Summer 2015Food

More than 500 adults and children attended the Coming Together conference, presented by the Food Bank of Delaware, Brae’s Brown Bags and the Food Research and Action Center, on Monday, May 4 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront. The state’s first multi-generational anti-hunger conference featured programming for both adults and children.

Governor Jack Markell kicked off the morning with remarks. “Hunger is best fought by many,” he said.

A lineup of national anti-hunger leaders followed the Governor’s remarks, including keynote remarks from Kevin Concannon, Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, United States Department of Agriculture and Jared Bernstein, Senior Fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Former Chief Economist and Economic Adviser to Vice President Joseph Biden.

A Coming Together Town Hall Meeting featured a panel of prominent Delaware Republicans and Democrats including Senator Colin Bonini, Charlie Copeland, Chairman of the Delaware GOP and Senator Bryan Townsend. During the panel, student attendees had the opportunity to ask officials tough questions, including one from a local elementary student, “How can my mom work full-time and still not have enough money for food?”

Following the morning programming, children attended their own conference featuring eight stations focused on healthy eating, food insecurity and fitness. • The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension Master

Gardeners planted seeds with students. • Legislative aides from Senator Bryan Townsend and

Representative Helene Keeley’s offices helped students write letters to their legislators.

• A cooking demo showed students how to make healthy, easy meals.

• The Bear-Glasgow YMCA had kids (and adults) dancing all day with their Born to Move fitness activity.

• The Money Pit game had students finding index cards with

food items on them and then racing back to their table to create a nutritional meal out of their cards for under $1.25.

• The Power of Words station had kids reflect on different hunger-themed quotes.

• The Rice Bowl station educated students that one in five children experience food insecurity.

• Students also had the opportunity to pack brown bags filled with healthy snacks for Brae’s Brown Bags.

Adults and Children Come Together for Multi-Generational Anti-Hunger Conference

FOOD FOR THOUGHTis produced bi-annually by the Food Bank of Delaware.

for thought

Continued on page 2

“Hunger is best fought by many.”

-Governor Jack Markell

School Breakfast Winners District Participation Overall:1st place – New Castle Elementary School2nd place – Stubbs Elementary School3rd place – West Seaford Elementary School4th place – Seaford Middle School

District Highest Increase in Participation (2013-2014):1st place – Seaford High School2nd place – Stanton Middle School 3rd place – Frederick Douglass Elementary School4th place – Blades Elementary School

Charter/Single Unit Highest Participation –Academy of Dover

Charter/Single Unit Highest Increase in Participation 2013-2014 –Family Foundations of Academy

Board of Directors

It’s hard to believe, but back-to-school time is almost here. The summertime always flies by. The staff at the Food Bank of Delaware has been busy working to ensure that no child goes hungry when school is not in session. Thanks to a generous $20,000 grant from the ConAgra Foods Foundation, our summer meal program has expanded this year with the introduction of mobile meal sites. Read more about the new program on page 4. Our Giant Foods Grab and Go program, now in its third summer, allows children the flexibility of grabbing their summer meals at a central location in their neighborhood and then taking the meals back home to enjoy.

Programs like the Summer Food Service Program are important to our children’s health and vitality and are federally authorized by the Healthy Hunger-Free Act of 2010. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act authorizes all of the federal child nutrition programs, including the School Breakfast, National School Lunch, Child and Adult Care Food, Summer Food Service, and the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Programs and WIC. These programs provide funding to ensure that low-income children have access to healthy and nutritious foods where they live, play and learn.

Unfortunately, the act expires on September 30. We must educate Delaware’s federal delegation on the importance of these programs for both families and children. The delegation must invest in the health of our future! To learn more about the reauthorization, visit http://frac.org/leg-act-center/cnr-priorities/.

Committed to ending hunger,

Julie Miro Wenger Patricia D. Beebe Chairwoman of the Board President & CEO

A Note From the Board Chair and President & CEO

Julie Miro WengerChairwoman

Margaret England Vice Chair, Finance

Andy LarmoreVice Chair, Strategic Planning

Shawn WilliamsVice Chair, Advancement

LaKresha Roberts, Esq.Vice Chair, Governance

Patricia D. BeebePresident and CEO

TJ RoePast Chair

April Birmingham Justin CresslerKay Dapper Ali Khan Nick DavisAndrew LarmoreTara Lattomus, Esq. Timothy McCannDave MarvelTom NeylonMia Papas, PhD Sue Snider, PhDNoreen PooleMack WathenShawn Williams Kelly Whitmarsh Karen Williams

Newsletter StaffPatricia D. BeebePresident and CEOKim TurnerNewsletter EditorLarry HaasDevelopment Director

Dinner in the OrchardThursday, September 3; 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.Join us at T.S. Smith and Sons in Bridgeville for an evening of farm-fresh foods, live music and fine wines and beers. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit www.fbd.org/orchardinner

Upcoming EventsEvening in the GardenThursday, September 10; 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Enjoy garden-fresh foods, fine wine and live entertainment, while raising funds to help eliminate hunger in the First State. To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit www.fbd.org/an-evening-in-the-garden.

During the students’ lunchtime break, winners of the first-ever Coming Together Multimedia Creative Challenge were announced. To view the complete list of winners, visit http://braedenquinn.com/coming-together/multimedia-design-challenge-winners-2015/.

While students attended their own programming, adults heard from a panel of local, regional and national advocates about the importance of children’s nutrition, and the Food Bank of Delaware and Delaware Department of Education presented $20,000 in cash awards to schools making great strides to increase participation in school breakfast.

Dr. Sandra Hassink, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics, provided lunchtime

keynote remarks for adults. Three breakout panels took place during the afternoon hours; adult attendees had the opportunity to participate in one of three panels - Harvest and Hunger, Military Families and Workforce Development.

A JPMorgan Chase-sponsored volunteer packing event and happy hour closed out the day. Volunteers from JPMorgan Chase and conference attendees funded and packed 3,200 bags for the Backpack Program.

Multi-Generational Anti-Hunger Conference Continued from page 1

Our VisiOn: The Food Bank of Delaware is a statewide nonprofit agency whose vision is a community free of hunger. We distribute food to the hungry people in our community through a network of 550 hunger relief program partners.

14 Garfield WayNewark, DE 19713

www.fbd.org

A Note From the Board Chair and President & CEO1040 Mattlind WayMilford, DE 19963

The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware has been credited for impacting many lives, especially Rory Price’s. Rory graduated with class 37 in September 2014. Since graduation, he has been flourishing as an employee at Desserts By Dana in Newark.

Rory is perfecting his baking craft by doing a little bit of everything. From creating weekly baking lists to deliveries and making butter cream frosting, mini desserts and cupcakes, Rory is doing a lot working alongside Chef Dana Hubert, owner of Desserts by Dana and winner of TLC’s Next Great Baker.

“A lot of people look at him as a celebrity,” explains Rory. “I look at him as a teacher. He doesn’t hold back. He doesn’t come off as being arrogant. He is not a drill sergeant and is real down to earth. He takes the time to teach you and to make sure you get it right. He teaches everyone.”

In addition to the on-the-job training from Chef Dana, Rory also credits the instruction he received from The Culinary School to his success.

“The program opened my eyes to an area of life that I knew existed, but didn’t think I could be a part of,” he points out.

“I don’t think about it while I am here. Sometimes I get home and I say ‘I work at Desserts by Dana.’ It takes my breath away. I feel real proud of myself and how far I have gotten so far.”

Rory’s previous experience includes a six-year stint as a McDonald’s manager.

With wedding season in full swing, Rory is working six days a week. When he leaves the bakery, he unplugs and brainstorms recipes, but admits he doesn’t cook for himself.

Some of his favorite desserts to prepare (and eat!) are peanut butter cheesecake, peanut butter and jelly cupcakes and maple bacon cupcakes.

Looking ahead to the future, in five years, Rory envisions himself owning an Eagles-themed sports bar and also running a couple of other businesses.

He still keeps in touch with former classmates and hopes to enlist their help one day.

For students beginning their culinary journey, Rory advises, “Don’t limit yourself in the class. Don’t take it as just a class that is a 14-week excuse to do something else or be somewhere else.”

And for those considering the program, “I would definitely encourage them to find out information as to why they would or would not,” he says. “If it’s not a program for them, I would advise someone not to do it, because they are taking up a spot for someone who does want to. If it’s something they are interested in doing and jumping two feet in, then take advantage of everything the program has to offer. I say go for it. It has changed my life 100 percent.”

When asked where he would be if he hadn’t enrolled in The Culinary School, “I would be working but I don’t think it would be in the capacity I am working and definitely not as rewarding.”

Are you ready to make a career change? Applications are accepted throughout the year for our culinary training program in both Newark and Milford. Are you a food service employer who wants to make a difference? We are in need of internship sites and employers! To learn more, visit http://www.fbd.org/the-culinary-school/.

Culinary Alumni Spotlight: Rory Price

Holiday Food Drive Season Begins on Thursday, October 1Help bring hope to the table this holiday season by hosting a food drive. To learn more about hosting a food drive, visit www.fbd.org/holiday-food-drives/.

Halloween Blue Jean Ball Saturday, October 24; 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.Featuring a fall harvest menu prepared by chefs from Iron Hill Brewery and students from The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware, Iron Hill’s own brews, fine wine and entertainment from Mike Hines and the Look! To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit www.fbdbluejeanball.org. Dress in blue jeans or a costume!

Class 39 of The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware graduated on Thursday, May 7.

Eleven students graduated from The Culinary School at the Milford Branch. All were employed in full-time jobs upon graduation.

Kids are all smiles as they enjoy lunch at Centennial Park in Bear. Centennial Park was one of four mobile meal sites sponsored by the ConAgra Foods Foundation.

More than 200 seniors attended the first-ever Senior Health Fair at the Milford Branch on May 14. More than 20 resource tables were available and attendees also visited the Mobile Pantry.

Employees from Horizon Services spent a day packing meals for the Backpack Program at their site in New Castle. The company donated $2,000 to support the program.

In the Community:

Tie-Dye Descends on Legislative HallOn Wednesday, May 13 the Food Bank of Delaware held its annual Legislative Day in Dover. Each year, the sea of tie-dye shirts descends on Legislative Hall in Dover to share information with legislators about the important work done by the Food Bank and its partner agencies. Early in the morning, a caravan of Food Bank trucks left from the Newark and Milford warehouses bound for Dover. The day’s mission was to create 5,200 backpacks (one entire week’s worth) during the five-hour packing event on the Mall.

State employees across Dover were alerted that their help would be needed to complete this job. Thanks to the help of Governor Markell’s office and the Office of Management and Budget, e-mails were sent to all state employees asking them to come out and help us ensure that we could provide these vitally important backpacks to kids across our state.

Amidst all the business of volunteers moving about, lunch was also prepared by students from The Culinary School. Volunteers, legislators, state employees and staff dined on pulled chicken and pulled pork sliders, grilled vegetables and coleslaw.

Hunger-Free SummerThe Food Bank of Delaware kicked off its 2015 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) with a Summer Fun Fair for kids and adults at Newark’s Dickey Park on Friday, June 12 and Bear’s Centennial Park on Tuesday, June 16. More than 60 children and adults gathered at the Dickey Park event for a free lunch provided by students from The Culinary School at the Food Bank of Delaware, activities, a cooking demo and inspiring words from retired NFL punter Sean Landeta. The Bear-Glasgow YMCA conducted an interactive fitness demo. At the conclusion of both events, adults received a 30-pound meal box from the Food Bank’s mobile pantry.

The kickoff event was made possible thanks to a $20,000 Hunger-Free Summer grant from the ConAgra Foods Foundation. In addition, the generous grant has allowed the Food Bank to operate mobile meal sites at parks and State Service Centers in New Castle County. A driver travels from site to site delivering meals, and a Food Bank of Delaware park coordinator distributes the meals and coordinates activities.