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By David Goodman, Executive Director
These trying financial times present the Redwood Empire Food
Bank
(REFB) with a unique challenge. The counter-cyclical nature
of the food
banking business can mean that demand increases while support
decreases,
which is what is happening now. One solution may be to hunker
down
and weather the economic storm. Another is to continue being
leaders in
hunger-relief and take on the storm.
We are taking on this storm.
We are hearing an increased cry for help from people who are
struggling to put food on the table. Across the board we are
seeing an
increase in the number of people seeking food assistance. Our
helpline
rings all day with calls from people who are distraught, never
thinking
they would one day be without enough food. More children are
attending
our after-school snack programs where they receive nutritious
snacks
while continuing to learn through one of the many enrichment
programs
offered by our partner organizations. And there are the ever-lengthening
lines of seniors who have watched their nest eggs evaporate,
no longer able
to make it to the end of the month with fixed incomes and diminished
financial reserves.
Faced with the daunting challenge of providing critical food
assistance for 60,000 people every month with fewer food resources,
the
REFB is charting a new course of innovative ideas to address
the need for
increased food resources. Here are some examples.
"From the Ground Up" is a new pilot project in which we are working
with a number of volunteer gardening enthusiasts who will provide
thousands of vegetable plant starts to food recipients so they
can grow their
own produce. Beyond the cost savings of growing your own food,
there is
an opportunity to learn, have pride in tending to one's well
being and the
personal delight of tasting a vine-ripened tomato for the first
time.
We are increasing the production of our "3 Squares" program
that creates hearty meals for low-income people based on affordability,
ease
of preparation and nutrition. These pre-packed foods that feed
a family of
four provide a wholesome and nutritious meal.
With the increasing number
of people seeking help' we are also
evaluating the efficiency of our delivery
routes. With 75% of our food now being
delivered to food sites instead of being
picked up, the challenge of serving more
people with the same number of staff
and resources is all the more pressing.
The REFB is exploring and creating
new ways to respond to the increasing
need for food. We continue to provide
a safety net for those who have faced
hunger long before this economic
crisis hit, but also now for people who
are finding themselves in crisis for the
first time. We are looking ahead to
anticipated future needs, planning and creating new ways to meet
them. (Newsletter Spring 2009) |
