Two thousand twelve marks the Capital Area Food Bank’s 32nd anniversary.  In our years of service, we have seen the ebb and flow of the economy, changes in government policies, the erosion of jobs and many other forces that have overwhelmed hundreds of thousands of residents here in the Washington metro area.

The food bank is continuously working to ensure that everyone has access to quality, nutritious food.  We could not do our work without the support of the community.  As we embark on a new year, we must continue to work together to ensure that all may eat and that all may be heatlhy.

Remember hunger never takes a vacation. 

It started when two marketing professionals, Eddie Fam and Kelly Jan, were talking about how business networking was starting to feel more like a necessary evil than an invigorating exchange to promote mutual commerce.  Why couldn’t time that was spent pursuing business connections lead to something more deeply rewarding?  Surely others must feel the same way when faced with yet another tired business mixer.

That’s how Networking For Good came about.  Eddie and Kelly decided that if 100 people were going to fill a room to do business, they should help the community in the process.  And, if combined with enthusiasm and focused marketing, these events would gain momentum and become the new paradigm for networking in the Washington metro area – connecting for a cause.

They invited three more marketers they knew – Yianni Papadopoulos, Jennifer Saunders and Jermane Thomas –  and the rest they hope will be history.

Networking For Good is excited to be working with Caribbean Breeze Restaurant of Arlington and the Capital Area Food Bank on our very first fundraising networking event on December 6 from 5pm to 8pm.  There will be complimentary appetizers and $2 drink specials, complimentary desserts from Chica Bom Bom, and door prizes including a gift basket from host sponsor Ah love Oil & Vinegar of Shirlington.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door; and 100 percent of the proceeds from the event go directly to the Capital Area Food Bank.  Bring a non-perishable food item and you’ll get an additional chance at winning a door prize.  Click here to register.

As we give thanks for all we have this holiday season, let’s help the people in our own communities who struggle to put food on the table.

Hope to see everyone at Caribbean Breeze this Tuesday!

In the Food For Kids Department, our Kids Cafe and Weekend Bag sites often invite us to attend their events and to distribute information about the services we provide across the food bank.  We distribute  fliers and handouts on Hunger Lifeline, SNAP benefits, Kids Cafe and Weekend Bag, tasty recipes, tour cards, and more.  We provide give-aways and food samples that promote healthy eating and key nutrition messages.

Meleah Boyle, MD Kids Cafe/Weekend Bag Coordinator at the recent Rock Creek Terrace Community Day

Rock Creek Terrace Apartments (part of Edgewood Management Corporation) in Rockville, MD recently held a community day event for their apartment complex and invited us to set up a booth.  Their community center participates in both Kids Cafe and Weekend Bag, serving up to 60 children a day.  We had a wonderful time talking with people – chatting about the programs that their community center has for their children, answering questions about other services, and giving out samples of a delicious black bean salsa recipe that can be made with common Weekend Bag items.

At community events, we have the unique opportunity to talk with people with every type of interest in the food bank – those needing our services, interested in volunteering, wanting to donate, or just wanting to find out who we are.  Community events bring us together with different groups, inspire interest in our mission, and keep us connected with those in need.

It’s a good feeling when hometown athletes return to their community, but it’s a great feeling when they take time to volunteer. 

New Orleans Saints Free Safety Usama Young stopped by the food bank this past Thursday, along with a group of over 30 high-school students, to sort food and pack bags.  During his visit, he also took time to walk around the warehouse to talk with individual staff; and even signed a few autographs.  He was very personable and engaged. 

Young is in town for his annual Stay Focused Football & Cheer Camp, which is a part of his youth foundation, and includes a series of events for families and youth.  His foundation is based here in the Washington metro region and Orleans Parish in Louisiana, and offers various programs to children from single-parent homes and underserved communities.

We are thankful to Young and the Prince George’s County Public School Students for volunteering their time. 

If you are interested in volunteering at the Capital Area Food Bank, please click here. 

Donations and volunteers have always been a crucial part of the work completed at the Capital Area Food Bank.  Luckily, one volunteer took her efforts to the next level by organizing a canned food drive in order to support the Food For Kids department!  Deb Roeber and her son Dalton are involved with the West Springfield Little League and organized a competition between little league teams to see who could provide the most items.

Food for Kids staff in NOVA worked with Deb, who secures other donations such as tickets from the Nationals, for WSLL events.   When asked about where she developed her desire to assist the community and the CAFB Deb said that:

“My son Dalton inspired me to give back as he volunteered at your Kids Cafe in March to earn hours for the national junior honor society. Dalton needed some more hours so we both thought of the idea to join his favorite sport and give back. Here we thought why not have his fellow teammates and friends he plays ball with give back as well. The community always support us so we wanted to help others. We hope to continue to give back to the food bank in the years to come!”

People like Deb, and all volunteers enhance the quality of work we are able to complete here at the food bank.  I enjoy the opportunity to get to work with people like her and other CAFB staff who are dedicated to addressing hunger problems in the Washington metro area!

Truck full of donations from Little League teams

The food bank is teaming up with KIND to Do the Kind Thing for children in need.  We are looking for people to commit one small act of kindness by Tuesday, June 7 (KIND Tuesday).  When you commit an act of kindness, KIND will donate funds to our Food for Kids’ Programs and help provide nutritious meals to children. 

What is the Big KIND Act?  By signing up, you agree to give someone who provides you with nourishment an orange by midnight on Tuesday!  Visit KIND for more information and to sign up.  Your participation will help provide 1800 nutritious meals to local children.

Help us make this Big KIND Act a reality by accepting the KINDING Mission today.

The term “top shelf” isn’t just for wine racks anymore.

The Capital Area Food Bank is excited to launch the new Top Shelf training program at its upcoming Metropolitan Area Hunger Conference on April 29, 2011. The Top Shelf curriculum will assist emergency feeding programs in their quest to take their program to the next level—regardless of what that may be.

So…what is so special about Top Shelf? Doesn’t the Agency Achievement Academy (A3) provide all of the training that partner organizations could ever need? Since A3 has been such a great resource for emergency food programs, CAFB decided to develop a comprehensive training and certification program that would provide an in-depth look at the core skills needed to run a successful emergency food program.  Organizations that complete the Top Shelf curriculum will have access to special grant opportunities and other food bank resources.

Please register now for an educational day that is sure to inspire you to reach your “Top Shelf”! Want more information? Click here.

Friday, April 29, 2011

8:45am-2:30pm

Jericho City of Praise

8601 Jericho City Drive

Landover, MD 20785

Photo by Rob Baker

Within moments the STOMP crew had audience members participating in the action.  Adults clapped to the beat while children shook boxed pasta.  The crowd grew as people stopped by the store on their way home from work, but they quickly ditched their carts to get a view of the show.

Photo by Rob Baker

After the performance was over, the audience was invited to try their own percussive skills out.  The STOMP cast stuck around to take pictures and answer questions.  It was so exciting to see a preview of what this amazing cast is able to do!

Luckily, the fun does not stop there!  If you missed the mini- performance at Safeway, you can join the cast at the Warner Theatre January 25^th through January 30th for a full performance.  I can assure you they are not to be missed!  In addition, STOMP has teamed up with food banks across the country to STOMP Out Hunger.  By purchasing a ticket using the code HUNGER, $5 will be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank.  So don’t delay- buy your tickets today!  Don’t forget to use the code HUNGER and support your local food bank!

Photo by Rob Baker

And if that weren’t enough, the Georgetown Safeway has bags, filled with nonperishable food items, on sale that will be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank.  A huge thank you goes out to Safeway and the cast of STOMP!

If you were at the food bank today, you didn’t have to look far to find Sesame Street!  Elmo and Cookie Monster came out to help raise awareness about childhood hunger.

Sesame Workshop, Sesame Street’s nonprofit organization, visited the CAFB to launch the Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget initiative - a bilingual multimedia outreach project designed to help families with small children access affordable and nutritious food.

Award-Winning Chef Art Smith conducted a cooking demonstration and got a little help from Elmo and a new Sesame character, Broccoli, who is part of the latest “Superfoods” Muppets.  Children from our partner agencies Agape, CASA de Maryland and Israel Metropolitan CME Church made for an exciting audience as they sampled the treats. 

The contents of the Food for Thought initiative were unveiled during the event with remarks by the food bank’s own Lynn Brantley; Kevin Concannon, USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; Gary Knell, president and CEO, Sesame Workshop;
Russell Petrella, Ph.D, president , UnitedHealthcare Community & State; and Richard Clark, chairman and CEO, Merck.

The 400,000 Food for Thought kits will be distributed through Feeding America, UnitedHealthcare, The Merck Foundation, National WIC Association, Head Start, Meals on Wheels and other key organizations. 

Who:
You!  We need you to volunteer for our largest, annual food drive event.

What:
Stuff A Truck is an all-day food drive sponsored by Giant Food,
Fox 5, CBS Radio and YRCI in an effort to alleviate hunger in the metro area during the holiday season.  This is one of the food bank’s largest food drives.  Local residents are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items at the four participating Giant locations.  There will be live entertainment and appearances by Fox 5 reporters and other local celebrities.  Your help is needed in collecting these donations.

When:
Friday, December 10, 2010

Where:
1. Brentwood Giant Center; 1050 Brentwood Road NE, Washington, DC 20018

2. Montrose Crossing Giant; 12051 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852

3. Greenbriar Giant Center; 13043 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, Fairfax, VA 22033

4. PG Plaza West; 3501 East West Highway, Hyattsville, MD 20782

Why:
The food bank and our partner agencies are experiencing a 25 percent increase in the demand for food assistance.  Stuff A Truck helps us serve over 478,100 residents in need throughout the National Capital Region.  Last year, we collected over 64,695 pounds of food! Volunteers are essential in collecting all of these donations.  It’ll be extremely difficult to get this done without your help!

For more information visit volunteer.capitalareafhoodbank.org or contact the Volunteer Programs Department at volunteer@capitalareafoodbank.org.