BackPack Buddies: Coming To An Office Near You!

I typically do not go to offices and do packings ... usually groups come into our warehouse. However, I was approached about loading up the truck and bringing my show on the road by Johnson Lambert & Co Accounting. Despite being right smack in the middle of tax season they really wanted to do something to help the BackPack Buddies Program. So I agreed to come to their office with lots of food and backpacks to be assembled. When I arrived they helped me unload the truck and set-up. After which they pointed out the pile of food they had collected for BackPack Buddies in addition to wanting to pack backpacks. It weighed out at 363 lbs! They were extremely generous and helpful to use their valuable time to help out children in their communtiy. The packing went great! They finished in about 30 mintues and helped load the truck up. I truly appreciate the help and hope to do it again in the future!

-Kyle

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.

Conversation about Community Gardening with Biostatistician Jill Litt

Earlier this month, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s (IFFS) Nutrition, Farms and Gardens team had the pleasure of being among the first to view Jill Litt’s documentary, “A Garden In Every Neighborhood” at the Wake County Agricultural Services building. Dr. Litt, Associate Professor at the University of Colorado School of Public Health, is a leading researcher in public and environmental health and has been studying the impacts of community gardens on individuals and neighborhoods in Denver. Her documentary provided a first-hand glimpse of how gardens give residents a sense of belonging to a community, increase trust and reciprocity, and help to promote healthy behavior.  Learning about the nearly 100 community gardens and the impressive effects they have had on a diverse number of communities across Denver left everyone energized and hopeful for the future of the local food system in Wake County.

Later that morning, Dr. Litt joined us for lunch at the IFFS farm.  Under the trees near the main production field, we enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by IFFS’s own Training Chef, Will Hall.  We shared our commitment to work with communities to grow their own gardens, as well as the local and state efforts to advocate and form partnerships that will support the local food system.

The day would not have been complete without a tour of the farm from Steven Horton, IFFS Assistant Farm Manager, where we saw the greenhouse and seedlings soon to be planted, vermicomposting operations, chickens and newly-built mobile chicken tractor. Throughout the tour, Food Shuttle staff seized the opportunity to ask Dr. Litt about her work and learn about the challenges and successes of growing gardens in urban Denver.

Dr. Litt’s visit not only inspired and energized us but helped us to understand the research that is going on to support community gardens, as well as how other communities have addressed the barriers that exist in community garden work across the country.

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.

Dig In! Community Gardens Summit March 5

Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is excited to announce the second annual Dig In community garden summit will be March 5 at Marbles Kids Museum. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited and pre-registration is required. Sponsored by Advocates for Health in Action, Dig In will feature local urban farming and gardening experts, hands-on workshops and educational booths -all designed to help the community dig in and grow fresh, healthy food. Staff from the Nutrition, Farms and Gardens department at Inter-Faith Food Shuttle will be presenting a garden planning and design workshop. Market Restaurant will host a benefit dinner on Wed., Feb. 23, to help raise money for AHA projects that further community gardens and local food initiatives in Wake County. Dine at Market any time between 5:30 and 10 pm on Feb. 23, and 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit Dig In. A health-focused eatery in downtown Raleigh, Market Restaurant is committed to serving fresh, seasonal dishes made entirely of locally grown ingredients. A variety of child-friendly food options are available and every attempt is made to accommodate special diets. Call-ahead seating is recommended; call 754-0900. Market Restaurant is located at 938 N. Blount St. in the historic Mordecai neighborhood in downtown Raleigh.

"We are thrilled to have Market's support for Dig In and local community gardens," commented Laura Aiken, executive director of AHA and Community Health Specialist at WakeMed Health & Hospitals. "Community gardens are increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables," Aiken continued. "Schools, churches, neighborhoods, community groups and other nonprofits can capitalize on the excitement around sustainable food systems, connect people with where their food comes from and promote environmentally friendly living."

Advocates for Health in Action (AHA) is a group of more than 50 diverse organizations and community members, including the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, who are shaping the environment throughout Wake County so healthful eating and physical activity are the way of life. AHA works to achieve its mission by shaping policy and environments that ensure available and affordable access to healthful foods and physical activity for all community members.

See you all at this year's Dig In summit on March 5!

US Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at NCSU

Earlier this week, US Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Dr. Kathleen Merrigan kicked off her nationwide ”Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” College Tour here in North Carolina. The Center For Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) hosted Merrigan for free lectures at N.C. A&T State University and at N.C. State University February 9. As a national leader in the sustainable food movement, Merrigan spoke at NCSU’s Danbey Hall to an auditorium full of students, professors, farmers, chefs, and concerned citizens. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle (IFFS) staff had a moment to chat with the Deputy Secretary as she toured the NCSU Campus Farmers’ Market with CEFS. Farm Manager Steven Horton and Young Farmer Training Program Coordinator Mitra Sticklen had a chance to meet Dr. Merrigan and explain a bit about IFFS internship and training programs. She wished us the best of luck with these programs and suggested that there should be more programs like ours across the nation. Just a few hours later, many IFFS team members attended her NCSU lecture.

Merrigan’s approach toward whole-system food security is exciting because it connects all the pieces of our broken food system. She explained that the linked problems of diabetes, obesity, food insecurity, and malnutrition could be solved with combined efforts to practice healthy eating habits from an early age and create more local farms. Building a culture of healthy communities who eat fresh food within a vibrant local economy is the basic idea for Merrigan’s “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” campaign.  Her approach is to promote regional food systems by creating equal access to healthy food and new jobs, and focusing on young leaders to transform the food system.

In a nod to other successful programs at a national level, Merrigan highlighted the first anniversary of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative to fight childhood obesity and promote healthier lifestyles. Merrigan applauded Michelle Obama for bringing children’s diets in school and at home into the national conversation.

A USDA Press Release from the NCSU lecture quotes Merrigan as saying:

“The Obama Administration believes this is a historic opportunity to help win the future by laying a new foundation for economic growth, creating jobs and building and revitalizing critical infrastructure here in North Carolina and in rural communities across America through supporting and establishing local and regional food systems as an economic development strategy to keep wealth in local communities,”

In addition to offering many options for USDA internships for students in the audience, Merrigan also directed young leaders to apply for FoodCorps , a “yearlong term of public service in school food systems. Once stationed, FoodCorps members will build Farm to School supply chains, expand food system and nutrition education programs, and build and tend school food gardens.”  North Carolina is one of ten states chosen for 2011 FoodCorps through a partnership between CEFS and 4-H, and Merrigan urged audience members to join this year of service for North Carolina’s school food system.

The USDA team engaged the audience with interactive remotes, and Merrigan quizzed attendees about everything from nutrition education to profitable crops in North Carolina. Here are a few interesting statistics from her presentation:

• 73% of the USDA budget is for nutrition education
• 43.4 million Americans (that’s 1 in 7) are on SNAP, formerly called Food Stamps
• 1 in 4 SNAP dollars are redeemed at Walmart
• 45% of the food dollars spent in Detroit are SNAP dollars

Yikes! You can see from these numbers that our food system is in serious trouble, and we need some serious game-changers to face these challenges.

Merrigan briefly fielded a few questions about local crop sources in the military (see more on this blog), and a question from IFFS Farm Educator Sun Butler about organic farmers and a recent USDA recent decision to deregulate genetically engineered crops. While her response to this question was short and opened the doors for further discussion, she pointed to a strategy of “coexistance” between farmers who use organic methods and farmers who use genetically engineered crops. Merrigan closed simply by saying,

“Not every family needs an accountant. Not every family needs a laywer. But every family needs a farmer…Do you know yours?”

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.

VOTE NOW and VOTE AGAIN TOMORROW, and the NEXT DAY, ETC

The Junior League of Raleigh and the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle are partnering together in a submission to the Pepsi Refresh Project to provide Backpacks to 126 children allowing them to bring nutritious food home on the weekends. Go to http://www.refresheverything.com/jlr for more information and to VOTE for this exciting project.

*You can also vote a second time each day using your mobile phone.

Text 103160 to Pepsi (73774). Standard Text messaging rates may apply.