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LOAVES & FISHES COMMUNITY NEWSZINE FALL 2015 VOL 3
REDEFINING PANTRY ALL THINGS POINT TO NUTRITION AND DIGNITY p. 6-7
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LEADERSHIP TEAM Loaves & Fishes Community Services
1871 High Grove Lane Naperville, Illinois 60540
Ph: 630.355.3663 • Fax: 630.355.0562 info@loaves-fishes.org • loaves-fishes.org
Megan Selck President & CEO
Matt Chicola Director of External Relations
Cary Gilkey Vice-President Operations
Elizabeth Hoffman
LOAVES & FISHES COMMUNITY NEWSZINE FALL 2015 VOL 3
Director of Administrative Services
LaVerne Mathews Director of Advancement
Shelly Schmitz Director of Volunteer Engagement
Duncan Ward Director of Empowerment Programs
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dear friends, Hunger Action Month may be over, but the action hasn’t slowed down at Loaves & Fishes as we are now preparing for a busy holiday season! Last year, we served 3,235 holiday meals through our Help Other People Eat (HOPE) Holiday Drive, and unfortunately, we don’t anticipate this number decreasing as our neighbors continue to struggle with finding suitable employment, overcoming debt and providing for their families. There is hope on the horizon, though. Last November, Loaves & Fishes launched the Client Engagement Model, an integrated approach to finding sustainable solutions for our clients through mentoring, guidance and referrals. As we near the one year anniversary of this model, I am honored to share that our Empowerment Specialists have met with almost 1,400 client families. These meetings have increased participation in our on-site empowerment programs; in particular, more clients have worked with job counselors, applied for public benefit assistance, and learned essential computer skills. As a result, 30% of these families have improved their household condition and are closer to becoming self-sufficient. When you sit down with your family this holiday season, take a moment to consider the impact you have had on our clients and their families. As an example, I am thrilled to share with you that we have reached our $6 million Power of Community Campaign goal early. To ensure that more families can enjoy the holidays without feeling financially strained, the board has identified an additional $500,000 of need to be met by December 31st. We are thankful for your dedication to bettering our clients’ lives. Happy holidays to you and yours!
Mike Havala Board Chair
Alicia McCareins Vice Chair Governance
Paul Novotny Vice Chair Finance
David Brown Vice Chair Advancement
Celeste Wagner Secretary
Kevin O’Hara Treasurer
Brian Bolliger Harol-Deane Garren, Emerita Ron Haskell, Emeritus George Kestler Christina Klein George Mann Tom McGough Matt Pfeiffer Corey Schmidt Alice Sisbarro Laura Ann Spencer Dawn Struxness Kathy Van Eeuwen Tom Winters
SHARE Matt Chicola Editor-in-Chief, Writer mchicola@loaves-fishes.org
Megan K. Selck President & CEO
Rachelle Barmann Art Director, Design rbarmann@loaves-fishes.org
Cover and market photos by Bruce Powell, courtesy of The Chicago Community Trust.
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SHARE Up Close
All Grown Up
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College Student Returns to Pay It Forward
Back in 2003, Maddy visited Loaves & Fishes with her family when the organization was based behind Naperville North High School, and as she remembers, it was “very dark, small and had that warehouse feel inside.” She looks up and around the current grocery market with her eyes wide open while saying, “It is great to see such a wonderful idea grow into something so big and great for our community.”
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walk through Loaves & Fishes’ grocery market is comparable to story time in school. Our clients and volunteers alike share heart-wrenching stories about hardship, amusing stories about happenstance, and inspiring stories about overcoming adversity. It took one student, though, to tell a story that encompasses all these elements while demonstrating the impact Loaves & Fishes is able to have on someone’s life. Standing in the produce area awaiting the next approaching client family, Madeline, or Maddy, looks like any other college student volunteering at Loaves & Fishes; however, once you begin talking to her, you learn that her history with Loaves & Fishes goes back much further than her appearance would suggest. “When I was younger, my family used to come every two weeks to Loaves & Fishes — my mom was a single parent who was raising five girls,” recalls Maddy, as she smiles and waves at a young girl across the market. “If it were not for Loaves & Fishes, my family would not have been able to sit down every night and enjoy a family dinner together.”
The story is temporarily halted as Madeline greets a mother and her infant as she points out how many yogurts the mother can pick out from the cooler. As the mother places the yogurt in her cart and moves along, Maddy shares, “I remember that the food was prebagged and you would walk in and get a few bags of food and that was it.” She laughs as she mentions, “I remember always having a donation box at my school where the students would bring in canned food and our school would then donate it all. Of course, our family would always throw a few cans into the donations box; we always had a joke about making a mark on one and seeing if we got it back.” She again greets a client as they pass by, and then Maddy turns to move a few yogurt containers on the shelf around. “Because of your help, my mom was able to spend as much time with us as we needed.” She pauses with her hand reaching at a container. “She had the time to raise us well without the help of a father. The holidays were always the biggest help —” she turns back to face the aisle and continues, “—giving my mom the chance to get a turkey for us and every other holiday food we might have needed or wanted.”
Today, Madeline is a 20 year old college junior who attends Western Illinois University as a social work major. She explains how it is difficult to determine who is struggling to make ends meet because many families have employed members and are paying for rent, yet they are unable to pay for food because they are attempting to pay other bills. It is obvious that Madeline’s mother did an excellent job raising her, as this educated, young woman shares, “when I deal with clients, I will have a deeper understanding of their feelings, and what they need help with because I have been there. I can be living proof that people can pull themselves up and become something and do something important.”
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I’m giving back all that Loaves & Fishes gave me when I was a young girl. I couldn’t be more grateful to help and be part of such a great organization. Madeline
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No Child Left Hungry Developing Cross-sector Collaboration to Prevent Child Hunger
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he energy was palpable. After discussing the immediate and long-term impacts of child food insecurity, Dr. John Cook, of Boston University of Medicine and Children’s HealthWatch, described how broad, multi-sector coalitions must be created to initiate policy, environmental and systems change. His final message – “we are all in this together” – echoed throughout the room, full of organizational leaders, doctors and educators. The solution seemed clear, but one question hung in the air: how do we collaborate to achieve a common goal in addition to fulfilling our own missions? The Spotlight on Child Hunger, presented by Loaves & Fishes in April, was a milestone for local hunger relief efforts as it brought together cross-sector leaders to discuss food insecurity as a public health crisis and built a greater understanding of how fundamental proper nutrition is to early childhood development. After the discussion, Loaves & Fishes went to work by expanding the Child Nutrition Initiative to include children ages 0-4, working with local schools to ensure children from lowincome families were receiving proper nutrition, and committing to broaden the Infant Care Initiative to include expectant mothers.
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While these actions required collaboration with schools and funding partners, such as Jackson National, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, and the Gustafson Family Foundation, there was a need for more collective impact. Thanks to the DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform, a coalition had been formed to focus on the 1,000 Days initiative. This aligned perfectly with Dr. Cook’s vision for success, so Loaves & Fishes joined forces with these leaders. Lorena Vaughn, Program Director for Early Childhood Regional Collaboration at the DuPage Federation, explains to SHARE how this coalition came into existence and what the long-term goals are for the 1,000 Days initiative:
have teamed up with 1,000 Days, a leading maternal and child health advocacy organization working to ensure good nutrition for mothers and children during the critical window from pregnancy through age two. DuPage County has been selected as one of the first national sites to engage in this initiative.
Resource Center, Teen Parent Connection and Loaves & Fishes have teamed up with 1,000 Days. Each partner is able to offer up their strongest services and skills to help move the work further faster.
We are focusing our efforts on two priority areas: breastfeeding and food insecurity. By encouraging practices that support breastfeeding in hospitals and workplaces, and assessing food insecurity in our community, we strive to ensure a healthy start from pregnancy through age two.
Vaughn: DuPage County is home to more than 900,000 people. Despite plentiful resources, the public health system in DuPage County is challenged by significant socio-economic changes among its most vulnerable residents, including women and children in the critical 1,000 day window.
We have drawn up a timeline for year one and some of these efforts will begin in the near future while others require consistent advocacy and systems change which can take years.
An estimated 15% of children are at risk of hunger in DuPage County, and 10% of children are living in poverty. The impact of food insecurity and poverty on child health and development is welldocumented and emerging evidence around the “origins of health and disease” shows the link between early-life exposure (including food and nutrition, or lack thereof ) on long-term health and disease, including obesity, heart disease and cancer. Across DuPage County, at least one in four kindergarteners entering public school is overweight or obese, and these numbers climb as children get older. And while breastfeeding initiation rates are similar to those for the State
SHARE: How will collaboration between cross-sector organizations help accomplish these goals?
SHARE: How did the DuPage Federation get involved in the 1,000 Days initiative, and what are your goals? Vaughn: With the support of the DuPage County Health Department, we
Vaughn: Nutrition, medical care and basic needs are so intertwined that all facets must be addressed simultaneously to adequately provide for a growing baby. As a result, DuPage County partners, including the DuPage County Health Department, the DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform, People’s
SHARE: How will the 1,000 Days initiative impact the community in the long run?
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Dr. Wall examimes a patient in his Naperville office. of Illinois, with nearly 80% of babies starting on breastmilk, by just 2 months of age just 55% of babies are being breastfed. Our hope is that through this collective action we can improve these numbers. Thanks to the framework created by the DuPage Federation, Loaves & Fishes is connecting health care to hunger relief. Jane Macdonald, Loaves & Fishes’ Associate Director of Community Health, is leading efforts to implement the Hunger Vital Sign™ in local pediatricians’ offices to connect at-risk families to available, healthy foods and to measure food insecurity in the community. The Hunger Vital Sign™, developed by Children’s HealthWatch, is a 2-question screening tool that measures families’ concerns about and access to food, much the way health care providers track other key vital signs. Jane has already had success in her discussions with pediatricians; in particular, Dr. Timothy R. Wall, founder of Pediatric Health Associates Ltd, who will be screening patients using the Hunger Vital Sign™ at
his clinics in Naperville, West Chicago, Bolingbrook and Plainfield. SHARE had an opportunity to learn more about Dr. Wall’s efforts: SHARE: What has your experience been with local poverty and food insecurity in your office? Dr. Wall: I have been a long-time volunteer at Hesed House. I founded a nonprofit foundation called “The CareLink Foundation” back in 2000 to address many of the healthcare challenges poor families faced over the years such as free back to school clinics, medical interpreters and transportation to specialist visits. Each year, I continue to provide free healthcare services in Honduras with a group of other clinicians and generally they tend to see over 1,000 people during the week they are there. SHARE: Why did you choose to partner with Loaves & Fishes on the Hunger Vital Sign™ initiative?
food insecure families and provide them with a list of resources where they can receive assistance.
The Hunger Vital Sign ™ 1. “Within the past 12 months we
SHARE: What do you hope to accomplish through this partnership?
worried whether our food would
Dr. Wall: I hope that parents will be able to provide more nutritious meals for their children to reduce some of the health issues I see, such as anemia, school issues such as inability to pay attention (hard to learn when you’re hungry!) and better brain development through better nutrition.
buy more.”
run out before we got money to
a. often true
b. sometimes true
c. never true
d. don’t know
2. “Within the past 12 months the food we bought just didn’t last
Child hunger cannot be solved by one organization or by one industry; it takes a collective effort to achieve meaningful impact. There is much work to do in order to connect food-insecure children to healthy foods; however, thanks to the work of Dr. Cook, the DuPage Federation and Dr. Wall, there has been significant progress in DuPage County.
and we didn’t have money to get more.”
a. often true
b. sometimes true
c. never true
d. don’t know
Dr. Wall: CareLink has worked with Jane Macdonald in the past with assisting low-income families with car seats for their children. I hope to identify more loaves-fishes.org
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I
t was a rainy, overcast summer afternoon— not ideal for Loaves & Fishes’ annual Day Without Hunger celebration— but bad weather was not going to stand in the way of big news. On June 12th, Loaves & Fishes unveiled its renovated grocery market, inviting community members to experience the new layout first-hand. Loaves & Fishes’ staff, in collaboration with volunteers and donors, worked tirelessly since March to bring the sketched floor plans to life, and SHARE gives you an inside look at how Loaves & Fishes has transformed what was once known as a “pantry” into a sophisticated and spacious fresh market. Loaves & Fishes SHARE FALL 2015 VOL 3
REDEFINING
The food recovery process in DuPage County is fantastic but it’s not effective if organizations don’t have the capacity to store the food they receive. We feel that the purchase of the refrigeration units is a win-winwin: for the grocery stores that supply excess food, for the organization, and most importantly for the clients who rely on the healthy food they receive from Loaves & Fishes. Barb Szczepaniak, Director of Programs at the DuPage Foundation
I absolutely love the changes because it is nice, and I don’t feel bad about coming here. It feels like a real grocery store. My son is celiac, and your services have been a lifesaver. If it wasn’t for Loaves & Fishes we would be in serious financial trouble! Lacey, client
PANTRY
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A Dignified Experience Before moving to its current location at 1871 High Grove, Loaves & Fishes served 10,845 clients. After the move in 2011, Loaves & Fishes’ client population jumped to 17,772 clients! Needless to say, this sudden surge presented the organization with some logistical challenges, even in a new space. For example, the original 4 parallel aisles would become crowded if someone had to pause to ask a question about a food item or if they qualified for a special nutrition initiative. To improve the experience for clients, Loaves & Fishes reduced congestion by creating an open floor plan with less standard aisles, plus the organization introduced shopping appointments and extended hours so clients could better schedule their visits.
A Nutritious Boost According to research from the Food Research Action Center (FRAC), food insecure and low-income families are at an increased risk for being overweight and obese due to a lack of access to healthier foods. In 2011,
Clients who are on a tight time schedule or come from a long distance to shop are able to complete their shopping in much less time than before the reconfiguration. First-time clients or clients who haven’t visited Loaves & Fishes for a while are enthusiastic about the new layout. I have heard a lot of “wows” in the last few months. Andrea Mueller, Volunteer Leader
Loaves & Fishes built a grocery market with the intent of providing more fresh
The Loaves & Fishes renovation and new MyPlate Signage is a great illustration as to how the organization is focused on providing high quality, nutritious foods to their clients.
produce, lean meat and dairy products
Julie Moreschi, MS, RDN, LDN, Loaves & Fishes’ Nutrition Advisory Council chair and Dietetic Internship Director at Benedictine University
to effectively deliver these items to
for its clients. Thanks to partnerships with local grocers, Loaves & Fishes was able to expand its healthy eating offerings; however, the market lacked the space clients. For this reason, the renovated market has an expanded produce department,complete with additional refrigeration made possible by UPS and the DuPage Foundation.
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My favorite holiday food is turkey. I remember when I was younger and my whole family from Europe came to celebrate. This year I am looking forward to the holidays because I will have graduated from college. Ivan
Loaves & Fishes
Ham reminds me of family gatherings when we were young and my mother was alive. This holiday season I am looking forward to our financial needs being met so that we can be a blessing to other people. Denise
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shares their favorite holiday meals and traditions. Tell us your favorites on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #SharetheJoy. We love pictures, too!
Pumpkin pie is my favorite holiday food. It brings back memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas and family.The holidays always make me happy. Mark
My favorite holiday foods are all
the warm comfort foods we get to enjoy when it is cold temperatures
out: roasted beef, candied yams, etc. I am so glad we can provide holiday foods to families so everyone can enjoy them. Bob
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The best part of the holidays is being with family and the grandkids. My favorite holiday dish is green bean casserole with onion rings. Pat
I cannot turn down homemade chicken and/or beef tamales. They make me think of my grannies both of whom have passed away. They each had a knack for knowing what was important-- family-and the food they prepared with love brought us all together for a moment in time. Joni
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SHARE The Joy
If I were told I could have only one holiday a year it would be Thanksgiving. Hands down. I wear
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a smile on my face from sunrise onward because it’s a day to celebrate family, friends, food, and gratitude. My mom made a delicious holiday stuffing. She combined multigrain croutons, broth, celery, onions, raisins, and butter to create
My favorite holiday food is turkey – of course, but my kids love my wife’s green bean casserole. It is not Thanksgiving or Christmas without it. This year my oldest son is moving back from New Hampshire. He hasn’t spent a holiday with us for five years. It will be extra special. Stephen
My holidays as a child were always spent in northern Minnesota on my grandparents farm. We would bake breads and cookies from scratch. My grandfather would take us for rides in his sleigh in the snow. It was magical. Patrice
a savory side. Each year I make “mom’s stuffing.” Dawn
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Blue’s Crews
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orporate volunteerism is on the rise as more employers build philanthropic programs to engage their employees. Companies report how volunteering helps employees build professional knowledge, confidence and communication skills, but how does it impact a nonprofit organization? A recent article in the Boston Globe describes the internal struggle for nonprofit staff as they work to accommodate a corporate volunteer group despite a lack of space and resources, which can result in a disappointing experience for all. To create a meaningful and manageable experience, Loaves & Fishes has found success with recruiting recurring volunteer work groups, and BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois (BCBSIL) demonstrates how this solution benefits both the corporation and the nonprofit.
As outlined on the BCBSIL website, “It takes more than a one-time grant or service project to make a lasting difference in the community. So, we seek out, support, and partner with organizations that already understand how to best meet the needs of their community we do what we can to help their programs succeed.” This pledge is evident when considering that BCBSIL employees started volunteering at Loaves & Fishes quarterly, but have
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since increased their time commitment. They now regularly fill a monthly 4-hour shift. “Being that our company is based in downtown Chicago, all of our volunteering events were geared towards the city,” explains Jim Barone, Director of Corporate Procurement. “After receiving feedback from our volunteers that suburban events would be desirable as well, we came across Loaves & Fishes through our connection with United Way. This led to our first suburban event which has lasted for many years.”
BCBSIL employees have been a tremendous help on Saturday mornings, working with clients in the grocery market. All employees are eligible to volunteer, which creates a mixture of returning employees and new employees joining the Loaves & Fishes volunteer family. By volunteering regularly as a group, more employees learn about the operations and services provided, which benefits Loaves & Fishes because the mission and goals are already communicated. Likewise, BCBSIL benefits because they are able to engage their employees on a regular basis and see progress being made over an extended period of time. Most importantly, Loaves & Fishes has been able to connect BCBSIL employees to its clients, which has built community
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois Employees Commit to “Being There”
awareness of local hunger. “We expected to see poverty and lack of food when volunteering in the city,” describes Jim. “After seeing similar conditions in the suburbs of Chicago, I think it opened up the eyes of many people and took away the stigma that this only happens in the city.” “I recall one time when a client wanted a specific type of soup – clam chowder,” remembers Maristella Sacarelos, Project Manager. “There were only a few on hand that I had seen earlier. We were going through all the cans, and we could not find another one. We were holding up the line so he took a different can of soup, but I kept looking and finally found one way in the back. When I gave it to him, he was so pleased and thankful. It was something small, but it made me as happy as he was.”
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The smiles, kindness, and thanks I receive as a volunteer are the presents that do not come in boxes or bags but rather from the hearts of individuals in need (priceless). And, keeping the freezer stocked..burrrrrr!
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Ken Stout-Shoger, Project Analyst
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SHARE Happenings
Don’t Miss! NOVEMBER
Saturday, November
21
6:30 - 10:00 PM Madden Theatre, North Central College
630 FASHION SHOW Gather around the catwalk for Two K Productions’ 630 Fashion Show, featuring trend-setting designs from St. Frimpong, Jill K. Bags, Lela, FIBRE by Rae Hurst, Gidi by Taneasha Prunty, Niala Conte, Bri Zan Couture, Karisma and Ootra. Fashion has the power to transform an image and make a social statement, and Loaves & Fishes is honored to join Two K Productions to strike a pose against hunger. Drinks, bites and silent auction begin at 6:30 PM. The New York style runway show begins at 8:00 PM, with a special opportunity to shop the runway looks after the show. Tickets ($90 per person) include open beer/wine bar, hors d’oeuvres, and a gift bag full of luxury items with proceeds benefiting Loaves & Fishes. Visit www.630fashionshow.com for tickets.
DECEMBER Tuesday, December
1
12 AM to midnight Loaves & Fishes
GIVING TUESDAY ‘Twas the night before Giving Tuesday when all through Loaves & Fishes volunteers and supporters were waiting to grant clients’ wishes. Following Thanksgiving, there are two days for getting deals: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. In 2012, Giving Tuesday started as a new tradition to celebrate and encourage philanthropy and to kick off the holiday season. Last year, you donated $179,613 (including a $60,000 match) to expand Loaves & Fishes’ Child Nutrition Initiative to include families with children ages 1- 4. This year, you have an opportunity to help Loaves & Fishes launch an expanded Infant Care Initiative in addition to providing essential nutrition to local children by helping the organization reach a $200,000 goal! Stay updated on the Giving Tuesday celebration by following Loaves & Fishes on social media. ‘Tis the season to Share the Joy!
JUNE Saturday, June
25 6 - 10 PM
Rich Harvest Farms
to END WITH
2016
NIGHT TO END HUNGER In 1987, Jerry Rich began to develop Rich Harvest Farms, the 18-hole ultra-private golf course that winds through the tranquil and picturesque landscape in Sugar Grove, IL, and in June 2016, you are invited to celebrate philanthropy at this premiere site with Loaves & Fishes. This landmark event will unite supporters as they enjoy cocktails and finely crafted wine, marvel at the scenery and rare car collection, dine on masterful cuisine and bid in a thrilling live auction of sports, travel, jewelry and experience packages. The capstone for the evening will be an exclusive wine auction with fine and rare vintages. Sponsorship opportunities are now available. Contact Miranda Barfuss, Special Events Manager, mbarfuss@ loaves-fishes.org, for more details.
We Can All Leave a Legacy “A bequest represents an acknowledgment that an organization is doing important work. We felt Loaves & Fishes was such an organization because it has been supporting the community for over 30 years and we would like it to continue.” ~Brian Bolliger, Raphael Legacy Society member Ordinary people are showing extraordinary generosity by leaving legacy gifts to nonprofit organizations in their wills and estate plans. There are countless stories that demonstrate the kindness of people from all walks of life – with different income levels, professions, and passions. Because of their indelible love of life and concern for others, their memories will never be extinguished, and their gifts will make a difference in the lives that follow. Charitable giving is something everyone can do because gifts both small and large have meaningful impact. Legacy gifts to Loaves & Fishes benefit local families and children well beyond the donors’ lifetime. As Brian adds, “Loaves & Fishes has evolved in a direction that has a more substantial impact – empowering people to address the issues that result in food insecurity. My wife and I want Loaves & Fishes to have sufficient resources to deliver on their important mission.” A gift that is part of a thoughtful, comprehensive estate plan can provide much needed annual income, support client programs and services, and strengthen Loaves & Fishes’ endowment. “It is the gift that keeps on giving,” according to LaVerne E. Mathews, Director of Advancement, who is leading efforts to raise awareness of Loaves & Fishes’ Raphael Legacy Society. There are many ways to make a legacy gift to Loaves & Fishes: Bequests – One of the most popular (and the simplest) ways to make a gift through a will or living trust. When you remember Loaves & Fishes in a bequest, you will continue supporting future generations in the community. Beneficiary Designations – This option consists of naming Loaves & Fishes as a beneficiary of your retirement plan, life insurance, or insurance annuity assets. Appreciated Securities – Instead of giving cash to Loaves & Fishes, shares of stock or mutual funds can be gifted and subsequently sold without incurring taxes. Other Ways of Giving – Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Memorial and Honorary Gifts, Donor Advised Funds, Endowed Gifts, Retained Life Estate, Charitable Lead Trusts Choosing the right legacy gift depends on your personal circumstances and financial goals. Seek the advice of your financial or legal advisor for the plan that works best for you. For more information about Loaves & Fishes’ Raphael Legacy Society, please contact LaVerne at (630) 355-3663 ext. 115. The good you do for your community lives forever. loaves-fishes.org
1871 High Grove Lane • Naperville, IL 60540 • PH: 630.355.3663 Copyright Loaves & Fishes Community Services 2015 – All Rights Reserved
Thank You volunteers, donors, and supporters who make service to our community possible. loaves-fishes.org