Emergency Food Pantry 2020 Annual Report

2020 EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY

ANNUAL REPORT PAGE 2 A Letter from Board President

PAGE 4 2020 Financial Summary

PAGE 6 Volunteer & Community Support

2020 ANNUAL REPORT from Board President Bob Rohla: Needless to say, the pandemic of 2020 has impacted all sectors of our

keep us faithful to our mission during such a difficult and unpredictable

community and the Emergency Food Pantry was not immune to its effects.

year. Thanks to you, the Emergency Food Pantry has been able to keep our

Throughout the pandemic, our top priority was keeping clients, staff, and

community safe while continuing our important work. We are grateful for

volunteers safe, and the Board of Directors worked with our Executive

your generosity, determination, work ethic, and positive attitudes.

Director and staff to make that happen. Clients now receive food baskets outside and are no longer entering the building. Upgraded technology has

Sincerely,

been instrumental in making this transition possible. As we adjust to a new way of doing things, our staff and volunteers continue to work toward our mission of supporting the community by reducing hunger.

Bob Rohla, President of the Board of Directors The pandemic also impacted the amount of food distributed and the number of clients that we served over the year. While those numbers dropped, the monetary support the Emergency Food Pantry received through donations and grants was significantly higher than in previous years. This included a $100,000 grant from the City of Fargo for food purchases, as well as assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program. This funding helped guarantee that our food basket offerings remained consistent and that our staff would not suffer any economic hardships as a result of COVID-19. While dealing with these unforeseen circumstances, the Board continues to work on our five-year strategic plan with goals that are guided by these priorities:

• • • •

Community Education Volunteer Opportunities Funding and Financial Management Programs and Services

On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I want to thank the pantry staff, volunteers, churches, businesses, and community agencies that helped

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Stacie Loegering Many of us looked toward the start of a new

remained compassionate. Businesses and local

were scared to leave their home and embarrassed

decade as an opportunity to achieve goals that

funders maintained connection. We continued

to ask for food. They called the Emergency Food

previously felt unattainable and find perfect

collaborating with other organizations. Those

Pantry to get directions and explained their stress

“2020 vision” in our lives. But as the year 2020

first three C’s (compassion + connection +

and discomfort. We registered them and rolled the

progressed and the world navigated its response

collaboration) support the community.

grocery cart of food directly to their car so they did

to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people lost this

not have to go near anyone else. They accepted

vision and hopefulness. Decisions about how to

Clients who had struggled with low income and

the food with tears in their eyes and words of

socially distance, provide children’s education at

poverty in the past felt extra pressure as the

gratitude for the pantry and its supporters. A few

home, and pay bills without an income became

world rapidly changed around them. We met new

months later, Richard and Mary returned for a

the norm for many. The stresses of the pandemic

neighbors who had never received assistance

second food basket to make ends meet. All the

impacted the Emergency Food Pantry as well.

before. Clients who had never needed a service

while, each of their family members remained safe,

like a pantry learned firsthand the stress of not

healthy, and fed.

Throughout 2020, the Emergency Food Pantry

knowing where their next meal would come from.

maintained continual service and operated with

As rapidly as the community showed need, the

When we needed to create physical distance and

unique options such as accommodating dietary

Emergency Food Pantry rapidly adapted to fulfill

separate, our community grew. It became stronger.

needs, creating birthday bags for kids, and

these needs.

It became wider. It became more resilient.

providing prenatal vitamins. The “what” we did

Positive growth did not seem possible amidst the One household that requested help for the

one week of the first person testing positive for

first time stands out for me. Shortly after the

COVID-19 in Minnesota and North Dakota, the

coronavirus was named a pandemic, Richard

Emergency Food Pantry changed the client check-

and Mary’s grandchildren moved in with them to

in process and internal processes of preparing

ease the stress for their daughter, Jennifer, who

food baskets. The pantry team was innovative

was a single mother. They had both been retired

and resourceful. From those early days through

for five years. They found themselves caring for

the next nine months of 2020, I observed our

the day-to-day and educational needs of their

values in practice. Our employees and volunteers

grandchildren as Jennifer’s income decreased. They

THANK YOU

remained the same, but the “how” did not. Within

challenges, but as they say, hindsight is 2020.

Thank you,

Stacie Loegering, Executive Director

2020 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

EMPLOYEES

Bob Rohla, President

Aaron Nissen

Stacie

Hailey

Sonja Hunter, Vice President

Caileen Heuertz

Andrea

Emily

Tim Rhode, Secretary

Melissa Schmidt

Greta

Carissa

Berta Schmidt, Treasurer

Wayne Hankel Megan Myrdal

& short term temporary employees

VOLUNTEERS Regularly scheduled churches, service clubs, & local business

GOVERNMENT MISCELLANEOUS

1%

2020 FINANCIAL SUMMARY

DONATIONS

$377,286

GRANTS

39%

DONATIONS

57%

GOVERNMENT

$4,096

MISCELLANEOUS $20,071

3%

GRANTS

$262,263

Total Income: $663,716

EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY

CLIENT FOOD & SUPPLY

$106,391

(22% of Total Expences)

EXPENSES

$199,098

(40% of Total Expences)

PERSONNEL

$187,348

(38% of Total Expences)

Total Operating Expenses: $492,837

2020 CLIENT & FOOD STATISTICS Total Individuals Served: 44,524* CHILDREN

ADULTS

SENIORS

19,198

22,695

2,631

*Includes all repeat households served and the total members in those households

Total Carts of Food Provided to Households: 13,927

Total Distributed Pounds of Food: 1,582,603 lbs (Pounds in carts was 1,526,655 and pounds in lobby was 55,948)

Total Unduplicated Households Served: 6,808 *

Total Unduplicated Individuals Served: 21,067 **

*An unduplicated or unique household is defined as the first time a household received services from the pantry in 2020.

**Total unduplicated or unique individuals served is the total number of persons within a unique or unduplicated household.

Total value of distributed food at $1.73/pound: Average household size Average amount of food given per person in carts Value of food given per person

$2,737,903 3 34 lbs $59

THANK YOU TO VOLUNTEERS & THE COMMUNITY

prepack our nonperishable

Moorhead, First Lutheran, First Presbyterian,

foods. To reduce potential

First United Methodist, Flame of Faith

risk, we began to collect

United Methodist, Good Shepherd Lutheran

our food and nonfood

Church of Moorhead, Grace Lutheran,

donations in a pallet box

Grace Methodist, Holy Spirit Catholic, Hope

instead of weighing each

Lutheran, Immanuel Lutheran, Kindred

donation separately. There

Lutheran, Living Hope Baptist, Lutheran

are many individuals,

Church of the Cross, Lutheran Church of

churches, businesses,

the Good Shepherd, Messiah Lutheran,

As the number of individuals and families

and groups that are not

Nativity Catholic, Norman Lutheran, Our

in need of food has grown in past years, so has the number of volunteers. Businesses, churches, service clubs, and individuals have made a strong web of volunteers that accomplish the pantry’s goals. But in the early spring of 2020, that changed. Health officials named the novel coronavirus a pandemic and social distancing was recommended.

Some volunteers opted to stop volunteering for a while. Businesses, churches, and community groups were asked to minimize group gatherings. In a short period of time, it was recommended that people wear masks to reduce the risk of transmitting the airborne virus. More volunteers chose to stop volunteering. When the needs of clients increased and it seemed nearly impossible to keep up, Drekker and Community Living Services stepped forward to fill the gap. At a time that was so uncertain for them, they paved the way for us and set a foundation of success to ensure there was no gap in services.

A special thank you to Gate City Bank for providing canvas shopping bags so we could

listed below due to the change in accepting

Savior’s Lutheran, Plymouth Congregational,

donations to reduce COVID-19 risks, but they

Pontoppidan Lutheran, Prairie Heights,

are all more than deserving of our recognition

Presentation Sisters, Shepherd of the Prairie,

and thanks.

St. Anne & Joachim, St. Anthony’s Catholic, St. Benedict’s Catholic, St. Mark’s Lutheran, and

Churches have been instrumental in the success of the Emergency Food Pantry from the beginning. We owe a special thanks to the following churches and congregations who continued to support the mission through the pandemic: Atonement Lutheran, Bethel Evangelical Free, Bethlehem Lutheran, Calvary United Methodist, Christ the King, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Community Presbyterian, Elim Lutheran, Faith Lutheran, First Baptist Church, First Congregational Church UCC - Fargo, First Congregational Church UCC -

St. Mary’s Catholic.

Group, COSTCO, Dakota Medical Foundation, Dawson Insurance/

COVID-19 grant dollars became available and local

March & McLennan, Department of Commerce (Economic

businesses stepped up to provide us with

Resiliency Grant), Drekker, Fargo Elks Lodge 260,

goods and services to increase safety and

Family Fare, Fargo Gateway Lions, Fargo Optimists,

enhance client services. We are grateful to Codelation, Emerging Digital Academy,

Fargo Retired Teacher’s Association, FM Area

Express Employment Professionals,

Foundation, FM Sertoma, Food of the North,

Floor to Ceiling Carpet-One, NetCenter

Gate City Bank, Girl Scouts, Great Plains Food

Technologies, Office Sign Company,

Bank, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches,

Preference Employment Solutions, S&L

Growing Together Gardens, Heartland Trust Co.,

Computers, and Tellwell for providing

Hornbacher’s, Impact Foundation, Knights of Columbus – Holy Spirit, Master Gardeners, Matt’s

services as we increased pantry

Automotive Service Center, Marvin Windows,

employees, equipment, and technology.

Microsoft, Minnkota Power, Moorhead Kiwanis, Moorhead Midday Lions, MSUM, ND Community

Our services continued because of the dedication and the support from many in the community. As volunteers dwindled to remain safe in their homes, other volunteers and staff stepped up. As spring food drives were

870 unique volunteers served 19,840 hours

Foundation, NDSU, Northern Lights Dental, Offutt Foundation, PEO, Prairie St. John’s, Prinsco, Rapid Refill, RDO, Real Property Services, Regency Title,

(These hours are equivalent to 9.5 full-time workers. At $10.00 an hour that

Rough Riders Kiwanis, Royal Neighbors

is nearly $200,000 worth of labor.)

of America, Scheels, Sertoma, SENDCAA (COVID-19 funding), Small Business

cancelled, other opportunities became available. In addition to our yearly donors, we had many new

Association (PPP Loan Forgiveness), Southpoint Kiwanis, Spartan

partners align with our mission. We are so grateful for the support

Nash, Sun Butter, Telephone Pioneers, Thrivent, Trilogy Real Estate,

from individuals who donated portions of their stimulus checks,

Ulteig Engineering, UNFI, United Way of Cass-Clay, USDA People

paychecks, and saving accounts; individuals and churches who donated

Garden, US Bank, Valley Senior Services, Verizon, Veterans Affairs,

food, hygiene products, boxes, and bags; individuals and churches

VFW #762, Wells Fargo, and Wenck Associates.

who provided volunteers; as well as Adric Inc., AgCountry, Alex Stern Family Foundation, Altrusa, Anonymous Donors, Anonymous Fund,

2020 looked different than any other year. However, food remained a

APEX, BCBS North Dakota Caring Foundation, Bell Bank, Boy Scouts,

need for all. The Emergency Food Pantry was able to continue services

Carol Widman’s, CashWise, Cass County Area Retired Teachers,

due to tremendous community support.

Cass County Electric Cooperative, Caterpillar Remanufacturing, City of Fargo (COVID-19 CARES Grant), City of Moorhead, Community Living Services (CLS), Community Options, Concordia, Copper River

2% 3% USDA FILL THE DOME (2019)

4%

PURCHASED FOOD

2020 SOURCES OF FOOD 39%

GREAT PLAINS FOOD BANK

52%

LOCAL BUSINESS

*Great Plains Food Bank (GPFB) is the regional food bank. GPFB runs the Daily Bread program which recovers surplus product and distributes to organizations such as the Emergency Food Pantry (EFP) that directly feed people in need of food. Also, each month EFP can order food from GPFB. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) which provides federal food to food pantries throughout the United States.

Emergency Food Pantry 1101 4th Avenue North Fargo, ND 58102 701-237-9337 EmergencyFoodPantry.com

2022 50 YEARS OF SERVICE 2021 is an important year for the Emergency Food Pantry. As we transition out of our COVID-19 pandemic response, we transition into our 50th year of service in 2022. Our organization began from an idea among MSUM Social Work students in 1970. Their idea lit a spark that allowed a group of churches to start the Emergency Food Pantry two years later.

This organization has continued to provide nourishment to those in need in our community since that time.

We wish to honor and remember those who made the pantry possible and those who received support from the pantry. If you or someone you know has a connection to the pantry, please consider sharing your story or experience to enhance our organization’s history. Email us at contact@emergencyfoodpantry.com Please check out our newly updated website at www.emergencyfoodpantry.com and sign up for digital newsletters to stay informed about our exciting 50 year celebrations to be held in 2022.

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