Network News | March 2016

March 2016

Coming soon . . . Agency Conference 2016

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y the time this newsletter reaches you, Ozarks Food Harvest’s Agency Conference will be 28 days away! Food Bank staff members are working hard to make the conference a success and are excited to spend time with people who share the same passion of helping those in need.

Things are moving along nicely as the planning committee continues to work on creating an atmosphere that allows attendees to leave energized and full of great new ideas.

This year’s conference theme, It’s Showtime, was inspired by keynote speaker and entertainer, Marideth Sisco, whose music was featured in the movie “Winter’s Bone.” Sisco makes her home in southern Missouri where she continues to write stories, play music and appear monthly on National Public Radio in KSMU’s “These Ozarks Hills,” so you may recognize her voice.

In keeping with the theme, It’s Showtime, breakout sessions will have a familiar movie or television show title plugged into them.

For example, we have a session on grant writing titled “A Fistful of Dollars.”

Attendees have the opportunity to hear from a variety of speakers during the breakout sessions including leaders in the community, directors of OFH agencies and Food Bank staff members.

For added fun, OFH staff has been enthusiastically visiting agencies to capture staff photos and asking, “Who is your favorite actor/entertainer?”

IN THIS ISSUE

THE LAST AGENCY CONFERENCE WAS A HUGE SUCESS. HELP US MAKE THIS YEAR’S EVEN BIGGER AND BETTER BY SHOWING UP ON APRIL 11 READY TO LEARN HOW TO ENHANCE YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER HERE IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI.

If we have not been to your agency so far, no worries, there is still time! We can’t wait to show you what we have been up to!

Top Ten Reasons Why You Should Attend the OFH Conference: 10. Learn the latest food banking updates 9. A chance for a one day get-away 8. The fancy swag bags 7. The opportunity to network with peers 6. Meet OFH staff 5. The amazing keynote speaker

4. Get inspired and energized 3. Your voice will be heard 2. Learn new ideas 1. All the cool people attend That’s all for now, but more fun and innovative things are in the works. We are counting down the days and looking forward to seeing everyone on April 11!

If you’re not already registered, what are you waiting for? Visit ozarksfoodharvest.org/ agency-conference-2016 to register.

Calvary Chapel expands its pantry debt-free Agency Director Spotlight: Meet Barbara Long Important TEFAP information for agencies OFH’s Glean Team kicks-off third season

THE PANTRY AT CALVARY CHAPEL SERVES COMMODITIES TO NEARLY 300 HOUSEHOLDS EVERY MONTH.

Pantry expands debt-free

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efore Calvary Chapel secured a new building for its food pantry, it was common to see people from nearly 300 households waiting in line outside the church to receive commodities.

The church located in Buffalo, Missouri, began its food pantry in 2011 with the expectation of serving 100 to 150 households at each monthly distribution. Within the first few months of operation, Calvary Chapel saw those numbers climb drastically.

In late 2013, the church began to explore the idea of adding on a new building to improve the flow of the pantry and expand its outreach ministries.

Mark Elliot, associate pastor and pantry board member, was born and raised in

Buffalo. He came back to the ministry of the small-town church after graduating college, and was involved in the building process from start to finish.

“We started praying and thinking about how we could do things better,” Elliot shared.

“Not only did we need room for the pantry, but we were also looking to expand our ministry as a church.”

Calvary Chapel set a goal to begin construction after it raised the needed funds for the new building.

The support of the congregation was apparent when the needed $200,000 was quickly collected — allowing construction to begin debt-free in summer 2014.

“I think the congregation realized that it

was not just a building or a program, this is a philosophy we have as a church,” Elliot said.

“That God put us here to meet both physical and spiritual needs of the community.”

Elliot shared that throughout the construction process clients were appreciative despite having to shuffle where they picked up the food every month.

Completed October 2014, the facility contains a storage room with dry shelving and two industrial freezers that were provided by an Ozarks Food Harvest equipment grant.

Thanks to the expansion, pantry clients now drive their cars through the line and volunteers load the clients’ cars with the commodities.

“The unexpected piece for us during our partnership with Ozarks Food Harvest has been the amount of community volunteers that come help us serve,” Elliot said.

Clients, area churches and other civic organizations in the Buffalo community volunteer at the pantry.

“The fellowship and the good spirit as we work together serving has been the neatest part of the process,” Elliot shared. “It continues to be a blessing as we continue the program.”

PANTRY VOLUNTEERS SORT FOOD FOR CLIENTS.

National CACFP Week is March 13-19 CACFP Week is a national education and information campaign sponsored annually by the National CACFP Sponsors Association.

This year’s theme is Operation Proclamation.

The campaign is designed to raise awareness of how the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program works to combat hunger and bring healthy food to the table for adults

in daycare and kids in childcare homes, centers and in after-school and summer feeding programs across the country.

Ozarks Food Harvest currently sponsors 19 After-School sites in 10 counties and 14 Summer Food sites in nine counties. In 2015, these programs provided over 132,000 meals and snacks to hungry kids in the Ozarks.

Is there an After-School or Summer Food program in your area interested in sponsorship for the CACFP/SFSP program?

Contact OFH to learn about the qualifications for this reimbursement program.

Learn more about how to get involved in CACFP Week at cacfp.org/news-eventsconferences/national-cacfp-week.

DID YOU KNOW? Seventy percent of the agencies that attended past OFH Member Services conferences were awarded grants.

Invest an Acre has raised more than $2.4 million nationally in four years to fight rural hunger.

Forty four percent of partner agencies in the state do not have paid staff and rely on a volunteer workforce.

In 2015, nearly 23,000 pounds of produce were harvested through Ozarks Food Harvest’s Glean Team.

TEFAP corner

Important updates “And Justice for All” posters After months of waiting, we have received the updated Civil Rights “And Justice for All” posters.

We are making the rounds to personally deliver them to each USDA agency or they are being delivered via your monthly scheduled truck delivery.

If you do not receive a poster by April 11, copies will be available at the Agency Conference.

Please make sure you post the sign where it is visible to all clients. This poster is one of the first things The Food Bank or state will look for when conducting a site review.

Updated TEFAP forms Around this time every year we receive updated forms for the Application for Receipt of USDA Foods (FD15-A).

Beginning in 2015, the forms were distributed in two parts, Part 1- Income Guidelines and Part 2- the client signature page. Part 1 must be displayed at the counter at all times.

Please do not alter or create your own form. The form has all the information needed for clients to receive TEFAP.

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

Barbara Long

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arbara Long began her journey with Nevada Community Outreach in 2001 as a volunteer board member. During her time as board president, the pantry’s longtime director resigned and Long was tasked with finding the pantry’s new director.

Her tiresome search lasted over a year — involving two new directors that did not remain in the position. Long had always wanted to attempt being the director, but felt overwhelmed because her mom was battling cancer.

After her mom passed away and Long had time to heal, she presented her wish to serve as director. The board thought it was a great idea so they problem-solved, the motion was passed and then it was official. Today, Long loves her job as director of the pantry.

Q: What do you like/love the most about working at the pantry?

A: Some days I wonder what is rewarding, and then I am renewed by some person who appreciated the help or a family finds a new path to take when we encourage them.

Q: What is the best part of your job?

A: Working with dedicated volunteers. People who work so hard as a volunteer absolutely amaze me. They show so much love for

people and work so hard to make our world a better place.

Q: What is your most memorable client story?

A: I once helped a girl with rent. She was a very sweet single mom and I just felt so bad that she was having such a tough time. I did not see her for a year after our encounter, but she reappeared in our office around Christmas time. She walked up to me and gave me a hug and said she had moved to El Dorado Springs and remarried. She handed me an envelope and asked me not to open it until she was gone. I did just that and it was a check for $1,000. That was an amazing moment of someone really giving back.

Importance of food test recalls The purpose of a food test recall is to test the traceability of product distributed to the first level of distribution outside the facility.

The test checks all phases of product accountability from the time it is received until it reaches the agencies. It also tests the viability of our communication network with our member agencies.

Steps of the test recall: 1. Identify a product currently in stock, which has also been shipped to agencies for orders.

2. Initiate a test recall email. Identify how much of the product was received.

3. Identify the location of the remaining product, place it on hold and inventory

SAVE THE DATE

the remaining product.

Determine the quantity shipped and the agencies that received it.

5. Receive and log feedback from the agencies that received the product.

6. Inventory Manager fills out the recall trace form and writes a review of the food test recall results.

Both Feeding America and AIB require Ozarks Food Harvest to conduct test recalls semiannually to remain in compliance with their regulations.

If we receive product from a source that gets recalled and all of the above steps are completed, it is recorded and counts in place of the test.

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The Ozarks Food Harvest Agency Conference is April 11, 2016 at the Ramada Oasis Convention Center.

LAST SEASON, THE GLEAN TEAM HARVESTED NEARLY 23,000 POUNDS OF FRESH, LOCAL PRODUCE.

Glean Team provides fresh produce for third season

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arch 1 marked the official kick-off of the third season for the Glean Team here at The Food Bank. The Glean Team is just one of the initiatives of the recently revived Full Circle Gardens program.

Last season, over 1,400 hours were given to local farms and gardens while harvesting nearly 23,000 pounds of fresh, local produce.

This produce was distributed amongst area agencies, while some of it was used to supplement community garden production — increasing access to fresh food in two

targeted Springfield neighborhoods.

To some, the amount of pounds gleaned may seem like a drop in the bucket when it comes to how many millions of pounds of food are being distributed annually through Ozarks Food Harvest’s network of agencies and well, it is.

Then, why is this program so important?

Simply put, the garden program is a step in the direction of solving food insecurity by localizing food production, making friends with our local farmers and raising awareness

Good news at The Food Bank Hansen joins SNAP outreach

Boy Scouts help feed area families

Kimberly Hansen has worked for Ozarks Food Harvest for two years as an administrative assistant. When the SNAP coordinator position opened, she jumped at the opportunity.

Hansen joins Jordan Browning to bring awareness about the SNAP program and help qualifying families sign up for SNAP benefits.

“I have been on both sides of the fence.

I have had more than enough food and shared with others; I have also been hungry wondering when I was going to eat again,” Hansen said. “I have a deep passion toward my new position and feel this is the perfect placement for me to give to others.”

Boy Scouts across the Ozarks are going door-to-door this month to collect nonperishable food for Ozarks Food Harvest during the 27th annual Scouting for Food.

Last year’s drive collected 13,500 pounds of food and $747 to provide over 15,000 meals.

Grocery sacks were dropped off in some neighborhoods earlier this month, and more will be dropped off in the coming weeks. The drive wraps up on Saturday, March 26 with a one-day, community-wide food drive at four Springfield Walmart locations.

Ozarks Food Harvest will provide the donations to its network of 200 pantries and programs in southwest Missouri.

of the need for produce donations.

The larger focus of the Full Circle Gardens program is to cultivate relationships with food producers across southwest Missouri, increasing produce donations to agencies in all counties.

The national campaign, Plant A Row for the Hungry, can be used by identifying the best days and times for local farmers and gardeners to drop off their donations that correspond with pantry distribution days. By coordinating these drop-off times, storage and refrigeration scarcities can be overcome while still providing clients with access to fresh, healthy food options.

Agencies who are interested in developing a plan to connect with farmers and gardeners in their area can reach out to Christy Claybaker, community engagement coordinator at Ozarks Food Harvest, to begin customizing a strategy that works best for their community.

FRESH PRODUCE GIVES CLIENTS THE CRUCIAL NUTRIENTS THEY NEED TO LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES.

LOOKING AHEAD...

Food Safety Classes, March 18 Food Bank will be closed, Friday, March 25 Volunteer Appreciation week, April 10-16