Foodsharing Summer 2015 | Atlanta Community Food Bank

The Quarterly Newsletter of

Summer 2015

“Your support helps us fill a big void.”

– Jacquetta Watkins, Executive Director, The Study Hall, Inc.

Happy, Not Hungry, This Summer Over one million Georgia children rely on free and reduced school meals. When school is out, they need our help. Together we are making a difference.

SEE SUMMER HUNGER • PAGE 5

IN THIS ISSUE: From The Director ACFB Founder and Executive Director Bill Bolling reflects on 36 years.

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Take Our Child Hunger Quiz

Summer Cooking Classes

Do you know how many kids face hunger?

Fight hunger while learning from Atlanta’s top chefs!

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From the Director

Working Myself Out of a Job

2014/2015 OFFICERS Chair Arlene Glaser

When I first began the Atlanta Community Food Bank in 1979, people often said to me, “I hope you can work yourself out of a job.” And I guess in the beginning that was my simple goal – no more hunger in a land of plenty. It seemed like a reasonable goal at the time since 30 percent of what we grew and packaged was unmarketable, often being sent to the landfill. Maybe all we needed, I thought, was a better logistics system.

Vice Chair Mary Moore Secretary Jackie Parker Treasurer Andrew Stith Advisory Board Chair Kathleen Ciaramello 2014/2015 BOARD MEMBERS Ellen Bailey Martha Brooks Joe Chow James Dallas Steven J. de Groot Ed Fisher Mark Holifield Patrick Jones Robby Kukler Bill Levisay Matt McKenna Margaret “Marjy” Stagmeier Wayne Vason Lesley T. Wainwright Jerry Wilkinson

Hungering at a Deeper Level As I was seeking food for the community kitchen at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, I saw the need to move beyond what one church could provide. I began reaching out to other organizations. If they would join me in the work of feeding people in their own communities, I promised to secure enough food for all of us. I am grateful for my own naiveté and for a lot of grace in the beginning of my work. I didn’t know I could fail, so I was able to dream big and take risks.

“I’m deeply grateful for the donors, volunteers, foundations, businesses, schools, advocates, families and friends who help to make it all possible. There is simply no way we can accomplish what we do without you.” – Bill Bolling

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bill Bolling in the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s earliest days.

The Food Bank was born out of this new model of centralizing acquisition and decentralizing distribution. It made sense to meet people where they were, not only for easier access, but because local communities are fertile ground for building trust. I knew from my experience of ministering in a church directly with the homeless and poor families that hunger manifests itself on a lot of different levels. I often saw people who clearly needed a good nutritious meal, but I also saw people who hungered at a deeper level – for greater meaning in their lives; who longed for more love and acceptance, who needed to feel heard and respected for who they were. I saw people who needed mental health care, a second chance, or a better education so that they could get a better job. Having grown

up in a small town in a working class family, I often saw in them a reflection of myself.

GENERAL COUNSEL David Long-Daniels EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Bill Bolling

Changing Hearts and Minds The Food Bank began not only as a way to change the food distribution system – which we have literally transformed – but equally important, to change hearts and minds to understand the systemic, psychological, and sometimes spiritual reasons that people find themselves in a state of need. I began with a deep belief that every life counts – that everyone, no matter their station in life, deserves to be treated with dignity and given a second chance.

36 years later, with the support of an incredible community, we have distributed over half a billion pounds of food – enough for nearly 500 million meals – and we have made remarkable

OUR MISSION Our mission is to fight hunger by engaging, educating and empowering our community.

WHO WE SERVE The Atlanta Community Food Bank supports more than 600 local nonprofit organizations with hungerrelief programs in 29 metro Atlanta and north Georgia counties.

strides in growing awareness and understanding. Hearts and minds have indeed been changed, but we still have plenty of room for progress.

Moving Forward Interestingly, I have not worked myself out of a job, but I will soon be changing my role from leading the Food Bank to supporting the next generation to lead. I will work more broadly in the community and take on a greater role as connector, teacher, advisor, mentor, convener, facilitator and friend to those who want to help make things better. I will continue to support the Food Bank as a senior advisor, and I’ll support the network of food banks across the state. I’m also excited to be helping with the Food Well Alliance, a new fresh food initiative that – in partnership with the Food Bank – will build healthier communities by increasing access to local, fresh food.

Thank You Along my journey at the Food Bank, I discovered that there were many who wanted to help – together, we created a movement that not only included, but demanded, the diversity of the community be involved.

I am so moved by the response of our community – the individuals, organizations and congregations of all faiths who want to honor their call to help the poor, hungry and dispossessed. You work tirelessly every day, feeding and helping your neighbors in need.

I’m deeply grateful for the donors, volunteers, foundations, businesses, schools, advocates, families and friends who help to make it all possible. There is simply no way we can accomplish what we do without you.

I will forever be grateful for the trust and

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support I have received to fulfill my life’s call to serve. I have had mentors, teachers, critics and friends along the way who have made me a better person and a better leader.

I will never be able to express my gratitude and respect for the hard working employees at the Food Bank. I have worked with some of these great people for 25+ years, and we continue to draw the best and brightest into our ranks.

I will never forget you.

Challenge to Continue the Conversation You have changed not only the system, but also the conversation. For many, the perception still exists that the poor deserve their fate – that they are lazy, don’t want to work, are on the dole at tax payer’s expense and don’t deserve our support. It is clearly a complicated issue and we continue to live in that tension today. Together, we have made a strong case that having access to healthy food has a direct effect on common goals of better health and educational outcomes, a stronger national security, more robust economic development and a positive, hopeful and more empowered sense of ourselves and our communities. I challenge you to continue talking even when the dialogue gets complicated.

Our Call to Serve The foundation and values of any organization are essential to its long term success.

My core beliefs remain the same as they were when I started this work. I believe that at a very deep level, at our essence, everything is connected to everything else - thoughts, words and deeds have power and meaning. I believe that leader-

Connect with us

Letter from the Director

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Hunger Quiz and Features

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Happy, Not Hungry, this Summer 5 Thank You!

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Coming Events

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Text for Summer Meals

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Follow us on Facebook at

facebook.com/atlfoodbank

For Bill, “community” has always been the heart of the Atlanta Community Food Bank. (Photo Credit: Allison Young)

ship matters, that working together out of our core values and assets and across our distinctions and differences makes almost anything possible. That working on sustainability, the environment, access to health care, education, ethics – whatever one’s call – helps each other and the common good. Most importantly, I believe to sustain in this work we need to know ourselves and what our unique call is.

For me, the measurement of success is not in pounds distributed, dollars raised or even lives transformed, but in this question: Have I been faithful to my call to serve? As my journey in this calling to serve continues, I hope that I can share that journey with many of you.

EDITORS Angie Clawson, Julie Bryant Fisher, Amy Hudson CONTRIBUTORS Tori Allen, Bill Bolling, Angie Clawson, Michael DeCoursey, Julie Bryant Fisher, Amy Hudson, Naretha Timberlake

Follow us on Twitter at

twitter.com/acfb

and Beth Warner COVER PHOTO Louie Favorite DESIGN Fain & Tripp, Inc.

Follow us on Instagram at

instagram.com/acfb

For the latest news, direct your favorite news reader app to

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Learn more about the Atlanta Community Food Bank, our events, and our community at acfb.org.

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Volunteer Uses Writing Skills to Fight Hunger

When people think of volunteering at the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB), they might not think about behind-the-scenes volunteers, especially those who work in the office alongside our staff.

Kim Kukler assists our Development Department in the vital role of grant writing. In the past year, grant proposals written by Kukler were selected to help fund our Community Gardens, Mobile Pantries and Kids In Need programs, as well as general operations.

A Natural Fit

ACFB was a natural fit since Kukler’s family has been connected to ACFB for many years. She has chaired her synagogue’s efforts in the “Operation Isaiah” food drive conducted by Atlanta’s Jewish Dedicated to the Needs of Children Community; her family has participated in the Hunger Walk/ Kukler has dedicated much of her time to different nonprofit causes, many that directly impact children. Whether it was design- Run for more than 10 years,

“When you see someone in tears of thanks for a jar of peanut butter, you don’t soon forget that.” – Nickolas Downey to give than to receive. He prioritizes charitable giving, and hires others who agree with that philosophy.

a no brainer.” He gave his first $100 to ACFB while in college and began volunteering in 2005.

No One Deserves Hunger

ACFB Manager of Major Gifts Beth Warner says Nead Werx makes several large donations every year. “It’s their mindset to give and Nick has set the tone as their leader. In addition to donating, they bring groups to volunteer and they're so happy to be here,” said Warner. “I think it’s because they know they’re doing something for the greater good, not just the bottom line.” Downey agrees. “We started doing this as a team building activity,” said Downey. “It’s fun, but we’re here because we know one in every four kids is facing hunger.”

Downey was raised in the small town of Paris in Ontario, Canada. “I grew up poor. Not so poor that I ever needed to use the Food Bank, but we knew where it was and we helped collect food,” said Downey. “When you see someone in tears of thanks for a jar of peanut butter, you don’t soon forget that. No one deserves to go hungry.” After he moved to Atlanta, he found the Atlanta ACFB Supporter Nickolas Downey Community Food Bank (ACFB). and Volunteer Team Leader Billy Davidson are always glad for a chance “ACFB can make four meals out of a dollar,” said Downey. “It’s to say hello. (Photo: Allison Young)

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and her husband, Robby Kukler, has long been a champion for the Food Bank. In his role as partner at Fifth Group Restaurants and as a member of ACFB’s Board of Directors, he takes every opportunity to rally Atlanta’s hospitality community around the cause of hunger.

Kukler, who has a writing background and a grant writing certificate from Emory University, is honored to support ACFB’s Development Department. “My volunteer days at the Food Bank are my favorite days of the week. Working alongside so many dedicated people inspires me,” said Kukler.

For more information on how you can volunteer with ACFB, visit acfb.org.

Hunger Quiz

CEO Makes Giving His Priority Nickolas Downey is founder and CEO of Atlanta-based Nead Werx, an award-winning custom software firm. Downey started the company from his dorm room at Georgia Tech in 1999, began hiring staff in 2010, and took the company from one to 40 employees in only five years. His key to success might just be found in a value Nead Werx holds: It is better

“I felt a strong pull to be a bigger part of the solution.” – Kim Kukler

For the Greater Good

See how your answers stack up! percentage of 1) What children in the Food Bank’s service area are food insecure? a) 12.8% b) 8.4% c) 24.5% percentage of 2) What U.S. children are food insecure? a) 21.4% b) 18.2% c) 11.5% 2013, how many 3) Inchildren who needed summer meals received meals from the Summer Food Service program? a) 1 in 10 b) 1 in 7 c) 1 in 4

Answers: Answers 1) c. 24.5% of children in the Food Bank’s service area live in food insecure homes.

2) a. 21.4% of children across the U.S. live in food insecure homes. 3) b. Only 1 in every 7 kids who need summer meals receives them.

You’ll find ACFB Volunteer Kim Kukler writing grants at the Food Bank every Thursday. (Photo: Allison Young)

ing and building a new library for her synagogue and its preschool, or serving as PTA President at her two sons’ public school, the needs of children have always motivated her. After attending a screening of the documentary “A Place at the Table,” she wanted to do more.

“I was stunned and saddened by the prevalence of hunger – especially among young children.

I felt a strong pull to be a bigger part of the solution,” said Kukler.

SUMMER HUNGER • continued from cover

Happy, Not Hungry, This Summer This school year, according to the Georgia Department of Education, some 1.1 million children were enrolled to receive free and reduced price meals. When these kids are released for summer break, their parents will be faced with the task of feeding their families without that support.

Fortunately, there is a growing movement to help bridge the gap for families during the summer. In partnership with Bright from the Start nutrition services, Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign and the Arby’s Foundation, the Georgia Food Bank Association’s “Feeding for a Promising Future: No Kid Hungry” campaign is connecting families with USDA’s Summer Food Service Program. To find summer meals, families can text FOODGA to 877-877 from June 1 – August 15, 2015.

Filling a Big Void Many of the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s partner agencies are also providing free summer meals and a nurturing place for kids to spend their summer days. The Study Hall, Inc., located in the Peoplestown community, is one such program.

During the school year, The Study Hall hosts a highly ac-

Ms. Betty, cook at The Study Hall, Inc., has gained a reputation for getting kids to enjoy healthy food.

(Photo: Louie Favorite)

Moneey with her son, Caleb, and daughter, Kennedi, at The Study Hall, Inc. Moneey describes the staff as an extended family. (Photo and Cover Photo: Louie Favorite)

school program and summer camp. “My husband was in a motorcycle accident and suffered a traumatic head injury sevclaimed afterschool program. eral months ago,” said Moneey.

They provide a healthy snack “It left us with just my income. The and even serve dinner for kids Study Hall community has been whose parents are working late. a great support – sending care Their doors don’t close when packages, providing transporthe school year ends. tation – it warms your heart to “During the summertime know you have people who think when kids are out running and about other people’s needs.” they’ve got more energy and The couple can’t imagine they’re eating more, food can be a great expense for parents,” what they would do without The Study Hall. “It’s unfortunate for said Jacquetta Watkins, execukids to be in areas where they tive director of The Study Hall. have no programs. When you “We offer summer camp where have no place to go, nothing to we not only provide enriching do, you tend to seek the wrong activities, but breakfast, lunch things,” said Moneey. “When and two healthy snacks. That you have programs like this, you fills a big void and creates a lot see a positive change. Kids are of support for our families.” going to grow.”

Positive Change

The Study Hall, Inc. makes it a priority to provide kids with healthy options all summer and throughout the year.

(Photo: Louie Favorite)

“When you have programs like this, you see a positive change. Kids are going to grow.” – Moneey, parent at The Study Hall

Moneey, a Study Hall parent, says the staff and volunteers there are like extended family to her. She works full time as a teacher with Atlanta Public Schools, and her husband, Walter, has his own landscaping company. The couple has four children; third-grader Caleb and kindergartener Kennedi currently attend The Study Hall's after-

Healthy Options Moneey is grateful for the emphasis The Study Hall places on providing healthy food. “They do a wonderful job of making sure the kids get a balanced meal,” said Moneey. “It’s great to walk in and see my children trying new things and enjoying their food.” Watkins says her team has never compromised on nutrition.

“Finding ways to encourage the children and give them healthy options is something we try to do on a regular basis,” said Watkins.

“Our cook, Ms. Betty, does a really good job of exposing the kids to different types of vegetables – things they may not get at home, like asparagus, cauliflower and brussels sprouts. She also uses healthier preparation methods, like grilling instead of frying.

She makes it taste good.”

Summer Meal Programs To find summer meals offered near you,

Text FOODGA to 877-877

June 1 – August 15, 2015 or visit georgiafoodbank association.org To find other summer programs offered by partner agencies of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, visit acfb.org/local-impact To learn about USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) visit fns.usda.gov

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(Photo: Allison Young)

(Photo: Angela Boroden)

Our Community Rocks!

Kroger Delivers

Tyson, You’re a Hunger Hero

We’re grateful to Kroger and their customers for the contributions they make each year through two big campaigns: “Can Hunger” and “Bringing Hope to the Table.” This February, Kroger delivered $95,000 and 13 tractor trailer loads carrying a total of 400,000 pounds of spaghetti, green beans and other healthy items!

Thank you Tyson Foods and Champions for Kids for donating a truckload of chicken this March as part of the “Be a Hunger Hero Campaign.” Tyson Foods has donated nearly 100 million pounds of protein to hunger relief nonprofits since 2000. Photo: ACFB’s Ron Burns receives the high protein donation from a Tyson representative.

We <3 Our Volunteers (Photo: Allison Young)

These are some familiar faces! They are some of our most loyal volunteers and you’ll find many of them here at the Food Bank several days a week. We celebrated them at a special dinner during National Volunteer Month in April. Last year, thousands of volunteers provided 91,612 hours of their time.

It would take 46 full time staff members to do that work!

THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP TO STOP HUNGER

You helped us raise nearly $900,000 at Hunger Walk/Run 2015! That’s enough to provide 3.6 million meals for families and individuals across greater Atlanta and north Georgia.

Visit hungerwalkrun.org to view our gallery of photos, see who made it into our Champions Club, and save the date for 2016!

2016 WALK: 3/13/16

Title Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors

Media Sponsors Day-Of-Event Sponsors

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Presenting Sponsors

What’s Cooking?

Find out at our Simple Abundance Cooking Classes taught by Atlanta’s finest chefs! Classes are held in The Cook’s Warehouse state-of-the-art kitchens with 100% of proceeds benefiting ACFB. Most are demonstration-based, and participants will enjoy samples of recipes along with wine tastings. Take a peek below to see what we’ll be serving up, then visit acfb.org/events to learn more and purchase tickets!

May 18 Indian Street Food Favorites with Chef Meherwan Irani of Chai Pani | Demonstration & Tasting at The Cook’s Warehouse-Decatur | 7-9:00 p.m. $55 June 1 Flavors of Campania with Chef Edwin Molina of Double Zero Napoletana (pictured at right) | Demonstration & Tasting at The Cook’s Warehouse-Midtown | 7-9:00 p.m. $55 June 8 Traditional Spanish Flavors with Chef Eric Roberts of the Iberian Pig | Demonstration & Tasting at The Cook’s Warehouse-Decatur | 7-9:00 p.m. $55 June 15 A Night at Portofino with Chef Matt Marcus of Portofino | Demonstration & Tasting at The Cook’s Warehouse-Midtown | 7-9:00 p.m. $55

Chef Edwin Molina of Double Zero Napoletana will share the Flavors of Campania at the June 1 Simple Abundance cooking class to benefit ACFB. (Photo: Courtesy of The Cook's Warehouse)

See our exciting line-up of upcoming classes at acfb.org!

More Great Ways to Give Back While Having Fun

Mark and Nancy Oswald of Ruth's Chris Steak House were among eight roastees who “took the heat” for hunger at the 2014 Hospitality Roast. The Roast is just one of a variety of events held throughout the year to benefit the Food Bank. (Photo: Marcus Krause)

Looking for exciting activities that will create great memories and also make a difference in our community? Look no further than the Atlanta Community Food Bank! Enjoy a variety of events and promotions throughout the year that benefit the Food Bank and help provide thousands of meals for families in need – concerts, food drives, tweet-ups, sporting events, galas and more. Find our most current listing at acfb.org/events.

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Your new newsletter has arrived!

Nonprofit Org. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Atlanta, GA

Permit No. 3763

732 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., NW Atlanta, GA 30318-6628 (404) 892-FEED ACFB.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Do you know kids who need meals this summer?

Find summer programs providing food for kids from June 1 to August 15, 2015.

Text FOODGA to 877-877

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You may also visit georgiafoodbankassociation.org for a listing of programs.

Summer 2015

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Together, we can help ensure Georgia kids are happy, not hungry, this summer.

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