Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Joe Amato, age 93

Meet Joe Amato. At age 93, Joe tells us Amato means “to be loved” in Italian. Indeed, Joe exemplifies his name. Joe’s been volunteering with us for over 7 years. His friend Mike (now “moved upstairs” as Joe says) brought him here because Mike believed volunteering at Second Harvest was fun, good exercise and a great way to help others.

Talking to Joe is like taking a step back in history; born May 16, 1916 at home on Alma Street, Joe speaks of a time when the air and water were so pure you could ride down Almaden Road on your bike and drink water right from the curbside!

Joe’s a firm believer that when your cycle is up, it’s up – so no need to fret. “Just stay busy, help others, eat healthy. “Kelp is great for you” he advises!

Joe says volunteering at Second Harvest is great because he’s got nice people to talk to, he gets his exercise and it’s a lot of fun. You know, his friend Mike was right. Thanks Mike, for helping us and for bringing us Joe.

- Kris Sulpizio, Director of Volunteer Services

Our Tuesday Warehouse Volunteers Get the Food Out!

This morning I grabbed the camera and headed down to the San Jose warehouse to see what was going on. As it is my job to sit in front of a computer most of the day, it's really good to get out into the action once in a while.

Today, it was the Tuesday Warehouse Volunteers! This committed group really knows how to get the job done.

Loading up the Produce Mobile was no problem for them. The KidsNOW bags were filled with great ready-to-eat snacks. Our Family Harvest clients will have fresh corn, carrots, potatoes and spring onions to prepare meals with.

If you've ever been part of a food sort, you know how overwhelming the job can look at first. But with our Volunteer Coordinators plus the volunteer Team Leaders, you soon realize how it all comes together to feed our neighbors in need.

Today's morning group had volunteers from all walks of life. There were retirees working alongside high school students.

PIN (Partners in Need) program volunteers, who receive bags of food after their volunteer service, were pitching in with gusto, knowing how appreciated their efforts are.

I'm honored to work alongside these dedicated volunteers! They showcase the community spirit that keeps our organization running.

Food Bank Recognizes Brown Bag Volunteers

The Food Bank recently hosted a Brown Bag volunteer recognition party at Franklin Templeton Investment’s employee café. The space was generously donated by the company and provided a wonderful venue for the Food Bank to recognize the over 200 loyal volunteers that keep this vital program running.

The Brown Bag program provides weekly nutritious groceries to an average of 13,199 senior individuals (ages 60+) and disabled individuals (ages 55+) at 85 Santa Clara County and San Mateo County-based distribution sites.

BJ’s Restaurant at 2206 Bridgepoint Parkway in San Mateo provided the delicious food free of charge, the El Camino High Jazz combo entertained the crowd and Randy Silver donated his time and talents to capture pictures of the event.

In addition, the following merchants and Individuals provided raffle items and party supplies: AMICI’s East Cost Pizzeria, Bel Mateo Bowl, Costco Foster City, Emerald Hills Golf Course, Hobbe’s California Restaurants, The Honeybaked Ham Company, Marriot Hotels & Resort, Patxi’s Chicago Pizza, Sheraton Gateway San Francisco Airport Hotel, Starbucks Coffee Walnut St. Redwood City, Stella Alpina Osteria, Trader Joe’s San Carlos, Wegman’s Nursery, Redwood City, Barbara Gehlen, Victoria Mendiola. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success!

If you are interested in joining our stellar team of Brown Bag volunteers, please use the following links for more information in your county:

• Santa Clara County
• San Mateo County

In the photo is our interim CEO, Keith Flagler, thanking the volunteers for their efforts.

Warehouse Space Needed

The Food Bank is in need of 15,000+ square feet of warehouse space with at least one dock door. The space needs to be located in either Santa Clara or San Mateo Counties and will be used to store our food drive barrels, miscellaneous equipment and dry food. Since we are a non-profit, ideally, the space will be donated or made available at below market rate.

Requests for food have sky rocketed this past year. The Food Bank is currently serving an average of 207,000 people each month. This space is desperately needed to store the food and equipment used to continue to meet the increase requests for our services. Please contact Pat Ybarra at pybarra@shfoodbank.com.

Why Finger-Imaging is Bad News for Food Stamps

Bad news from Sacramento: Governor Schwarzenegger wants to not only keep the finger-imaging requirement for food stamp applicants, but expand finger-imaging to those receiving In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS).

We at Second Harvest Food Bank are deeply concerned because many of the people we serve are also participants or are eligible for these crucial safety net programs.

Second Harvest supports initiatives that would increase participation in state and federal supplemental food programs. This will relieve strain on our resources, allowing us to concentrate on those in our community who do not qualify for those programs but still meet our income guidelines (approximately 200% of the Federal Poverty Line).

WHY THIS MATTERS:
IHSS provides in-home support to elderly, blind, and disabled Californians. This helps prevent them from having to be institutionalized, which is a far more costly alternative to the state than providing services for them in their own homes. Were finger-imaging implemented for this program, participation would assuredly drop, and many more of California’s most vulnerable population would end up in nursing homes.

It has been proven that finger-imaging is a major deterrent to participation in the programs it has been applied to, namely the Food Stamp Program. This program is the main federal nutrition program and it provides credit to low-income families and individuals to be redeemed for food at participating grocery stores.

Finger-imaging makes applicants feel like criminals. Ashamed and embarrassed, many don’t sign up for food stamps, even if they need them and qualify for them.

Furthermore, getting a fingerprint done requires another trip out to government agency offices, which for many of these families means missing work. The money and time lost, and the childcare arrangements during that trip can deter those in need from seeking assistance.

What is more, finger-imaging has not been cost-effective. It is meant to deter multiple-aid fraud, but its cost far outweighs the negligible amount of benefits stolen through fraud. In this economic climate, the governor wants to expand an ineffective system that costs the state more than $8 million a year!

Click on the following links for more information on the governor’s proposal and learn how Food Stamps BOOST our economy in the following articles:

Fingerprinting rule will deter those needing help
Editorial, The San Jose Mercury News

Fairy Tales, Fraud, and Food Stamps (PDF)
California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA.net):
Read this lighthearted one-pager on the Governor's serious finger printing expansion efforts. Call the Governor (916.445.2841) and urge him to accept the Legislature’s plan to save millions to by ending finger imaging for food stamps and to abandon his efforts to fingerprint blind, elderly, and disabled Californians receiving IHSS.

Boost in Food-Stamp Funding Percolates Through Economy
The Wall Street Journal

The stimulus that actually IS working
The Dave Ross Show

Ending the Cycle of Poverty: AB 433 brings us one step closer!

AB 433 is now law!
No More Asset Test for Food Stamp Households with Children
A great victory has been achieved for families struggling to put food on the table. Food stamp households will now no longer be subject to an asset test, a crucial step to expanding participation in the Food Stamp Program, as well as helping people escape the cycle of poverty. No asset test means families can save up for things like a child’s college education or a retirement fund, without worrying that they will be cut off from Food Stamps.

Previously, assets were included in the calculation of a family’s income, which determines Food Stamp eligibility. This puts families in a very difficult situation of either trying to save for the future, or receiving food now.

This new requirement will be implemented at the county level, and counties can begin its implementation as early as July 1, 2009, but no later than January 1, 2010.

It is our understanding that San Mateo County will begin implementation on August 1, 2009.

More work is left to be done, however: The new rule applies only to households with children, excluding single adults or adults living together.

• Download a more detailed flyer on this important change (PDF)
  
• Find out more at California Food Policy Advocates