Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Sets Up Emergency Pick Up and Drop Off Location at 1001 Blair Drive

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Apr 19, 2011—RALEIGH, NC

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (IFFS) is distributing food directly to people impacted by the Tornadoes. People experiencing food hardship may come to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle headquarters, located at 1001 Blair Drive (off of Centennial Drive near the State Farmers Market). IFFS Staff and volunteers are in the parking lot distributing food and accepting donations.

If You or Someone You Know Needs Food

Come to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, 1001 Blair Drive, in Raleigh, NC to receive emergency supplies of food Or call (919) 250-0043 to find a partner agency distributing food

If You Would Like to Help

Donate online www.foodshuttle.org

Come to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, 1001 Blair Drive, in Raleigh, NC to volunteer or to donate food. No need to call, just come. We are accepting volunteers all week to help sort nonperishable food in the warehouse. Volunteers may come between 8am and 4pm and should wear closed-toed shoes and dress for the weather. The warehouse might be warm.

Donate Food. Items most needed:

• WATER and juice
• pop top fruit cups and meats like tuna and chicken
• Deli items such as sandwiches and salads
• Snack items such as granola bars and snack crackers
• Cereal

· Donate Money/Gas Cards

In addition to running this emergency service, IFFS trucks are on the roads delivering healthy, nutritious food throughout the Triangle to 212 partner agencies, including the Red Cross, and performing direct distribution programs through mobile markets, grocery bags, BackBack Buddies and community gardens programs.

Members of the media please contact: Melissa Hartzell (919) 414-2069 or Jill Staton Bullard (919) 812-1885. Members of the public call (919) 250-0043.

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ABOUT INTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has been increasing access to healthy, fresh produce and food for low-income community members for more than 22 years. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a non-traditional Food Bank of Feeding America and United Way Agency of Excellence.

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle Delivers Emergency Food to Triangle Without Power of Phones at Headquarters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Apr 18, 2011—RALEIGH, NC

Responding to the emergency need for food in the Triangle after this weekend's series of tornadoes, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is delivering food today to non-profit agencies across the Triangle. Without power or phones, more than ten refrigerated trucks are on the roads delivering healthy, nutritious food. IFFS staff members are using cell phones to assess the needs of the 212 partner agencies, rerouting trucks and sending food to soup kitchens, pantries and other emergency agencies so they can feed victims of the storm and members of the community experiencing food hardship.

Jill Staton Bullard, the co-founder and executive director of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, commented, "All of us here at the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle are working to collect food and deliver it to people who have lost everything and to people who are hungry. Beyond the network of our agencies, we are delivering to parking lots where people are in need."

To make food donations, please call Don Eli (919)609-0939 To make monetary donations, please donate online www.foodshuttle.org. Members of the media please contact: Melissa Hartzell (919) 414-2069 or Jill Staton Bullard (919) 812-1885.

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ABOUT INTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has been increasing access to healthy, fresh produce and food for low-income community members for more than 22 years. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a non-traditional Food Bank of Feeding America and United Way Agency of Excellence.

The Food Effect

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Apr 07, 2011—RALEIGH, NC

The North Carolina Association of Feeding America Food Banks and the North Carolina Pork Council (NCPC) have joined to launch an Internet-based campaign to combat childhood hunger in the state.

The effort is called The Food Effect. It is being driven by an online network designed to unite people in the fight against childhood hunger and the negative impact it can have on childhood development.

Introduced in early April, The Food Effect website (TheFoodEffect.org) is enabling people to give money or time to the food bank in their area via one of N. C.'s seven regional food bank organizations, and to create discussion of the hunger issue within their social networks.

The campaign is in reaction to the fact that North Carolina continues to struggle with high levels of unemployment and is among the nation's worst states in the number of citizens in need of food. This holds true even more for North Carolina's children. According to a Feeding America study, North Carolina is tied with Louisiana for the highest percentage of hungry children one in four under age five.

Alan Briggs, executive director of the N. C. Association of Feeding America Food Banks, said, "We have been fortunate to be generously supported in North Carolina. However, the hunger problem is growing exponentially in a time when resources are under great strain."

Jill Staton Bullard, the co-founder and executive director of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, commented, "All of us here at the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle are excited about this statewide partnership and look forward to a sustained fundraising success that will help support our innovative solutions to create a hunger-free community."

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community. These solutions focus on addressing the two major factors that create food hardship: Lack of Income and Lack of Access to nutritious food with a specific focus on addressing nutrition and health by delivering appropriate foods such as fresh local produce. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is one of North Carolina's seven regional food bank organizations.

Bullard added, "The Food Effect will help increase awareness, solicit support, and acquire the food and funds necessary to help the more than 249,200 people experiencing food hardship in the greater Triangle".

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has served the Greater Triangle area since 1989, working to alleviate the ever- growing problem of hunger. IFFS actively serves children, adults, families and the elderly through proactive hunger relief programs including local fresh food recovery, job training programs in both culinary and farm skills, nutrition education through Share Our Strength's Cooking Matters classes, and by helping to grow the Community Garden movement.

Deborah Johnson, chief executive officer of the NCPC, commented, "Our industry is in a unique position to help the food banks drive this campaign. We are also proud to be associated with the Feeding America food banks and commend them on their invaluable work over the years."

During 2010, North Carolina's Feeding America food banks distributed more than 100 million pounds of nutritious food and other grocery products to more than 1,434,000 different North Carolinians.

The campaign's kickoff was announced on April 7 at a joint press conference held by Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and N. C. House Speaker Thom Tillis.

Working as a statewide coalition, members of The Food Effect will attempt to communicate with anyone showing interest in the issue, including relevant organizations' memberships, church members, students, professionals, hourly workers, members of Congress, state legislators and the media.

For more information about the Food Effect, contact Melissa Hartzell at Inter-Faith Food Shuttle office (919) 250-0043, mobile (919) 414-2069 or email Melissa@foodshuttle.org.

Raleigh Soroptimists to Confer Awards for Women

Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC will host its annual Triangle Women of Distinction Awards Celebration on April 14. Three signature awards of Soroptimist International will be presented. A keynote presentation by local award-winning CEO and Senior Marketing Strategist Olalah Njenga will follow a reception and silent auction. Five area women, including Jill Staton Bullard, founding Executive Director of the Inter-faith Food Shuttle, will be honored. Three signature awards of Soroptimist International will be presented by Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC at its Triangle Women of Distinction Awards Celebration on April 14. The event, beginning with a reception and silent auction, from 6 to 9 PM at The Woman's Club of Raleigh, 3300 Woman's Club Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612. Olalah Njenga,award-winning CEO and Senior Marketing Strategist with the YellowWood Group will inspire attendees as she addresses the topic, "Is This Your Breakthrough Year?" Angela Hampton, Community Affairs Specialist and host of Heart of Carolina Perspectives on ABC11, will preside as Mistress of Ceremonies.

Local Soroptimist President Pamela Sinclair states, "This event is an important part of our program in Raleigh. Two of the awards help our recipients financially and two include contributions to other non-profit organizations. We are proud to present these awards and we rely on this annual celebration to honor the recipients, bring awareness of our program, and raise funds for projects that improve women's lives."

The three awards include: the Woman's Opportunity Award, which helps a woman with a family to support improve her economic status through education and training; the Violet Richardson Award, which recognizes a young lady between 14 and 17 for her exemplary volunteer efforts, and also includes a donation to her chosen nonprofit; and the Soroptimist Ruby Award, given in honor of a woman in the community who has made an extraordinary difference for women through her professional or personal activities.

The Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women will recognize Jill Staton Bullard, Executive Director of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. A $500 donation will be made in her honor. Bullard co-founded the Food Shuttle with her friend Maxine Solomon in 1989 and was its first active volunteer. Her charisma and passion have propelled the organization's growth from a small grass-roots movement to a driving force in the fight against hunger. Under Bullard's leadership, two programs of particular import to women have been implemented: BackPack Buddies serves mothers and families by providing weekend food to children who are otherwise fed through the weekday programs in the schools; and the Culinary Training Program which provides skills that lead to long term employment. More than 150 women have graduated since its inception in 1989, with 70% maintaining employment with a living wage.

Elizabeth Stewart, a senior at St. David's School in Raleigh, will receive the Violet Richardson Award for her work with Stop Child Trafficking Now (SCTNow), an organization seeking to stop trafficking by working to identify and prosecute perpetrators. She will receive $750 and SCTNow will be given $250 in her honor.

The Woman's Opportunity Award will be presented to Venus Flores, who helped raise her own siblings, then became a mother to four children: two of her own and two she took in when their father was incarcerated. She states "I want to work hard so I can give my family the life I couldn't have." The $1500 unrestricted grant will assure her ability to get her Associate's Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling at Vance-Granville Community College in 2011. Flores' ultimate goal is a Bachelor's Degree, and operation of an after-school center that will keep children safe and out of harm's way. Two runners-up will each receive $500.

Local recipients of the Violet Richardson Award and the Woman's Opportunity Award are also considered for further recognition at higher levels of the Soroptimist International organization. Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC has awarded $20,000 through its awards program since 2005. More information about the event and the organization is available at their website, www.soroptimist.org, or by calling Soroptimist at 919-386-9910.

Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC Founded in 1921, Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization of business and professional women. The name, Soroptimist, means "Best for Women." The mission of Soroptimist is to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC, chartered in 1987, is a 501(c) (3) organization solely run and operated by volunteers. Locally, Soroptimist is focused on helping women achieve economic independence, ending domestic violence against women and their Triangle Women of Distinction Awards. For more information on ways to help, how to donate or how to become a volunteer, and/or become a member, visit www.soroptimistraleigh.org.

Unprecedented New Study Paints a Detailed Portrait of Food Insecurity in Greater Triangle

GREATER TRIANGLE FACES 15 PERCENTILE FOR FOOD INSECURITY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mar 24, 2011

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, today released a landmark study, “Map the Meal Gap,” providing the first detailed look at the food budget needed by families struggling with hunger here in the Greater Triangle Area each year – an estimated $687,208,350.

“Tonight there are nearly a quarter of a million people facing food hardship in the Triangle,” said co-Founder and Executive Director Jill Staton Bullard. “Nearly 16% of our neighbors may be hungry. Income and access to healthy food are the barriers for families desperate to bring home healthy nutritious meals.”

The study takes a look at ‘meals’ in a whole new way, using county-level data on food costs from The Nielsen Company to break down the food budget shortfall of our residents into an approximation of the meals missing from the tables of people at risk of hunger in the Triangle each year.

“Map the Meal Gap” showed thatthe average cost of a meal in the Triangle is close to the National average cost of a meal $2.54 and that food insecurity remains a major problem in North Carolina,” said Bullard.

Map the Meal Gap provides the following data for the Greater Triangle in the United States in an interactive map format:

• 15.8% of the Triangle population is food insecure: 27.6% Edgecombe County, 20.7%, Nash County, 17% Johnston County, 16.7% Durham county, 14.7 % Orange county, 14.5% Chatham, and 14.3% Wake County .
• 65% of the food insecure population in the Triangle qualify based on income for SNAP (Foods Stamps) and other federal nutrition programs.
• 35% of the food insecure population in the Triangle do NOT qualify for federal nutrition programs and often rely on charitable food assistance programs.
• They need better wages and employment opportunities to help them meet their basic needs.
•  The average price per meal is $2.49, based on new research by The Nielsen Company.

“The interactive map will, for the first time, allow policy makers, state agencies, corporate partners and individual advocates to look at the same data in order to develop integrated strategies to fight hunger on a community by community level,” concluded Bullard.

The findings of “Map the Meal Gap” are based on statistics collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Census Bureau, and food price data from The Nielsen Company. The study was supported by The Howard G. Buffett Foundation and Nielsen.

ABOUT INTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE

The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has been increasing access to healthy, fresh produce for low-income community members for 21 years. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle has partnered with Share Our Strength to run Cooking Matters classes in the Triangle since 2008. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a non-traditional Food Bank of Feeding America and an United Way Agency of Excellence. For more information visit www.foodshuttle.org.

ABOUT FEEDING AMERICA

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to 37 million Americans each year, including nearly 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

Plant a Row for the Hungry -- Campaign Kick-Off Event at Logan's Trading Company

EVERY GARDENER CAN HELP FEED OUR NEIGHBORS FACING FOOD INSECURITY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mar 02, 2011—RALEIGH, NC

Logan Trading Company, in partnership with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, is gearing up for its 3rd annual Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) kick-off to encourage all gardeners to grow a little extra produce to donate to the hungry and homeless. The kick-off event will be on Saturday, March 12th, from 11am to 5:30pm at Logan Trading Company, 707 Semart Drive, in downtown Raleigh. It will include activities for children, talks on growing and harvesting fruits and vegetables, and special give-aways.

PLANT A ROW FOR THE HUNGRY

Plant a Row for the Hungry (PAR) is a national campaign begun by the Garden Writers Association in 1995 that encourages garden communities and individuals to donate fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers to people in need. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is the Triangle's PAR partner, distributing your produce to local food pantries, shelters, and other hunger-relief organizations.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Food donations can be brought to Logan's during normal business hours, and donations of seeds, gently used tools, canned and dried foods are always welcome.

Last year, the Logan's community donated 6,454 lbs. to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. This year, Logan's goal is to get to 10,000 lbs!

"A fruit or vegetable, like tomato or spinach, a day is out of reach for more than 50 million Americans," commented Jill Staton Bullard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. "For more than 21 years we've been providing healthy, nutritious food to our neighbors who are food insecure. Our Plant-A-Row partnership with Logan's helps gather fresh produce and share with our neighbors who do not have access to healthy, affordable food in our community."

"It may be hard to imagine, but the face of hunger in the Triangle isn't just homeless people in our downtowns: It is the face of an elderly neighbor choosing between food and medication. It is the working parent who earns too much to qualify for food stamps so she goes without in order to feed her children. It is the middle class family dealing with job loss and relying on the local food pantry for donations," said Leslie Logan, general manager. "Everyone can do something to help alleviate hunger in our community. Donating as little as one pound of fresh produce ? a few tomatoes or a couple of squash ? can supplement up to four meals for a person in need."

Logan's is a local, independent, family-owned garden center dedicated to fostering happy, healthy and beautiful communities.

Obesity & Hunger Affect Same Population; Learn More From the Triangle Experts

Low-income and food insecure people are especially vulnerable to obesity due to the additional risk factors associated with poverty. Part of the Triangle's long-term solution to hunger is Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's Cooking Matters program.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mar 01, 2011—RALEIGH, NC

"While all segments of the population are affected by obesity, low-income and food insecure people are especially vulnerable due to the additional risk factors associated with poverty, " commented Katherine Andrew, Director of Nutrition, Farm and Gardens for Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. "Today, with close to 15% of all North Carolinians facing food insecurity, we are fifth highest in the nation, and approximately two-thirds of adults in our state are overweight or obese. "

Cooking Matters allows Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to provide a long-term solution to hunger by empowering participants to make educated choices about how to grow, cook, and eat the best food possible. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is Share Our Strength's North Carolina Presenting Partner for "Cooking Matters" and "Shopping Matters".

"Providing nutritious food is our top priority! Our goal is to give people the confidence and ability to be more self-sufficient and improve their eating habits and food budgeting skills, " said Jill Staton Bullard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. "For more than 21 years we've been providing healthy, nutritious food to our neighbors who are food insecure. Our partnership with Share Our Strength helps us to empower these families at risk of hunger with the skills and confidence to make healthy and affordable meals from the food we provide. "

THE PROBLEM - Did you realize?

• An apple a day is out of reach for more than 50 million Americans. [1]
• In 2009, North Carolina ranked 11th in the nation for childhood obesity at 18.6%[2] and 10th in the nation for adult obesity with nearly two-thirds (65.7%) of adults being overweight OR obese[3]
• More than 14.7 percent of American households do not have access at times to nutritious foods. [4]
• At 20.3% in 2009, North Carolina ranks second in the nation for the highest food insecurity rate for children under age 5. [5]
• There are more than 111,000 children at risk of hunger here in the Triangle. This is just the number of children on free and reduced lunch and not even fully representative of all of the children who are food insecure.

WORKING TOWARD SOLUTIONS

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is one of 26 partners nationally implementing the Cooking Matters program through Share Our Strength. Cooking Matters in a nutrition based culinary program focused on teaching low income community members how to shop for, prepare, and eat nutritious foods on a budget. Cooking Matters classes run for 6-weeks, and are taught by volunteer chefs and nutrition instructors. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle also incorporates a gardening component into our Cooking Matters classes, helping participants learn where their food comes from and how to grow good food of their own.

Cooking Matters classes and curriculum are offered to kids, youth, adults, families, young parents, and child care providers. There are addendums to the adult curriculum for people living with Diabetes and for people living with HIV/AIDS. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is currently partnering with North Carolina State University's Nutrition Department in Wake County and with the Community Nutrition Partnership in Orange County to spread the reach of Cooking Matters classes across the state.

TRIANGLE COOKING MATTERS 2010/2011 HIGHLIGHTS

• Reached 385 participants (225 kids/teens; 115 adults), and graduated 301 (214 kids/teen; 95 adults) in 2010.
• Increased Cooking Matters courses from 28 classes in 2009 to 39 classes in 2010, and projecting 42 classes for 2011.
• Prepared over 450 healthy recipes with participants in 2010.
• Engaged 144 professional volunteer instructors who gave over 500 volunteer hours in 2010.
• Walmart donated a truck to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and awarded Share Our Strength a $1.5 million grant to fund the expansion of the "Cooking Matters" program and launch of the "Shopping Matters" nutrition education programs.

March is National Nutrition Month®. National Nutrition Month® is an education and information campaign sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association.

Impact of Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" Campaign and Walmart Announcement in North Carolina

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jan 20, 2011—RALEIGH, NC

"We celebrate today's announcement and the First Lady's commitment, " said Jill Staton Bullard, co-founder and executive director of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. "We have been providing healthy food for people who don't have access for 21 years and celebrate our partners in their efforts. " The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (IFFS) has been increasing access to healthy, fresh produce for low-income community members for 21 years. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community. IFFS has partnered with Share Our Strength to run Cooking Matters classes in the Triangle since 2008.

In 2010, Walmart donated a truck to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and awarded Share Our Strength a $1.5 million grant to fund the expansion of the "Cooking Matters" program and launch of the "Shopping Matters" nutrition education programs. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is Share Our Strengths' North Carolina Presenting Partner for "Cooking Matters" and "Shopping Matters".
Cooking Matters allows Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to provide a long-term solution to hunger by empowering participants to make educated choices about how to grow, cook, and eat the best food possible. Our goal is to give people the confidence and ability to be more self-sufficient and improve their eating habits and food budgeting skills. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's 2010 Impact

• Rescued more than 6.5 million pounds of food (8% increase over last year) from more than 300 donors using a fleet of 13 refrigerated vehicles
• Delivered food to 212 programs & agencies in 7 counties
• Distributed 30,610 backpacks filled with 183,660 nutritious weekend meals to children at 31 sites
• Provided 21,449 grocery bags (more than 425 per week) to low-income seniors and families
• Graduated 25 life-challenged adults from our Culinary Job Training Program
• Produced more than 15,000 pounds of fresh, organic produce on our local Raleigh farm
• Expanded our community gardens into 4 communities and 1 school engaging 1,374 participants and 320 volunteers
• Held 39 six-week nutrition education classes with 357 participants, using Cooking Matters from Share Our Strength
• Utilized 43, 383 volunteer hours (worth $904,535.55) to benefit our community

Specifically, IFFS' Cooking Matters:

• Served 365 families
• Ran 39 Cooking Matters classes with adults, teens, children.
• Prepared over 450 healthy recipes with participants.
• Engaged 144 professional volunteer instructors who gave over 500 volunteer hours.

About Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle pioneers innovative, transformative solutions designed to end hunger in our community.