers are the foundation of our delivery program and have been essential to its growth. To make continued growth efficient, semi trucks, driven by staff, were added in 2010 and 2014.

2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Miles Driven by StaffMiles Driven by Volunteers

The 87,000+ miles driven in 2015 is equivalent to traveling around the Earth 3 ½ times!

Thank You...B.A. Mason Trust Provides Matching Grant

Every week the Feed My People Weekend Kids’ Meal Program serves over 550 students in Chippewa Falls. Last October, B. A. Mason Trust offered a $10,000 match for donations received toward this program.

Thanks to the generosity of businesses, individuals, and churches, donations surpassed the match bringing in a grand total of $26,394 to support low-income students in Chippewa Falls. Thank you to B.A. Mason Trust and all those who continue to support healthy kids!

Markquart Motors Supports Basic Needs

For the second year in a row, the Markquart Gives Back campaign is supporting area nonprofits including Feed My People and all those we serve. $15,000 was raised to support FMP programming! Thank you to Markquart for partnering with us to reach our neighbors in need while strengthening the community in which we all live.

Delivering to the Strum Food Pantry.

NONPROFIT ORGUS POSTAGE PAID

EAU CLAIRE WIPERMIT 2055

2610 ALPINE ROAD • EAU CLAIRE, WI • 54703-9526

715.835.9415 • fmpfoodbank.org