Download It - Westmoreland County Food Bank

More documents

Recommendations

Info

WCFB Program Updates“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of someone else.” - Charles DickensSUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM (SFSP)As temperatures soar, days getlonger, and fireflies come out infull force, the WestmorelandCounty Food Bank’s sponsorshipof the Summer Food Service Program(SFSP), one of our mostsuccessful food provision programs,is once again under way.The Food Bank serves as asponsor for SFSP, a federal and state program which seeks to providemeals to needy children. From New Stanton to New Florence, wesponsor 19 sites across Westmoreland County. As part of the program,sites provide breakfast and either a hot or cold lunch option.Meals are nutritionally-balanced, featuring fresh fruit, low-fat milk,lean meat, and whole grains.Safety is just as important as nutrition under the program, and allsites are run by Site Supervisors who are responsible for following allfood safety regulations as set forth by the Pennsylvania Departmentsof Agriculture and Education. To ensure optimal safety and understandingof program requirements, all site supervisors attend an orientationand training at the Food Bank before sites become operational.SFSP is an eight-week program which runs from June 20 th throughAugust 12 th this year. Last year, 33,000 meals were served to over600 children a day with the help of the program and WCFB’s sponsorship.For more information about SFSP, or if you’d like to apply to run asite in your area next summer, please contact Michelle Heller at 724-468-8660, ext. 25. You may also email her atmichelle@westmorelandfoodbank.org.WCFB staff Michelle Heller, Texie Waddell and Deana Pastorpack some backpacks.WEEKEND BACKPACKPROGRAMThis school year, the FoodBank continued its sponsorshipof the Weekend BackpackProgram, which aims to provideschool-age children withnutritious food on Saturdayand Sundays, when they arenot able to receive free orsubsidized lunches at school.As part of the program, children at four sites throughout WestmorelandCounty – New Kensington, Vandergrift, Jeannette, and Derry–receive a weekly backpack with nutritious food that is easy toprepare over weekends and school vacations. WCFB is one of onlyfour food banks in Pennsylvania to sponsor this program.The Backpack program relies entirely on grants and private donations.We at the Food Bank are incredibly grateful for our partners,volunteers, and friends who have shared gifts of their time and moneywhich have allowed us to continue supporting the Weekend Backpackprogram. It is only with continued donations, contributions tolocal food drives, and volunteers who help pack the bags for distributionthat we are able to maintain the program and hope to expand itinto other needy areas throughout Westmoreland County.If you would like to make a monetary donation to support the program,become a volunteer, or request a presentation about the programfor your group or organization, please contact Michelle Hellerat 724-468-8660, ext. 25. You may also email her atmichelle@westmorelandfoodbank.org.Young helpers at a Scottdale distributionOPERATION FRESH EXPRESS (OFE)Thank you to all of our 2011 sponsors:St. Vincent DePaul Society/Greensburg, Greensburg Rotary, New Stanton/Youngwood Rotary,Greater Latrobe Ministerial Association, United Presbyterian Church of New Kensington,Open Hands Ministries, Norwin Rotary, Scottdale Mennonite Church, Kregar CommunityChurch, St. Margaret Mary’s Church, New Stanton Food Pantry, Murrysville/Export Rotary, St.Edward’s Church, Holy Trinity Church, St. Vincent DePaul Society/Vandergrift, Calvary UnitedMethodist Church, St. Michael’s of the Valley Church, St. George’s Church, St. Sylvester'sChurch/Slickville Lions Club, the Benner Family, and Penn Trafford High School CAP.2012 sponsorship dates are nearly gone! If your group is interested in sponsoring an OperationFresh Express Distribution, please contact Deana at (724) 468-8660 Ext 29 or emailher at deana@westmorelandfoodbank.org.FOOD DONATIONSPlease Note: Please deliver donations to WCFB at 100 Devonshire Drive, Delmont, PA 15626 onMonday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 2:00 PM. Please call 724-468-8660 ext 10 if you cannotbring your donations during regular warehouse hours. We can make other arrangements ifnecessary. Thank you for helping our attempt to end hunger in Westmoreland County.For information on facilitating a food drive for WCFB, call Louise at 724-468-8660 ext 13 or emailher at louise@westmorelandfoodbank.org. A Food Drive Information Packet can be downloadedhere.4
More WCFB Program UpdatesSENIOR FOODBOX PROGRAM(CSFP)One of WestmorelandCountyFood Bank’s mostsuccessful food provisionprograms, theCommodity SupplementalFood Program(CSFP), alsoknown as the SeniorFood Box program, is facing downsizing and removal of senior participants.After a May fiscal planning meeting, the US House of Representativesrecommended reducing CSFP funding by over 20 percent. This reductionwould mean that seniors in each of Pennsylvania’s 19 Congressionaldistricts would be affected; with less money, fewer seniors canbe provided with monthly food boxes.CSFP is a federal program administered by the Pennsylvania Departmentof Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Association of RegionalFood Banks, of which WCFB is a member. Last year, the Food Bankwas able to provide over 1500 seniors (defined by federal regulationsas age 60 or older) with boxes distributed monthly through WestmorelandCounty’s network of food pantries. Boxes include itemssuch as cereal, evaporated milk, canned fruits and vegetables, juice,cheese, and dried pasta.Under the regulations of this Federal program, CFSP participantsmust provide proof of household income, age, and residence. Householdincome guidelines are subject to change with Pennsylvania’sannual budget, so any budget cuts could place seniors who benefitfrom the program in danger of no longer qualifying to receive boxes.We urge friends of the Food Bank to stay in touch with their statecongressional representatives about this issue and voice their concernabout cuts in the program’s budget. CSFP is one of our most successfuland beneficial programs, and it can continue only with appropriatefederal and state funding. For more information about the program orto learn other ways to help, please contact Michelle Heller at 724-468-8660, ext. 25. You may also email her atMichelle@westmorelandfoodbank.org.FEEDING MT. PLEASANT/SCOTTDALE PROJECTIn January 2011, WCFB’s outreach and expansion efforts to reach outto the needy moved into a new area and took on a new name. TheFeeding Mt. Pleasant/Scottdale Project, named for the areas targetedfor outreach during 2011 and 2012, includes Mount Pleasant,Scottdale, Pleasant Unity, Tarrs and several other surrounding communities.The Pantry Advisory Committee continues to meet regularlyto focus on pantry capacity development and volunteer needs in preparationfor active outreach through direct mailings. Several pantrycoordinators have expressed the need for additional or updatedequipment. WCFB will pursue grant opportunities to ensure that eachpantry has the equipment needed to serve its participants as efficientlyas possible.Developing strong community partnerships plays an important rolein our outreach and expansion efforts. The Area Agency on Aging,Faith in Action, and Excela Frick Hospital are a few partners that WCFBhas been involved with to exchange information on food resourcesavailable throughout the county.With an increase in need comes additional demand for more food.Please consider holding a food drive to benefit WCFB through yourplace of employment or through a club or organization to which youbelong. The downloadable “Care to Share” food drive packet is availableon our web site at www.westmorelandfoodbank.org. This packetwas developed to encourage more people to become involved and tosimplify the process for the food drive facilitator. The packet lists specificsteps to follow in order to plan a successful food drive. You willalso find suggested themes such as Golf “Fore” the Hungry and TackleHunger during football season. Drives can be held for specific items orto benefit a particular program. Use your creativity and imagination tohelp those less fortunate in your community.For more information on the Feeding Mt. Pleasant/Scottdale Project,please contact Project Manager, Texie Waddell, at 724-468-8660ext. 20 or email her at texie@westmorelandfoodbank.org.A CSFP RECIPE…As always, WCFB strives to provide all our beneficiaries with nutritious and balanced food. Below you can find healthy recipes which utilize foodfound in CFSP senior boxes.Fruited Chicken Salad with Honey-Lemon DressingHoney-Lemon Dressing1/3 cup honey1 lemon, juiced1 cup mayonnaise (or 1 cup plainyogurt)Fruited Chicken Salad1 can shredded chicken2 stalks celery, diced1 can diced plums1 can diced peachesIn medium bowl, gradually stir honey and lemon juice into mayonnaise. Cover and refrigerate.Combine chicken and fruit in large bowl. Mix chicken salad with honey-lemon dressing and serve.5
Page 1 and 2: Summer | Fall 20112010 Was a Banner
Page 3: STAFF PROFILE CLARISSA AMONDClariss
Page 7 and 8: In Other News...Trafford Farmer Pla
Page 9 and 10: SpotlightsVOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHTMichel
Page 11: We Couldn’t Do It Without YOU!2nd

Download It - Westmoreland County Food Bank

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?