for fpwc on canal pays - Food Pantry of Waukesha County

January 2010
Miracle
Skylight Opera 50th Anniversary Season Food Drive
January 29th through February 14th
Board of Directors
Larry Bucholtz
Kristin Fahje Rudy Gutierrez
The Skylight Opera Theatre is celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season by giving back
to the community as an appreciation of their continued support. The Marriage of Figaro
runs from January 29 through February 14, 2010 and all food collected during this time
will be donated to The Food Pantry of Waukesha County. Patrons that bring five or more
items will receive a coupon for $5 off their next ticket purchase. For more information
and purchasing tickets online go to www.skylightopera.com.
Winter 2009/2010 newsletter
David LaBorde
Lisa Mautz, Treasurer
25th Anniversary Waukesha JanBoree
Mary Jane Reichart
Friday, January 22 through Sunday, January 24
Brad Schimel
Jane Schneider
Lyn Schulz
Kim Seeberg
nd
PAYS
This family-fun winter celebration is a wonderful winter event with or without snow!
Events will take place throughout the city of Waukesha. There will be many free family
and adult events, including the “Freezin For Hunger” food drive to benefit FPWC. See
the wide variety of events available at the JanBoree website www.janboree.org
Tanya L. Wilson
Michele Marsh, Vice President
Barb Syrjanen, Secretary
Heather Mrotek,
Student Representative
Steve Youngbauer, President
Staff
Theresa Barndt
Charlotte Borchert
Nancy Camara
PAAC and Positively Pewaukee, Spring Fashion Show
Tuesday, April 20th
The Pewaukee Area Arts Council and Positively Pewaukee will be presenting fashions
from Bruce Paul Goodman and Lieblang Leather at The Country Springs Resort. This
fashion extravaganza will also be helping to fight hunger in Waukesha County by collecting food donations on site. Tickets are $45 each and are available through Pewaukee
Area Arts Council or Positively Pewaukee. Details will be available on both of the websites: www.pewaukeearts.org, www.positivelypewaukee.com
Pam Cesarec
Jerry Oven
Karen Tredwell, Executive Director
Michael Zirbel
e
ach year since 1994 Potawatomi Bingo Casino has invited
local non-profit organizations to apply for their “Miracle on Canal
Street” program which provides much needed funds to many
local agencies. To be eligible, charities must provide assistance to
children as a core component of their mission. In 2009, the Food
Pantry of Waukesha County (FPWC) and 19 other organizations
were chosen as the official Miracle charities that will share the
funds raised through special Miracle bingo games.
These special games are purchased by bingo players for three
dollars at every bingo session played throughout the year at
Potawatomi. Half of the funds go to the various charities and the
remaining half goes to the winner of each game. At the end of the
year the funds are totaled and divided among each of the selected
charities. Over the years, the Miracle program has flourished and
grown to become a very substantial gift for over 300 local charities.
215 w. north street
waukesha, wi 53188
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FOR FPWC
April 2010
Judy Cesarec
tel: 262.542.5300 | fax: 262.542.4177
e-mail: WaukeshaPantry@tds.net
web: www.foodpantryofwaukeshacounty.org
ON CANAL
BIG
th
This summer, local communications agency the Roberts Group created this half-page ad and added to their long
list of contributions to FPWC. As part of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s “Building Partners for Humanity”
campaign, the ad ran twice this year with an advertising value of over $9,000.
This year’s grand total was revealed on December 11th, during the
“Miracle Bingo Bash” which was attended by the Pantry’s staff and
more than 40 FPWC volunteers and board members. The Miracle
Bash is held each year to wrap-up the end of the Miracle program
and so that each of the partner charities and their friends can
celebrate the donation with a fun evening of bingo.
And you couldn’t ask for a better way to start out the evening.
With the bingo hall filled to capacity and as the bingo players
looked on, members of the Potawatomi Bingo staff slowly
revealed the Miracle gift of $1,004, 651.00! This tremendous
amount was divided among each of the twenty charities and later
that evening FPWC Executive Director, Karen Tredwell was
presented with a check for $50,232.59.
This donation could not have come at a better time. As the Pantry
is seeing record growth in the need for its services, cash donations
like this will provide much need fresh milk, frozen meats, and other
perishable items not normally available through Pantry food drives.
FPWC would like to thank everyone at Potawatomi Bingo
Casino and all the bingo players that made such a generous gift
possible. Children are by far the largest group served by the
Pantry, and with donations like this, FPWC can help to make
miracles happen for each of them.
Left: Potawatomi Bingo staff members reveal the grand total of the Miracle on Canal donation as charity representatives celebrate the announcement;
Right: FPWC Director Karen Tredwell (center) receives the Miracle on Canal check from Potawatomi representatives at the Bingo Bash
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LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Inspiration: the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions…
Mission
Hunger hurts. It denies dignity, lessens human energy
and impairs the potential of
people to succeed. Therefore:
The Food Pantry of Waukesha
County will advocate to increase awareness of hunger in
the community and promote
collaborative action to provide
food to those in need.
Vision
To eliminate hunger in
Waukesha County.
Non Profit Status
The Food Pantry of Waukesha
County is a non profit community organization, maintaining
501(c)3 status, and all donations
are tax deductible.
The Food Pantry of Waukesha
County is an equal opportunity provider and employer. In
accordance with Federal law
and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution
is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color,
national origin, sex, age, or
disability.
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What inspires you? Maybe it’s your family, friends or vocation. Perhaps you are inspired
by your spiritual beliefs, a book, or a recent conversation. We often find inspiration in
the most simple of events. Hopefully something inspires you on a daily basis! Working
at the Food Pantry is inspiring on so many levels. Every day at the Pantry we hear many
stories from our clients; stories of hardship and stories of hope. We see our Volunteers
sharing their time, compassion, and talent and our donors giving of themselves to ensure
that we can persist in the fight against food insecurity.
Recently, a few specific experiences have particularly moved me. A friend, Chip Duncan,
recently released a beautiful book of his photos and observations from Pakistan,
Afghanistan, and Darfur. Although it takes place in far-off locations that many of us
will never see, it is full of poignant stories that are relevant no matter where one lives.
Before I even opened the book, I was stirred by the title - Enough to Go Around,
(www.duncanentertainment.com) such a simple but powerful statement. To me, it is an
inspiring statement but also a call to action. The fact that there is “enough to go around”
is certainly true; there literally is enough food to go around, in fact more than enough.
LEADERSHIP WAUKESHA TRANSLATES
TO food pantry SUCCESS
Once again the Leadership Waukesha Program has stepped in to offer its services to
the FPWC. Leadership Waukesha has a long history of service to non-profit agencies
and the Pantry is very grateful that they have once again selected them to receive
their services.
Leadership Waukesha, an annual program sponsored by the Waukesha County
Chamber of Commerce, prepares individuals living or working in the greater
Waukesha County area for leadership positions within their business and community.
Program participants form teams, and each team works with a non-profit agency to
create and implement a project that will benefit the agency and the community at
large. Past Leadership projects that have benefited FPWC include Second Helpings
(which evolved into the Food Recovery Program), production of a marketing video
for the Freezin’ for Hunger event, and the Food Drive in a Bag campaign.
Doesn’t it only make sense for us to find a way to ensure that everyone who needs food
gets it? Providing people with the most basic of needs is the right thing to do, and from
a pragmatic point of view, people who have adequate nutrition are better students, better
workers, get ill less often, and are all-around better contributors to our communities.
Pantry staff and volunteers have identified a need for concise and accurate
information that is culturally appropriate for the numerous groups that need the
services of FPWC. The latest contribution from the Leadership Group will be
a multi-cultural communications project that will enable FPWC volunteers and
staff to provide Pantry information to all clients with limited abilities in English.
Waukesha County is home to many nationalities, cultures, and linguistic groups,
and unfortunately language barriers can prevent some individuals from getting the
services they need.
Participation in a recent presentation has further encouraged me to look for innovative
ways to engage the greater community to work together on poverty, housing, and hunger
issues. The Waukesha County Nutrition Coalition (WCNC) has long been a place
where non-profit agencies can network and share program information that is relevant
to client service. In mid-October, WCNC was fortunate to have a presentation by UW
Extension about poverty.
The Leadership Team will be identifying various linguistic groups within the
community and producing the appropriate translations of FPWC literature. These
translations will work in conjunction with a prominent display that can clearly
communicate to each group that all are welcome at the Pantry. Every Pantry client
will soon have access to the information that will allow them to fully access all of the
services that the Pantry can provide.
Rather than being filled with the grim realities that seem to hit us full-force every
time the television is turned on or a newspaper is opened, the presentation focused on
examples of how we can effectively direct available resources and ideas for the creation
and implementation of simple, cost-effective community-based solutions. Members
present at the meeting spoke passionately about how Waukesha County, with the wealth
of assets it has available, is the perfect place to create and carry out solutions to respond
to the growing needs of area citizens.
The Leadership Group will be looking for cultural liaisons to provide translations
and background information for the numerous ethnic groups living in Waukesha
County. If you think you could be of help with this project please contact Michael
Zirbel at 262-542-5300 ext.112
Did we come up with the ultimate solution? Not yet, but we have set up a meeting to
formalize a call to action and to invite others to respond. But, the response does not, in
fact, should not, come only from non-profit staff. How do you personally respond to a “call
to action” when you hear it? Your own response could be sharing a meal with an unknown
guest by putting a food donation in one of the many barrels placed in grocery stores, schools,
and congregations throughout the community. Perhaps you will ensure that people using the
Food Pantry will be able to share a healthy meal with their families. Working together, we
can accomplish so much to ensure that there is “enough to go around.”
New Staff at the
Food Pantry
The Food Pantry of Waukesha
County would like to welcome
two new staff members. If you
see them around the Pantry
make sure to say hello.
Pam Cesarec is FPWC’s newest
Pantry Assistant. She has
been doing a great job making
sure that Thursday nights and
Saturday Mornings run just the
way they should!
Michael Zirbel has recently taken
over as Associate Director at the
Pantry. It has been a baptism by
fire for Michael, starting at the
Pantry right when they had their
busiest two months ever.
FPWC would like to thank Leadership Waukesha for their many years of service in the Waukesha community and
congratulate the 20th Leadership class on their graduation.
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RECORD DEMAND SHOWS NO SIGN
OF SLOWING In the new year
At the end of September, the Food Pantry of Waukesha County (FPWC)
finished its fiscal year 2008/2009 with very mixed emotions. After double
checking the numbers, the staff learned that more people were served last year
than ever before in the thirty-one year history of FPWC. This comes as no
surprise to the more than two hundred volunteers who distribute the much
needed groceries and supplies to an average of 6,200 men, women, and children
each month. Just nine months earlier that average was considerably lower at
5,700 people per month, but hard economic times have forced more and more to
the Pantry’s doors. When all was said and done, over 74,000 individuals received
services from FPWC last year, an increase of over 9% from the previous year.
Although it is distressing to know that so many are struggling to meet the most
basic of human needs, there is also a ray of hope that comes from the generosity
of the many individuals who have stepped forward to meet that challenge.
G.R.O.W. PROJECT PROVIDES HEALTHY
FLAVORS FOR A LIFETIME of taste
For food pantries everywhere, it can be an enormous challenge to provide enough fresh
produce to the many families that seek their assistance. The cost of purchasing fresh produce,
along with the daunting task of storing it properly, has led many hunger-relief programs to
rely almost exclusively on canned fruits and vegetables. But, the taste of freshly picked fruits
and vegetables always seems so much better, and anyone who has ever grown their own food
knows what a rewarding experience it can be. Thankfully, many gardeners and farmers have
generously shared their excess produce with FPWC throughout the years.
For the past few years, FPWC has been able to share that experience with their clients
by providing them with live plants that are donated by area garden centers and nurseries.
Unfortunately, many clients did not have the green space necessary for planting but still
wanted to share in the gardening experience. So, this summer, through a partnership with
UW Extension Waukesha, 100 additional families got to enjoy growing their own food
by participating in the G.R.O.W. Project. This new program, in its first year, provides
containers, soil mix, plant food, and plants grown especially for containers to each of these
Pantry families. The UW Extension also gave each family a grow journal along with plenty of
education and encouragement.
At the season’s end, a follow-up meeting with the programs participants demonstrated the
value of this project. The meeting brought many stories about the challenges these new
gardeners had to overcome, along with numerous tales of delicious tomatoes, jalapenos and
sweet peppers. There was a real sense of community evident among the gardeners as they
shared stories of their gardening techniques and many other life experiences as well.
Top: Volunteer Bobby Theis prepares a colorful
cart of veggies for FPWC clients to choose from;
Middle: Fresh picked apples are sorted and bagged by
Volunteer Lucas Loy; Bottom: Volunteers working hard
to crate-up a truckload of potatoes fresh from the farm.
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In December, the Southeast Wisconsin Master Gardeners donated a portion of the proceeds
from their perennial plant sale to FPWC for a horticulture-based project. With this
donation, the Pantry will be able to offer the G.R.O.W. project again in 2010, and even
expand it! Increasing the number of participants in this program means that even more
families will soon be learning to provide themselves with a lifetime of great flavors.
FPWC sees some of its highest demand in the summer months, particularly
in the late summer, when many children are not yet back in school where meal
programs can supplement dwindling grocery budgets. The late summer months
bring added expenses for child care, and the cost of upcoming school supplies
can stretch an already burdened budget past its breaking point. It’s also at this
time when FPWC typically sees a decline in donations, and when food reserves
from spring-time drives begin to run low. As a result of the combination of
decreased donations and high demand, the amount of food provided to each
family is normally reduced during the hardest hit summer months. But this
year, even with record demand and with many donors facing hardships of their
own, people gave like never before. In a year when things seemed to be at their
worst, the amount of food and services provided to Pantry clients did not have
to be reduced for the first time in many years.
This was truly a blessing for the many families who received services this
summer. But the cold winter months are now here, and this can also be another
trying time of year for many in the community. High utility bills also stress
food budgets and the need this winter is expected to be greater than ever. At
this time of year, when food reserves again start to dwindle and donations just
don’t seem to keep up, more and more of the Pantry’s shelves are stocked with
food that must be purchased with FPWC funds.
The first few months of this new fiscal year are showing that the tough times
are far from over. October brought a record number of people to the Pantry,
and that number was quickly surpassed in November by a new high of 7,242
individuals looking for help. It looks like it will be a long, hard winter for
FPWC, with no signs of a reduction in need for the food and other services
that their clients rely on. Difficult times like these have always inspired the
community to give just a little more, even those who might be struggling
themselves. FPWC is incredibly grateful to all those who helped to make the
best of what was a very trying year for many in our community and to all those
who keep fighting to end hunger in Waukesha County.
Top to bottom: FPWC would like to acknowledge the dedicated
service of four of its exiting Board members (left to right, with
Karen Tredwell, FPWC Executive Director, third from the
left) Mary Baer, Leticia Hoisington, Linda Caldart-Olson, and
Tim Probst (not pictured); Volunteers from Fox River Christian
Church visited the Pantry just before Thanksgiving. They
formed a “human chain” to unload a trailer full of food they were
donating as part of their “Second Saturday” program; Runners
in Santa suits, elf outfits, and Reindeer teams filled the streets of
downtown Waukesha for the Santa Charity 4K Run / Walk on
Saturday, December 12th. Proceeds and food donations benefited
FPWC and other local charities.
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food recovery turns food waste
into good taste
WAUKESHA COUNTY TRULY
SUPPORTS ITS NEIGHBORS This is only a partial list of recent donors.
Ag Tech Food
American Transmission
Argon Industries
Ascension Lutheran Church
Associated Bank
AT&T
Aurora Healthcare
Bank of America
Banting Elementary
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Bethesda School
Brookfield East N.H.S.
Children’s Learning Center
Chiropractic Care
Christ the Life Lutheran Church
Congregation Emanu-EL
Connie’s Hallmark
Cooper Industries
Country Green House
Cross of Life Lutheran Church
Culvers
Delafield Presbyterian Church
Dresser, Inc.
Elmbrook Church
Evangelical and Reformed Church
First Congregational Church
Fox River Christian Church
General Electric
Golden K Kiwanis
Grace Church
The Food Recovery Program, part of the Food Pantry of Waukesha County
(FPWC), celebrated its 7th anniversary in November. This innovative program
was started when a task force was appointed by the Nutrition Coalition of
Waukesha County. Various local agencies provided representation to look at
solutions to the ever-increasing issue that 1 in 12 households in Wisconsin have
an inadequate supply of food, and that food waste is the second largest component
in Wisconsin’s landfills.
Further research by the task force confirmed that much of what was deposited
in the landfills was excess food, still useable and of high-quality. It was often
disposed of because a convenient and reliable way to fully utilize these edible
foods was not available. Area restaurants, growers, purveyors and manufacturers
were contacted to determine interest in participating in a local food recovery
program. The survey included information about the process and legality of
donating edible, excess food. The results were extremely positive, and led to the
hiring of a consultant to assist with creating the structure of the program.
The first Food Recovery Coordinator was hired in November of 2002, and since
its inception, the program has gleaned many tons of a wide variety of foods from
an equally diverse group of donors. These foods are then shared with pantries,
shelters, and meal programs throughout Waukesha County.
Charlotte Borchert, the current Food Recovery Coordinator, has grown the
program to include more than 100 donors. This year, donors provided over
$800,000 worth of food to more than 70 local agencies, and numerous volunteers
assisted with pick-ups and deliveries to help keep program costs low. FPWC
has demonstrated their continued support and done its best to keep pace with
donations by expanding the capacity of their walk-in freezer, commercial cooler
space, and off-site dry storage. Recipients are delighted with the quality and
quantity of items such as fresh produce, fresh and frozen fish and meat, dairy
products and a variety of other healthy and delicious foods.
The program’s biggest challenge right now is building public awareness. Getting
individuals to make sure that unused food from their special events doesn’t wind
up in the landfill is a difficult task. Just as excess materials like cardboard, glass,
and plastic are to be recycled rather than discarded, caterers and other event
planners need to be informed that excess food from special events should go to
the Food Recovery Program and not the landfill. Individuals can really put this
program into action by asking to have a Food Recovery disclaimer added to their
caterer’s contract each time they have a special event. With a little cooperation
and coordination, good, useable food can go to those who need it rather than
adding to our already overtaxed landfills.
Hunger Task Force
Husco
Investors Bank
Jeff Tjugum Agency
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Additional information about appropriate foods and safe handling practices for
Food Recovery donations can be obtained by contacting Charlotte Borchert at
262-542-5300, ext. 102.
Smart chicken is smart giving
This year the Food Pantry of Waukesha County (FPWC) can breathe a little
easier through the holidays because of a large donation of Smart Chicken
from MBA Poultry, a Nebraska-based producer of air-chilled chicken. The
donation was made through an annual program called Smart Giving, which is
now in its eighth year of giving to FPWC. The Smart Giving program, taking
place throughout the month of November, donates 1 pound of Smart Chicken
for every 10 pounds that consumers purchase from participating grocery stores.
The poultry donation to the FPWC was made in hopes of bringing a
little joy to those in need this holiday season. Meat and poultry donations
are particularly important to FPWC, as they provide the protein that can
sometimes be a challenge for Pantry clients to provide for their families. Last
year the FPWC received nearly 1,700 pounds of Smart Chicken from MBA
Poultry. This year’s goal of 2,000 pounds was smashed, with two pallets, or
nearly 2,300 pounds of Smart Chicken generously delivered to the Pantry by
Midwest Perishables Inc. of Madison.
FPWC would like to thank MBA Poultry, Midwest Perishables, all the
customers who bought Smart Chicken, and the many participating stores for
making this donation possible. Remember to stock-up on Smart Chicken
next November, and please support Smart Chicken and the following stores
the next you shop.
BKT Sentry group
Albrecht Sentry (Delafield)
Good Harvest Market (Pewaukee)
Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly (Hartland, Oconomowoc)
Majdecki Sentry (West Allis, Menomonee Falls)
Health Huts (West Allis)
Outpost Natural Foods (Wauwatosa, Milwaukee, Bay View)
Sendiks (Brookfield, Wauwatosa, Germantown)
Metcalfe Sentry (Wauwatosa)
Woodmans (Oak Creek)
Kirkland Crossing
Kohl’s A-Teams
Lamb of God
Maple Creek Farms
Medical Center Pharmacy
Monroe Equipment
Oncology Alliance
Orthopedic Associates
Parts Hut
Peace Lutheran Church
Prime Label
Pro Health Care
River Glen Christian Church
Ruekert Mielke
Shorewest
St. Anthony on the Lake
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church
St. Mathias Episcopal Church
Stay-Lite Lighting
Summit Woods
The Schroeder Group
The Windhover Foundation
Thomson Reuters
Waukesha & Pewaukee CVB
Waukesha Community Art Project
Waukesha County Technical College
Waukesha Evening Lions & Lionesses
DO YOU SHOP AT PICK ‘N SAVE?
Every time you use your “Pick ‘n Save
Advantage Card”, Pick ‘n Save will donate
a percentage of your total purchase to the
Food Pantry. It’s as simple as that, and it
only takes a minute! Just go to the service
counter, ask to be part of the “We Care”
program. The Pantry’s charity code is
#918490. You’ll be helping to fight hunger
every time you shop!
Waukesha Express Swim Team
Waukesha Family Practice
Waukesha Memorial Hospital
Waukesha Noon Kiwanis
Waukesha Noon Rotary
Waukesha Sunrise Rotary
Weight watchers
Zion Presbyterian
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