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poundage and programs The Regional Food bank provided 27.7 million pounds of food to its member agencies and the hungry people they serve in 2012, a 55% increase since 2007. Approximately 250,000 people benefited from the assistance the Food Bank provided. The need has increased dramatically during these difficult economic times, and the Food Bank has been asked to do much more. Fortunately, our generous community has responded in a big way. Food and monetary donations were strong in 2012, and more people than ever donated their time and services to assist us with sorting and repacking food in the warehouse, volunteering at the Farm or in the office, and serving on fundraising committees. We could not have met the increased need without the tremendous help we received from the community. Over 250 food industry businesses donated food and non-food grocery items, and hundreds of individuals generously contributed through food drives and other efforts to make it possible for the Food Bank to serve its member agencies. Donations are received from food companies throughout our 23-county service area and from national companies through our relationship with Feeding America, the national network of food banks. The Regional Food Bank accepts products that are surplus, off-size or color, discontinued, close-to-code/best-used by date, shipped in error…unmarketable for whatever reason, but still good to use. For donations that come in bulk or are cosmetically damaged, volunteers and staff work to make these donations usable for our member agencies by sorting and repacking them. The Food Bank completed its seventh year of operating the Patroon Land Farm in 2012. To date, over 620,000 pounds of produce have been grown and distributed through the Food Bank to people in need. Our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program grew to 382 members last year, providing the Farm with more financial stability and an opportunity to expand its acreage to grow more vegetables to feed the hungry. 27.7 Million Pounds of Food Distributed in 2012 to Agencies in 23 Counties of New York State 1. Albany - 3,561,145 2. Clinton - 578,767 3. Columbia - 953,834 4. Delaware - 416,688 5. Dutchess - 1,859,406 6. Essex - 235,377 7. Franklin - 1,326,381 8. Fulton - 602,411 9. Greene - 591,383 10. Hamilton - 56,982 11. Montgomery - 386,196 12. Orange - 2,764,186 13. Otsego - 697,473 14. Putnam - 801,288 15. Rensselaer - 1,506,249 16. Rockland - 2,448,271 17. Saratoga - 959,417 18. Schenectady - 2,539,214 19. Schoharie - 561,076 20. Sullivan - 872,611 21. Ulster - 2,755,857 22. Warren - 928,490 23. Washington - 301,352
Photo by Glenn Davenport agency services and programs summer food service program As a sponsor of this federal program, the Food Bank partners with community agencies to provide nutritious breakfasts and lunches to low-income school-aged children throughout the summer, when school breakfasts and lunches are not available. The Food Bank sponsors sites in Albany, Montgomery, and Fulton Counties. (SFSP is an equal opportunity provider and employer.) In 2012, the Food Bank provided 16,843 meals, an increase of 3,103 meals from 2011. backpack program The BackPack Program helps alleviate child <strong>hunger</strong> by providing at-risk children with nutritious and easy-to-prepare food on weekends, when other resources may not available. The Food Bank provides backpacks filled with child-friendly and easyto-prepare food each Friday during the school year. In 2012, the program expanded from 20 to 32 schools and served 820 children each week. mass distribution program The Food Bank’s Mass Distributions – also called Mobile Pantries – supply people in low-income neighborhoods with surplus food on a monthly basis. Mass Distributions give people food over and above what they may receive at a food pantry, helping them stretch their limited dollars and giving their nutrition a boost through the provision of food like yogurt, juice, and fresh produce. A total of 3,922,485 pounds were distributed at Mass Distribution sites in 2012. patroon land farm The Regional Food Bank, in partnership with the Patroon Land Foundation, manages a 15-acre Farm for the purpose of growing vegetables for distribution to the Food Bank’s member agencies and the hungry people they serve. In 2012, 147,204 pounds of produce were harvested. Since the Food Bank took over operations of the Farm in 2006, it has produced more than 621,000 pounds of fresh food for those in need. kids cafe Kids Cafes are soup kitchens for children. In addition to providing healthy meals in a safe atmosphere, Kids Cafes provide athletic activities, homework assistance, and nutrition education to disadvantaged youth. The Food Bank currently operates a Kids Cafe at the Schenectady Boys & Girls Club’s Mont Pleasant site where 50 children receive hot meals three times a week. one-on-one support Our Agency Relations staff works hard to address the changing needs of our member agencies and offer them the support they need. Food Bank staff members analyze agency ordering patterns to ensure agencies optimize their use of the Food Bank. In addition, they educate member agency staff so they can provide resources beyond emergency food, such as information on Food Stamps (now called SNAP), affordable health care, and nutrition. workshops The Food Bank provides agencies a wide variety of workshops on a monthly basis, such as: • Advocacy • Accommodating Special Diets • Agency Best Practices • Cooking Without a Kitchen • Disaster Preparedness • Food Bank Orientation • Food Safety • Fundraising 101 • Grant Writing • Menu Planning • Outreach Opportunities • Overcoming Burnout • Pantry Tours • Understanding Federal Nutrition Programs • What’s in a Bag? • And More! 6
Page 1 and 2: 30 years of alleviating hunger...to
Page 3 and 4: Dear Friends, When the economy stru
Page 5: Regional Food Bank commemorates 30t
Page 9 and 10: food donors and drives food drives
Page 11: Tri City Rentals Troy Savings Bank
Page 14: time and talent donors Volunteers p
Page 17 and 18: Project L.I.F.E. RECAP Sacred Heart
Page 19 and 20: thank you The staff of the Regional

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