Striking the Balance

“I’m going to save the world “I never knew what those words would cause me to do. When I took the food bank over in 1993, that was my attitude. I was going to change lives, I was going to end hunger, and I was going to give everything I had away. The problem with that mentality is that when you have given it all away, it’s just, all gone. After a few months at the food bank I had done just that, given it all away and I was left with nothing at all for the next time. After not getting a pay check for a month and a half I learned real quick something that I have to remind my staff of everyday “you have to do well, in order to continue to do good”. This one charitable business philosophy has led our organization out of the shadows and to a place when we can meet the demands of all who come knocking.
The key to this philosophy is learning to do the “yes, but.” This means that you will help those in need learn how to get themselves back on a track to success. You move from a welfare mentality to a mentality where you help people find and use resources responsibility. One thing that I have seen over the years in social service is people just handing out resources just to make themselves feel less guilty or to not spend the time to find real resources that will help those that want to be successful move to the next level. True success comes when you align investors (donors) with programs that change lives, not just put band aids on problems. The food bank is a perfect investment as it takes that gift and extends it over the base of agencies. Supporting children, the elderly, the disabled, the working poor, and those between jobs is why I live to do this job every day. Building a strong community is my task not just giving handouts. Striking the balance is the key. Finding that place where you support that family where both parents work and try to raise happy, healthy children. Making sure the elderly get a hot meal to stay healthy, and ensuring that thousands of kids receive a meal at Kids Café, that is the key to changing lives, not just giving a handout. The next time you are asked to help say yes, but I am also going to make sure that you have the real resources you need to be successful

Why it’s worth it

Today was a great reminder of why I do what I do. Today we had a great time in a low income neighborhood feeding children and the less fortunate in this small community in Thomasville. As we watched the children and adults come forward they were truly thankful to have the simple meal of a hot dog, chips, and a bottle of cold water. As I talked to one young man this morning he described that he had not eaten since the free lunch that he received at school on Friday. As I stood there and talked with the young man he ate 4 plates of food and asked to take some home to his brother. When I have these conversations with young children, I am reminded of how fortunate I am that we can help these situations. In just a few months we will be opening a Kids Café to feed this neighborhood every day. Children in this county should never face the issue of hunger when we throw away 97 billion pounds of food each year in this country each year.

Waiting for the Storm

Since I came to work for the food bank network in 1993 I have had the honor to work with several disasters in my tenure. I worked Andrew, The Houston Floods, 9/11, mid west floods, Rita, Katrina, Charlie, and several other local disasters. What I have learned is that people come together to make a difference. As we wait to see what this new series of storms do over the next few days, let’s remember that families and companies that are preparing for the worst.
Should the time come, get involved, help change lives and heal communities. We may be calling on you to help in the next few days so please keep us in your hearts and prayers as we prepare to help those in need. Thanks, Frank

Take a Breath

This weekend we will celebrate Labor Day in our country. It is a time to take a breath before what will be the most challenging time of the year for charities. Over the next few weeks we will write budgets, hire and train staff for the fall, and try and find enough food to fill the food bank for the holiday a season. As we move into this difficult time, take a moment to count your blessings. Each day we are given the privilege to come and serve others. We make the impossible possible and we solve problems. What a great gift.

As I stood on the front dock of the warehouse last week and talked to a mother of three little children that no food, I was for the one millionth time since I took this job in 1993 taken to my knees in guilt about how lucky I am and how fortunate we are to have resources to help families like this.

This weekend, take a breath, spend time with family and then come back next week charged up and ready to help fight hunger in our community. Be safe!!

Support SNAP

S.N.A.P.
Georgia’s State Nutrition Assistance Program

Fact Sheet

The Georgia General Assembly established Georgia’s State Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 1998. Last fiscal year the Department of Human Resources provided $6 million in federal dollars for this program as a TANF expenditure. During state FY 2007, the Georgia Food Bank Association distributed more than 6.8 million pounds of food at an average per pound cost of $0.70. This food was distributed as groceries to 325,905 families or served over 2 million hot meals. Food banks assist Georgia by providing required TANF maintenance of effort funds.

Distribution of these foods is limited to parents and their children who are TANF clients, transitioning from welfare to work, or who are considered “at-risk” for TANF enrollment. DHR contracts with the food banks to provide this needed service. Goals for the program are:
· Provide a nutritional safety net to relieve situations of hunger, poor nutrition, and short-term food shortages for needy Georgians. SNAP increasingly serves as a support for low-wage employees who have faced job and/or wage cutbacks during the past year.
· Purchase as many Georgia agricultural and food products for distribution as possible, thereby supporting Georgia businesses and farmers.
· Secure a $6 million dollar TANF expenditure item within the Department of Human Resources budget.

Georgia Food Bank Association
There are eight food banks in the state, which collectively serve all 159 counties with SNAP foods. These food banks reside in Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah and Valdosta. The SNAP funds are distributed across the state based on the poverty levels in the area. Food banks are well equipped with warehousing equipment and space as well as trucking capabilities. All are inspected for safe food handling practices by county and state health departments, USDA, Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest) and donor corporations.

Continuing Need
Hunger and food insecurity are byproducts of poverty. Results from the U.S. Census show the persistent nature of poverty in our state: 14.7% of all Georgians and 20.2% of our children live in poverty. The poverty rate in our counties ranges between a low of 4% in Fayette and Columbia Counties to a high of 31% in Clarke County. Declining wages, high housing costs, plant closings and lay-offs have left thousands of Georgia families with greater financial burdens. Regulations limiting access to public benefit programs are causing these Georgians to turn for help more frequently to the nonprofit and faith-based organizations in their communities. These organizations are the distribution points for SNAP foods.

Proposal for FY 2009 Georgia State Budget
SNAP should be funded at the $6 million level as part of DHR’s budget plans for TANF expenditures. Georgia’s SNAP project has become a model for other states and has been hailed by HHS as a logical, much needed use of TANF funds.