Health-promoting programs benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank

I am constantly amazed at the efforts folks in the community put forth on our behalf. 

Most recently, I received word that two organizations, both focused on health, are sharing their profits with Second Harvest Food Bank and consequently, our community. 

Pounds for Poverty is a health improvement and weight loss program founded upon the concepts of long-term health and sound personal decision-making.  It also has an altruistic lean, encouraging participants to engage in hunger-alleviation efforts while solving their own over-eating.

When it comes to weight loss, there is no one diet and no one-size-fits-all exercise program - there are dozens of ways to improve your chance of success. Sign up for a Pounds for Poverty workshop and learn how to realize your weight loss goals. A portion of your registration fee will be donated to Second Harvest.

World Runners is an organization interested in the physical fitness of its members and the financial fitness of its beneficiaries.  Pictured to the left, World Runners President Bob Lord presents the 2008 check to Crystal Ulrich of Second Harvest - equivalent to 2400 meals.

Building on the success of the first two events, the 3rd Annual New Year Run for a Healthy World will be better than ever. To be held on January 1, 2009, the run will once again take place at the scenic Baylands Athletic Center course in Palo Alto. Both the 10K and 5K courses run over Baylands levees and through the marshlands on mostly dirt roads and are USAT&F certified.  Proceeds from this race benefit Second Harvest Food Bank and several world organizations.

Many thanks to these two organizations and all the others that enable us to fulfill our mission.  Here’s to a healthy New Year!

In the spirit of gratitude

Today I saw a food distribution where 2200 families received the makings of a wonderful holiday meal.  Imagine seeing that many people, all from your local community, lined up and being efficiently helped by hundreds of volunteers.  At this particular site, the turn-out was 20% higher than last year, but they were prepared. They were prepared because of people like you who volunteer and donate and advocate on behalf of the hungry.

We thank you wholeheartedly for caring enough to make a difference.

I thought I'd share some letters I saw this afternoon posted in our copy room here at the Food Bank.  I found them very inspirational! It has been a very busy year for everyone who works here, and we are very grateful for your support.  We could not do it without you!

They are short, but sweet.   Happy Holidays to you and your families!

From a client:

Dear Sweet People at Second Harvest,

Thank you so much for the beautiful Christmas gifts.  You made my Christmas so nice.  Gee, three bags of great food and all kinds of things I can’t afford, yet need.  

Almost all of my family has passed away, so Christmas is most often my dog Buddy and me.  I am a 66-year-old, disabled widow, and have adjusted well to my new life.  My dog and I live a happy and peaceful life.  

Thank you, once again, for making this Christmas so special. 

name withheld

From someone who works at one of our Partner Agencies:

I just wanted to take a moment to recognize the amazing, impacting, tireless, difficult, life-changing work that all of you do, day in and day out, to help feed those in need!  Those of us at the community agencies have the gift of seeing the smiles that your hard work brings, and I feel it is important to express to you the impact of your service, which is nothing less than heroic! 

It takes an army of people, making the difficult decisions in management, processing orders, packaging food, driving all around the valley, to feed the thousands of people each week.  Thank you for your non-stop dedication and passion for your neighbors in need.  I hope you all have a relaxing Christmas and New Year!  

name withheld

Companies forego holiday parties in the spirit of giving

Heading into this holiday season, I, along with my colleagues, had a grim feeling of unease. Requests for food assistance were at an all time high and donations from one of our largest constituencies, corporations, were coming in at 50% below their typical level. With more people to serve and less resources to pull from, conversations among the management staff at the Food Bank took on a hushed “what if” tone as we inched closer to 2009.

While we are no way in the clear (to date we are about 1/3 of the way towards out $8 million financial goal) I am delighted to have learned late last week of five Silicon Valley-based companies who opted for forgo their holiday parties and donate the money they would have spent to the Food Bank. The companies include: Cypress Semiconductor, Electric Power Research Institute, Monolithic Power Systems, Tessera Technologies and one that wishes to remain anonymous.

Rick Neely, CFO of Monolithic Power Systems said, “we did not feel right having a holiday celebration when others could barely put food on their tables and feed their families.”

This level of sacrifice and dedication to helping those in need is wonderful. I am happy to say the spirit of giving and sharing is alive and well in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. 

If you or your company would like to support our mission of feeding those in need in our community, please contact our Donor Hotline at 1-866-234-3663 or click to Donate Online.

Inspired blogger supports the Food Bank

Maura, at the blog One Ping Only, has been inspired by her company's Food Drive to hold a promotion where she will donate $1 to the Food Bank for every legit comment posted (capped at $500)!  

From her post:

But when I think about how many people are going hungry in a country that has so, so much, it makes me queasy. I know there are parents out there every day having to decide between feeding their families and paying their bills, and people who really don't know where their next meal is coming from, neither of which is something I've ever had to face. The older I've gotten, the more I appreciate how my mother was able to balance what should have been a comfortable income against life circumstances and make sure that we were never without, and probably even had more than we should have. There are too many people, and that number grows every day now, knowing that they're not going to make that balance happen. 

Please head on over and check out the post - and leave a comment while you're at it!

A Special Holiday Gift From Beau-coup.com

Charity Promotion: December 15th - December 19th

Beau-coup specializes in unique wedding and party favors, gifts, and party supplies.  This holiday season, they’re encouraging people to give and give back by partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank.  For five days, beginning on Monday, December 15th, Beau-coup will donate $5 to the Food Bank for every order over $30 they receive.  In addition to this, Beau-coup is also hosting a food drive at its corporate headquarters in Mountain View.  Drive ends Friday, December 19th.  

For more details, please visit www.beau-coup.com.

Food Bank takes home 2008 CalWORKs Community Partner Award

On December 9th, Second Harvest was honored by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors as the Santa Clara County Social Services CalWORKs Community Partner of the Year at the 2008 Client Achievement Awards. Cindy McCown, Senior Director of Programs and Services, accepted the award from Ken Yeager, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 4.

The partnership between the Food Bank and the County has always been cooperative. When the Welfare Reform Act hit in 1998, it required both agencies to work in a much stronger partnership. Together, they helped ensure food resources were in place before thousands of recipients were bumped off Welfare. To assist with this endeavor, the Food Connection Hotline was created with funding from the County. Not long after, The Safety Net Committee was set up to ensure that local human services organizations would work together to assist those living in poverty. With this history, the relationship between CalWORKs and the Food Bank was a natural one.

CalWORKs provides their clients with tools for a successful career and puts them on the path to self-sufficiency. Many of the clients find themselves both receiving food from and also putting in their volunteer hours at the Food Bank during their transition period.

One of our former volunteers, Pam Keo, was also an award recipient for the outstanding example she set. She is pictured to the left with Kristin Sulpizio, Director of Volunteer Services. There wasn't a dry eye in the house when we heard the story that took her from the brink of destruction to an eloquent, hard-working, caring mother of a rather feisty toddler who took over the stage!

In all, there were 11 client awards handed out, and each had their individual story read by one of the Supervisors. After all the depressing economic news that's been floating around, this was a time of inspiration and hope for the future. Employees and volunteers of Second Harvest get the energy to carry on through difficult times by seeing results like this. We can work together and make a difference—adding possibility and prospect to one real-life story at a time.


Photos by Poppy Pembroke

Volunteer Spotlight: Tony Nguyen of Cupertino High School

Gifts come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Enter Tony Nguyen, a senior at Cupertino High School. He came to volunteer last summer and spent an average of 10 hours per week throughout the summer months helping in many capacities. Knowing a little bit about the Food Bank, Tony wanted to give back. He helped with spreadsheets, capturing data, creating forms, updating collaterals and more.

When school started, Tony wanted to increase his efforts. One of our goals at the Food Bank has been to encourage youth volunteers take on leadership roles - and in this area, Tony fit the bill. With very little guidance, Tony created the Teen Ambassador Pilot Program, where youth volunteers assist staff with volunteer registration at food sorts and help educate other volunteers on hunger issues in our community.

He created a work schedule, sourced the people he needed through his school, and enrolled ten volunteers! All this was accomplished within a 6-week period. Tony even placed his experience on Facebook.

Because of Tony's enthusiasm, leadership and talents, this program launched successfully. The Food Bank will use this service model to grow youth programs in the future.

Learn more about volunteering at the Food Bank:

Visit our website or contact Kristin Sulpizio, Director of Volunteer Services.

Take Action! Senators Support Needed - Economic Recovery Package

Next week, 60 Senators will be needed to prevent millions of people from losing their jobs, exhausting unemployment benefits, going without food, and becoming homeless.  Read more information about essential components for an economic recovery package in Towards Shared Recovery.  

Please contact our senators and encourage them to support the economic recovery package.  The nutrition elements could have positive impacts on those we serve.  Below you will see more details on how to take action and links to further information.  

An overview of the nutrition component is as follows: 

• $10 Billion - Food Stamps
  
• $450 Billion - Women, Infants and Children (WIC) 
  
• $30 Million - Commodity Supplemental Food Program 
  
• $165 Million - The Emergency Food Assistance Program - This is a program that provides food commodities to the Second Harvest Food Bank. 
  

Call your Senators toll-free at 800-473-6711.  

Congress will be in session during the week of November 17.  Call anytime between now and November 19.  

Here's what you need to do:

Call the toll-free number; you'll be connected to the Capitol Switchboard.  Ask to speak to one of your Senators.  

• Find your senators here, upper right corner:  http://www.senate.gov

Tell them:  I'm a constituent, and want Senator _____to know that our state desperately needs an economic recovery package that includes help for people being hurt now,such as:  food stamps,unemployment benefits,state aid to prevent health care and other cuts,jobs to allow energy efficient rebuilding, and help for people in danger of losing their homes.  We need your vote for recovery that works - for our people and for the economy!

Then call back and ask to speak to our other Senator.

-----------------------------------------

If they fail to act, time will be lost that could have broad impacts.  From now until January, people will face loss of all that is most basic:  jobs, homes, food, health care.  As always, people with the lowest incomes face the most serious threats.   Failure to invest in rebuilding our infrastructure, preventing state cuts, creating needed jobs and preventing loss of homes will make the recession deeper and longer.  Every week counts in getting our economy back on track.

Attention All Philanthropic Chess Enthusiasts!

Combine your love of chess with support for the Food Bank! We are pleased to announce that Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties has been selected as the beneficiary of a chess tournament hosted by Chess USA and Chess-For-Charity.com!

Chess-For-Charity.com has found a way to leverage very small individual entrance fees from thousands of people into enormous cash prizes for the players/donors and also into significant contributions to Second Harvest Food Bank. Based on participation, the prize money can be more than 6 figures.

TO ENTER
The entry fee is $2.00. You don't need a PayPal account to pay for this; you can pay with your credit or debit card as well. 

Click here to register at the site and optionally enter in the chess tournament.

First round pairing will be announced through the ChessForDollars.com website and via your email on or about 2008-11-25 12:07:27. Then you will have 7 days to use the on-line scheduler to agree on a start time with your opponent. This process will be repeated about every 7 days for each round until the winners are declared. Conveniently, you can pick a different start time for each round!

This tournament is also an attempt to set the Guinness World Record for most players in an on-line tournament. If you enter the tournament and make at least one move in the first round, we will notify you when you can download a personalized certificate attesting to your part in this achievement if the record is set.

Please visit the Chess USA Second Harvest Tournament site to learn more.

Community Support in the blogosphere!

There are many ways to help the Food Bank turn its mission into a reality - from the assorted volunteer opportunities we have, to running or participating in a food and fund drive, gathering excess office supplies to donate, joining the Monthly Harvest Club... the list goes on. But a new trend is one we are really excited about. Blogging is a way to share thoughts and ideas not only with your immediate community, but also with the world!

By writing about why you support Second Harvest Food Bank on your blog, you can reach many, many more people than we ever could on our own. One person really CAN make a difference!

Please read Rokin' Robot Lobster's post here. Along with a cool video about not stopping with your vote (her boss is in it!) she talks about why she donates monthly to Second Harvest to support her local community.

Little Field of Greens also is spreading the word about the Food Bank on her blog, and although she's stumping for us during our busiest (and most crucial) time of the year, she remembered our most important adage - "People need to eat year 'round!"

And an oldie but goodie, Rainmaker Properties posted a great blog about us last August.

So thank you to the bloggers - calls for assistance are up 55% from last year, most of those are people seeking help for the first time. We truly value and appreciate your support. May your words inspire many!

Halloween Party to Benefit Second Harvest Food Bank

Friday, October 31 - 8:30 pm
Zephyr at 2277 Alameda St., San Francisco
Hosted by Journey Productions and benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, this night of fun will feature dance performances by Ronnie Reddick’s La Femme Panache & City Slam and an array of tasty hors d’oeuvres and liquid refreshments. This promises to be a night of musical enjoyment! Each ticket is $50 and includes all entertainment, food, and fun. And 10% of each ticket is being donated directly to Second Harvest Food Bank.

To purchase tickets for this party, click here.

For more information, view the flyer.

Hunger a Rising Concern Among Americans as Economy Falters

Public Wants Issue Discussed in Campaign; Recent Polling Shows Need for Political Leadership on Hunger and Poverty

American families are increasingly worried about being able to afford enough food for their families and a substantial majority believes eliminating hunger should be a priority of the federal government and the next administration, according to a new review of recent public opinion research.

The review, commissioned by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) and conducted by Peter D. Hart Associates and McLaughlin & Associates, also concluded that Americans believe that the nation is not doing enough to combat hunger-related problems and that candidates for public office need to speak about solutions to hunger.

“As the economy continues its downward trend, concerns about hunger will only intensify,” said Jim Weill, president of the Food Research and Action Center. “This is an issue that candidates have not focused on, but one that needs to be part of the political debate for President, for Congress, for Governorships and for state legislatures. Voters deserve to hear exactly where candidates stand and their plans to address the problem.”

The review looked at the past eight years of public opinion research on nutrition, food insecurity, hunger and federal spending on domestic programs to combat these problems.

Download the summary of findings | Download the full report

Visit the Food Research and Action Center's website for more information: www.frac.org

2008 Holiday Food & Fund Drive Kicks Off For Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties

Economic Climate Has Food Bank Concerned as They Strive to Meet Increasing Need

San Jose, CA – October 13, 2008 – Second Harvest Food Bank, the main source of food for nonprofit agencies serving the hungry in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, announced today the kick off of its 2008 Holiday Food & Fund Drive. This year’s goal to collect $8 million in financial donations and 1.7 million pounds in food donations reflects the highest ever for the organization.

“In these tough economic times, we are seeing an unprecedented number of people seeking food assistance – some for the very first time,” said Michelle Sklar, Senior Director of Development for Second Harvest Food Bank. “Now, more than ever, our services are needed to ensure that those being negatively affected by the economic downturn, layoffs and high food prices have access to the healthy food they need to feed themselves and their families. We are working hard to meet the rise in demand and need the public’s help to achieve our mission.”

Every year over 1,800 organizations participate in the annual drive making it one of the largest in the country. This year’s Food & Fund Drive is being co-chaired by John W. Thompson, Chairman and CEO of Symantec Corporation and Bill Watkins, CEO of Seagate. These high profile executives are taking time out of their busy schedules to support the drive because they are passionate about the work the Food Bank does.

“This holiday season is a critical time. No donation is too big or too small,” said Keith Flagler, CEO at Second Harvest. “We are asking everyone to give what they can. Because 96 cents of every dollar donated to the Food Bank is used to feed hungry people in our community, donors can be assured their contribution will be put to its intended use.”

The kick off celebration takes place:

Tuesday, October 14th
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Second Harvest Food Bank’s San Carlos Distribution Center
1051 Bing Street, San Carlos

Event Highlights include:

• Hors d'oeuvres prepared from food reflective of the items distributed to our clients
• Welcome addresses from food drive chairs: John W. Thompson, Chairman and CEO of Symantec and Bill Watkins, CEO Seagate
• Hunger Index Project: An Overview of Hunger in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties - Presentation Cindy McCown, Senior Director of Programs and Services at Second Harvest
• Voices of Hunger photo DVD – see hunger through the eyes of children
• Warehouse Tours

Because of the high cost of living in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, people often have to choose between paying for housing, utilities, transportation, medical expenses and buying enough nutritious food to feed themselves and their families. Second Harvest Food Bank provides the people need to sustain their lives so they don’t have to make that choice. Last year alone, Second Harvest distributed 34.6 million pounds of food to 176,000 low-income individuals each month; 67% are families with children and 12% are seniors.

Bills signed by Governor Schwarzenegger to assist the hungry in California

Governor Schwarzenegger signed three bills that will have positive impacts on people receiving public food benefits.  They are:

AB 433 (Beall)  Allows for “categorical” eligibility for Medi-Cal recipients to access Food Stamps without another application.  It also renames the Food Stamp Program.  Basically, reduces an application barrier. 

Approx. 2 years ago our Food Bank and California Food Policy Advocates met with Assembly Member Jim Beall.  We asked him to sponsor this legislation for us.  Below is a communication from the Governor about this bill.

AB 2300 (Laird) Automatically allows enrollment for children into free school meal program if their family receives Medi-Cal benefits.  Basically reduces application barrier. 

AB 2726 (Leno) Allows for the healthy Purchase Pilot Program which will provide more fresh produce. 

To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am signing Assembly Bill 433 because I believe it is important to provide food and nutrition benefits to hungry families in our struggling economic times. In California, there are currently more than 2 million people that are eligible for federal food stamp benefits, but for many reasons, these individuals do not apply. This bill will help an additional 32,000 households receive federal food stamp benefits, avoid hunger and stimulate our economy through enhanced federal funds.

Food policy experts and the Department of Social Services have worked hard to design this bill to provide the greatest number of families with benefits at the lowest possible administrative cost. A $4.5 million investment will result in more than $110 million in federal food stamp benefits for California families and an increase of more than $2.5 million in state tax revenues.

In signing this bill, I am mindful of our state’s ongoing fiscal challenges. Therefore, I direct my Administration to fund this new program expansion with existing federal reimbursements that have already been received for the Food Stamp Nutrition and Education program. This will eliminate any potential General Fund impacts. For these reasons, I am pleased to sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger