Network News | January 2018

January 2018

Tax Cuts & Jobs Act to affect charitable giving The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act recently passed

by Congress may decrease charitable giving across the U.S. by up to $10 billion per year and increase long-term pressure to cut federal nutrition programs such as SNAP. This two-pronged effect could put significant pressure on the food insecure population in southwest Missouri due to a potential loss in private funding for food assistance as well as government funding for nutrition programs.

The decrease in charitable giving will be caused by the increased standard deduction for taxpayers in combination with the elimination of a number of itemized deductions. Due to the higher standard deduction, many taxpayers will not itemize their tax return and therefore not be eligible for a charitable tax deduction. The Joint Committee on Taxation has concluded that this would result in 30 million fewer taxpayers claiming a charitable deduction each year and that the amount claimed would decline by nearly $95 billion.

These changes will significantly reduce the number of individuals who will donate to charitable programs, directly impacting Ozarks Food Harvest’s and our agencies ability to assist southwest Missouri and the more than 261,000 unduplicated individuals served by our network.

The second concern is the increased pressure to cut federal nutrition programs to pay for the increase in the federal deficit.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy

IN THIS ISSUE

POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAMS COULD BRING CHALLENGES TO OUR MISSION OF SERVING OUR HUNGRY NEIGHBORS.

Priorities, this legislation would increase the federal deficit by $1.5 trillion over ten years, which will result in disproportionate and increased pressure to cut federal nutrition programs. With previous proposals, in regards to the national budget, federal nutrition programs have consistently been an item legislators point to as needing to be cut in order to balance the budget.

Between 2009 and 2012, the SNAP program in Missouri kept 221,000 people out of poverty including 109,000 children. With one in eight Missouri citizens accessing SNAP, the federal government will be taking away from a program that allows many people to feed their families while they work to get back on their feet.

Sen. Blunt visits Boys & Girls Club Inclement weather policy reminder SNAP critical to address hunger History of TEFAP

Ozarks Food Harvest has repeatedly stressed that even as the largest private response to hunger in southwest Missouri, we cannot make up for the gap in services that will result from cutting funding for nutrition programs.

The potential loss of charitable donations will make the task of ensuring no Missourian goes hungry more difficult than before for both our organization and the agencies we serve.

With potential changes coming to federal nutrition programs this year, it’s important for agencies to be aware of how these changes may affect their organizations and how we will continue to work together to solve the issue of food insecurity in southwest Missouri.

SEN. BLUNT AND HIS WIFE ABIGAIL SORT EGGS IN THE OFH VOLUNTEER CENTER.

Sen. Blunt visits OFH, Boys & Girls Club

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en. Roy Blunt and his family visited Ozarks Food Harvest and the Boys & Girls Club in Joplin on Dec. 29 in order to spread awareness about the issue of hunger.

The Food Bank was honored to host Sen. Blunt.

This visit was timely as January and

February are peak demand months for Ozarks Food Harvest’s member agencies.

As donations drop after the holiday season, people served by OFH report making tough choices to make ends meet. In fact, 69 percent of those served say they choose between paying for utilities and food.

Sen. Blunt’s wife Abigail and 13-year-old son Charlie joined as well. Charlie even donated his allowance money to provide meals for hungry people in the Ozarks.

During Sen. Blunt’s visit, The Food Bank’s president/CEO Bart Brown was able to talk about the harsh reality of hunger facing too many Missourians, and how the support from the community is helping to solve the problem.

The Blunt family toured The Food Bank’s warehouse, and Sen. Blunt also helped sort egg donations and thanked Food Bank volunteers.

This was not Sen. Blunt’s first visit to Ozarks Food Harvest. He has visited in the past around the same time of year in order to help spread awareness about the need for donations after the holiday season.

In addition to volunteering at The Food Bank, Blunt and his family stopped by The Boys & Girls Club in Joplin to serve meals and read to the children A special thank you to the Blunt family for taking the time to visit.

CHARLIE BLUNT SAVED HIS ALLOWANCE TO DONATE TO OZARKS FOOD HARVEST.

Inclement weather policy reminder The Food Bank no longer follows the Springfield Public School closing policy.

It is now the policy of Ozarks Food Harvest to remain open during most periods of inclement weather.

However, where extraordinary circumstances may exist, such as severe weather, we may close the facility. Should

this occur, The Food Bank will notify agencies expecting a delivery or a scheduled pick-up appointment that a cancellation will be made and rescheduled.

Also, in the event of an unexpected delivery cancellation and OFH needs to contact your agency, it is extremely important The Food Bank has correct contact information for the

people responsible for receiving the delivery.

To verify this information, please go to your online account to MY AGENCY and check the CONTACTS listed in your agency profile and notify member services if any information needs to be updated.

We are wishing you a happy and safe winter!

DID YOU KNOW? Aunt Jemima pancake flour was invented in St. Louis in 1889. It was the first ready-mix food to ever be sold commercially.

The world’s first food bank, St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, was started in 1967 in Phoenix, Arizona.

TEFAP corner

Short History of TEFAP

The purpose of the TEFAP program is to improve the nutritional quality of the diets of participating persons and to help strengthen the agricultural market for products produced by American farmers. TEFAP began in late 1981 as the Special Dairy Distribution Program, which donated butter and cheese only.

Upon enactment of the Jobs Bill in March 1983, SDDP became known as the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program. This authorization also provided for the distribution of nonfat dry milk, flour, cornmeal, rice and honey. In 1990, the word “temporary” was deleted from the title of the TEFAP legislation.

Through the years and many reauthorizations, the program expanded its food purchases to include fruits, vegetables and other specialty food crops. The most recent Agricultural Act of 2014 contains provisions to increase the mandatory funding available for the purchase of USDA foods for TEFAP by $50 million in 2015, $40 million in 2016, $20 million in 2017, and $15 million in 2018.

CONTACT US Ozarks Food Harvest Member Services 2810 N. Cedarbrook Ave. Springfield, Mo., 65803 memberservices@ ozarksfoodharvest.org (417) 380-5007 ozarksfoodharvest.org

Director Q & A

Melissa Priest

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elissa Priest, director at the Monett Community Food Pantry and Kitchen, became involved in the mission to fight hunger when she was spending time with her friends. They were discussing the issue of hunger and came up with a plan to open the pantry. Read our interview with her to learn more!

Q: What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying?

A: You know, we all need help sometimes, and when you get that simple thank you from a client, or they say ‘We couldn’t make it through the month without the pantry help,’ it’s so rewarding to know that we’ve made an impact on someone’s day! Maybe a little less stress for them and their family.

Q: What part of this job do you find most challenging?

A: Keeping up! We have grown so fast, there is such a need for assistance. Donations, organizing, along with our groceries for our clients, we have added a diaper pantry, the Milk to My Plate program, Little Caesar’s donates pizza each week, so each week is a whole new ballgame.

Q: What is your most memorable moment at the pantry or kitchen?

A: There have been so many. One would be when we had a gentleman come to the pantry, got his food and just broke down

sobbing, thanking us repeatedly for the food for his family, it’s just that moment you realize what a small difference each of us can make for another person! I think just ‘Care and share’ is a great motto, whether that is volunteer time, serving on a board, monetary donation, just listening when they want to talk, a smile or a hug.

Q: We know you have a granddaughter, what would she say about you if we asked for a reference?

A: [She would say I am] following in my mother’s footsteps. She set a great example for helping others, she was director of the Barry County Youth Camp for 50 years, on the board & a volunteer for Barry-Lawrence Development Center as well as helping numerous other groups and individuals, always there for everyone, however small or large the need. We lost her last year but hopefully I can pass that legacy on to my granddaughter!

SNAP critical to address hunger The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, is one of the best tools for solving food insecurity in Missouri.

SNAP, in conjunction with food banks and member agencies, collectively helps strengthen communities by providing food people need.

The SNAP program also supports the economy and creates jobs around the country. A 2010 study by the USDA found that for every $1 billion of added SNAP funding,

SAVE THE DATE

between 8,900 and 17,000 jobs were created.

SNAP is such a vital program that Ozarks Food Harvest and its network of charities would be unable to make up for the loss of food assistance if the program were to be cut.

This year, it is more important than ever to revisit the SNAP program and how it positively affects the lives of the individuals we serve every day.

Look for more information within the upcoming year about how you can help advocate for this federal nutrition program.

The Ozarks Food Harvest Agency Conference is April 9, 2018 at the Ramada Oasis Convention Center.

The market also aims to work with local producers of other food and even skin care products. The shelves of the store are lined with familar products and local products, which gives each Lucky’s Market location a unique feel.

The market also offers a program called

“When you walk in our store, we have a big, fresh produce department, and its the main focal point of the store.”

-Brooke Buchanan, regional market specialist at Lucky’s Market

LUCKY’S MARKET OPENED ON JAN. 10 IN SPRINGFIELD, AND THE STORE IS PARTNERING WITH THE FOOD BANK TO HELP FEED HUNGRY NEIGHBORS..

Lucky’s Market partners with OFH

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xciting news at The Food Bank as we announce our newest retail partnership with Springfield’s latest organic grocery store, Lucky’s, which opened on Wednesday, Jan. 10.

The Boulder, Colorado-based market informed Ozarks Food Harvest that it was also chosen, along with two other local nonprofits, to be one of the first Springfield Bags for Change recipients which will support OFH’s After-School program.

Community members are encouraged to bring their reusable bags each time they shop to earn a wooden dime. Dimes are then

put into the community member’s choice of nonprofit organization.

At the end of the quarter, which ends in May, Lucky’s will match the amount raised!

According to Brooke Buchanan, regional market specialist at Lucky’s, the company aims to provide healthy food at an affordable price.

“When you walk in our store, we have a big, fresh produce department, and its the main focal point of the store,” Buchanan said. “We offer organic as well as conventional produce and we try to work with local producers as we can, especially in the summer.”

Good news at The Food Bank Volunteers gave over 30,000 hours

Musgrave supports The Food Bank

Special thanks to the thousands of volunteers who gave their time to help feed their neighbors in 2017.

More than 30,000 hours of service were donated this past year to provide millions of meals to people struggling with hunger across the Ozarks! Ozarks Food Harvest is only able to provide food to 261,000 people each year with the help of volunteers who sort and pack food, build Senior Food boxes, pack Weekend Backpacks, distribute food through Mobile Food pantries, harvest produce through the Full Circle Gardens program and help us with events throughout the year.

The Musgrave Foundation gifted $10,000 to Ozarks Food Harvest this holiday season.

The foundation is a generous supporter of the Weekend Backpack Program in Springfield Public Schools where one in five children are food insecure, meaning they might not know where their next meal will come from.

This grant will help Ozarks Food Harvest provide nearly 1,350 bags, or 8,000 meals, this school year. In addition, the Musgrave Foundation donated shoes and groceries to children at Niangua School. The Musgrave Foundation has been a Food Bank supporter for more than 10 years.

Sip and Stroll, where you can drink a glass of wine or beer while shopping. The store’s cafe also carries coffee from St. Louis based Kaldi’s Coffee.

Lucky’s is also The Food Bank’s newest Retail Pick-Up partner. For more information about Lucky’s Market, visit luckysmarket. com/anthem.

THE STORE’S MAIN FOCAL POINT IS THE PRODUCE SECTION, ACCORDING TO REGIONAL MARKET SPECIALIST BROOKE BUCHANAN.

LOOKING AHEAD...

The next food safety classes are on Jan. 24 and Feb. 28.

Civil Rights Training is Feb. 1-28.

Hunger Challenge #7 reports due Feb. 28 (report form coming soon)