Food Matters: Surprise! Garden-grown veggies are delicious!

Last Monday, a Learning Disabled (LD) class from PACE Academy participated in a Food Matters activity at Hargraves Community Center in Chapel Hill.  The IFFS Food Matters program offers one-time education activities covering diverse topics including shopping on a budget, tips for healthy cooking, home gardening, seasonal eating, and other nutrition principles. The class had been working in Parks & Recreation of Orange County’s Learning Garden every Monday throughout the fall.  In this Food Matters lesson, the PACE students  got to learn how to make a fresh and tasty meal, using the same types of veggies and herbs the students have been planting and growing in the Learning Garden. They made Veggie Whole Wheat Pizza with Swiss Chard – a healthy spin on an old favorite! Volunteer Nutritionist Maria Garrido gave the students  a quick interactive lesson on vegetables, whole grain, the benefits of eating local (and how more local can you get than out of your own garden?),  and the importance of eating a balanced diet with appropriate portion sizes.

Topics covered included

• The difference between whole wheat and white flour (we used a whole wheat pizza crust)
• What parts of the vegetables we eat (roots, stems, leaves, flowers) and examples of each
• What local means and how it benefits us nutritionally, reduces transportation costs, supports local farmers, provides variety in our diet as the produce varies seasonally, and is good for the environment
• How different colored vegetables help us stay healthy in different ways

Then it was time to make the pizzas! The students got some first-hand cooking experience, guided by Maria. They took turns chopping onions, garlic, and kale, and rolling out the pizza dough. Then the students helped sauté the onions, garlic, and kale together, and top the pizza!

When the pizzas were done baking, we had a feast! Along with the freshly baked pizzas, we had a salad – the students had also been growing red leaf lettuce! Some of the students were wary of this healthy veggie whole wheat pizza, claiming only to like pepperoni and cheese pizza on white bread crusts. “I don’t like vegetables,” some claimed.

Despite these initial hesitancies, they soon gobbled up the entire meal, declaring it delicious. They were surprised how good healthy can taste, and many even wanted seconds! What a difference learning new ways to prepare vegetables can make!

Shepherd's House in Durham

In November, seven teens graduated from Cooking Matters at Shepherd's House in Durham!

Fall Festival

In October, Food Matters volunteers shared healthy recipes and samples at the Irvin Nature Preserve, where one of the IFFS farms is located in Orange County.

When the "Shuttle" in Food Shuttle Breaks Down

Hello, Food Shuttle fans! My name is Mollie Mayfield, aka “Scoop” around here, and I’m the new Communications Coordinator at IFFS. I’m working with the Food Shuttle through an Americorps program called Public Allies, a program geared towards leadership development, non-profit apprenticeships, and social change. My role at the food shuttle is to tell our organization’s story and serve as an internal reporter – getting the “scoop” on what’s happening in all our programs, hence the nickname! This is my fourth week here, and this morning I was supposed to ride in good old Truck # 1 for the first time to document and experience my first mobile market in Princeville, NC at Freedom Hill Community Health Center!  Mobile Markets bring fresh produce into food insecure communities. Through partnerships with health centers, in addition to hunger relief, Mobile Markets provide “prescription produce” to people suffering from obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. This enables patients to follow their doctor’s dietary instructions when they otherwise might be unable to afford to do so through access to fresh, nutritious food.

Needless to say, I was excited to get to witness this first hand, but sadly I never made it to Princeville. Just twenty minutes out, our trusty (only a little) rusty truck starts acting funny. Erick, our driver, looks behind him and sees smoke -  a lot of it! We pull over to the side of the highway and the smoke starts blowing in the vents into the cab. Erick, Jeremiah, a volunteer who was with us, and I all hop out of the truck and see oil gushing from the underside. Erick pops open the hood and more smoke pours out.  It was clear we weren’t going any further. We feared the engine had exploded. Truck # 1 is one of our oldest trucks and had been in and out of the shop, but it may have finally passed the point of no repair. This truck is supposed to be replaced by a grant this winter through Feeding America and the Tepper Foundation - but it can't come soon enough.  As I was sitting on the side of the highway waiting for someone to pick us up, I couldn’t help but think of all of the people who were waiting for us, depending on our arrival to eat that day. It broke my heart to imagine their disappointment and growling stomachs – and just two days before Thanksgiving. When the “shuttle” in food shuttle breaks down, it means hungry families don’t eat.

Volunteers and staff at the Food Shuttle encounter challenges like this on a daily basis, especially in these tough economic times – whether it’s a truck breaking down on the side of the road or not having enough jars of applesauce to put in each backpack of food for hungry children in the Triangle.  But they keep going because doing SOMETHING is better than doing NOTHING.

It is so critical for our trucks to run - we depend on them to pick up the food from grocery stores, catering companies, corporate cafeterias, restaurants, wholesale food brokers, vending companies, and The North Carolina State Farmers Market, and these refrigerated trucks are how we distribute it to over 220 agencies and programs that serve the greater Triangle area - so they get a lot of use!

Until the grant for a new truck comes through, we may have to rent a truck to keep up all our current operations, and this of course, costs money. As we enter the holiday season, please think of the Food Shuttle and those we serve – right here in our own backyards and communities - in this season of giving. Donate today and help us keep our trucks running!

Meanwhile, we'll try again to go to Freedom Hill Community Health Center in a different truck to get that produce to those who are so in need of it. Obstacles like this always arise when you’re doing good work, but we will persist, as our volunteers always do, in the face of these obstacles because we still believe that hunger is unacceptable.

Turkey Takeout 2011

One out of four children are hungry right here in the Triangle. This past Thursday, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle held its 5^th annual “Turkey Takeout” event and distributed 500 turkeys, fresh produce, bread and pies to partner agencies and pantries for 500 families this Thanksgiving.  Without this distribution of food, hundreds of people in our community would go without a holiday meal. Thanks to community support, great food donor partnerships, our wonderful recipient agencies, and volunteers who braved the rain to come help out with this event, IFFS was able to distribute:

• 500 Turkeys
• 1000 lbs of Green Beans
• 7000 lbs of Sweet Potatoes
• 1350 lbs of Cabbage
• 1000 lbs of Collards
• 750 lbs of Croissants
• 625 lbs of Desserts

All of this will go to make sure 500 families who may otherwise not have been able to enjoy a traditional holiday dinner can now do just that.  Pre-approved agencies and pantries sent representatives to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to pick up the meals and distribute them to people living with food hardship. Fords Produce and U.S. Foods provided 2,350 pounds of vegetables (cabbage & green beans), Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's own field gleaning program provided 8,000 pounds of fresh sweet potatoes  and collards gleaned from local NC farms to pair with the 500 turkeys, pies and bread.

“These tough economic times make Inter-Faith Food Shuttle work even harder to end hunger,” said Jill Staton Bullard, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. “We are thrilled to be able to distribute holiday food for 500 families and are grateful to U.S. Foods and Fords Produce for donating fresh produce.”

Some of our recipient agencies included:

• Alliance of Aids Services – Durham
• Community Helpers – Knightdale
• Catholic Parish Outreach – Raleigh
• EL Vinculo - Siler City
• Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry - Newton Grove
• New Jerusalem Pentecostal – Rocky Mount
• Southern High School Pantry – Durham
• El Centro/Stoneybrook - Raleigh
• Tarboro Community Outreach –Tarboro
• Wake Relief – Raleigh
• West Durham Baptist – Durham

The story of EL Vinculo, one benefiting agency in Siler City:

Highlights from the day:

See more pictures on our Flickr or Facebook page!

Agencies Served and Pounds Distributed at Turkey Takeout by Inter-Faith Food Shuttle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov 17, 2011—

LIST OF RECIPIENT AGENCIES & POUNDS OF FOOD

DISTRIBUTED BY INTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE AT TURKEY TAKEOUT 

Raleigh, NC - Today, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle held its 5th annual “Turkey Takeout” event  and distributed 500 turkeys, fresh produce, bread and pies to partner agencies and pantries for families this Thanksgiving.

Food Distributed

• 500 Turkeys
• 1,000 lbs Green Beans
• 7,000 lbs Sweet Potatoes
• 1,350 lbs Cabbage
• 1,000 lbs Collards
• 750 lbs Croissants
• 625 lbs Desserts

List of Recipient Agencies

•  Alliance of Aids Svc – Durham
• Community Helpers – Raleigh
• Catholic Parish Outreach – Raleigh
• DAPPA – Johnston
• Edgerton Memorial UMC - Johnston
• EL Vinculo - Chatham
• Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry - Johnston
• Family Provider Network – Raleigh
• Garner Area Ministries – O/Raleigh
• Juniper Level - Raleigh
• New Jerusalem Pentecostal – Nash
• North Raleigh Ministries – Raleigh
• Open Door Ministries -  Raleigh
• Passage Home - Raleigh
• Positive Generation Development – Edgecombe
• Regeneration Development – Edgecombe
• Rise & Shine Ministries – Durham
• Southern High School Pantry – Durham
• St. Ambrose - Raleigh
• Centro/Stoneybrook - Raleigh
• Tarboro Community Outreach – Edgecombe
• Under One Roof - Raleigh
• Wake Relief – Raleigh
• West Durham Baptist – Durham
• With Love from Jesus – Raleigh

Event Details

Who: Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, partner non-profit agencies and people living with food hardship; major food donations from U.S. Foods and Fords Produce Company.

 What:“Turkey Takeout” distributed more than 500 Thanksgiving family-sized meals

Where: Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, 1001 Blair Drive Raleigh, NC

When: Thursday before Thanksgiving, November 17, 2011between 11AM – 1PM

 How: Pre-approved agencies and pantries sent representatives to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to pick up the meals and distribute to people living with food hardship. Fords Produce and U.S. Foods provided 2,350 pounds of vegetables (cabbage & green beans), Inter-Faith Food Shuttle's field gleaning provided 8,000 pounds of sweet potatoes and collards to pair with the 500 turkeys, pies and bread also provided by the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.

Why:Feeding America, which Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is a member food bank, released earlier this year that 1 in 4 children are hungry here in the Triangle.  Without this distribution of food, hundreds of people in the community would go without a holiday meal.

“These tough economic times make Inter-Faith Food Shuttle work even harder to end hunger,” said Jill Staton Bullard, co-founder and executive director of the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. “We are thrilled to be able to distribute holiday food for 500 families and are grateful to U.S. Foods and Fords Produce for donating fresh produce.”

To find out how to help end hunger in our community, go to www.foodshuttle.org or call 919.250.0043.

# # #

ABOUT INTER-FAITH FOOD SHUTTLE

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 a United Way Agency of Excellence. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle is North Carolina’s Share Our Strength partner agency.  Visit.  Be part of the solution, hold a food drive, volunteer, and donate.  For more information visit www.foodshuttle.org

Contact: Melissa Wajnert Hartzell office (919) 250-0043 cell (919) 414-2069

 

Raleigh Fall Festival 5k and 10k

This past Sunday, over 500 runners raced from beautiful Nash Square through the streets of downtown Raleigh in the 2011 Raleigh Fall Festival 5K and 10K, formally known as the Old Reliable Run. This year, the event benefited the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and raised over $12,500 to feed hungry people in the Triangle! Some of the Food Shuttle’s board members and staff decided to join in the fun, too!  Congratulations to Board member Andy Cook for winning his age group! Thank you to Melanie Reeve, our board chair, for leading the charge, John Walser for bringing Raleigh Fall Festival to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, and to Dan Thompson for helping to make it happen. Thanks also to our staff and volunteers who worked so hard on Sunday!

Thanks to Mix 101.5 WRAL-FM for being our media sponsor!  Lynda Loveland of Mix 101.5 WRAL-FM’s Bill & Lynda in the morning show  ran in the 5k as did a team from the Mix 101.5 Crew, who has partnered with us  in conducting a very successful food drive for our Backpack Buddies program in the past.  Thanks also to Ardie Gregory for her leadership, as well as to Jami Elizondo and Jenny Clements for their support! We also want to thanks Vanna Fox for all she does for the Food Shuttle!

Thanks to Grifols for being our presenting sponsor. Grifols had a huge team of employees and friends at the race on Sunday.  Talecris has also been a terrific partner through both sponsorships and volunteers. Thanks especially to Sherry Hanicuff!  We look forward to continuing this tradition with Grifols.

Over 1,000 people came out to support IFFS, running in the 5K, 10K, the Kid’s Dash, cheering on their friends and family, and volunteering.  Thanks to everyone who came out to the event and showed their support!

Thank you to NC Races, Butch Robertson and his team for managing the race again this year. We launched a new tradition - Raleigh Fall Festival - built on the legacy of The OldReliable Run!

Check out more picture of Raleigh Fall Festival on our Facebook or Flickr!

You can also watch the start of each race on our YouTube channel!

Gleaning Sweet Potatoes: Responding to Hunger

by Mollie Mayfield, Public Ally, IFFS Communications Coordinator This Saturday morning, I rode with Lindsay Perry, our Local Produce Coordinator, to ERW farms in Spring Hope, NC to document a field gleaning of sweet potatoes.  Generously, the farmer invited us into his fields to rescue the excess from the harvest, which, in this case, was a lot! The chilly wind drove right through our jackets, but our group of around 80 dedicated volunteers remained undeterred, picking sweet potatoes until the Food Shuttle truck was completely full and loaded.

We gleaned nearly 9,000 pounds of sweet potatoes.  That’s a lot of produce that will now go to feed the hungry instead of just rotting in the fields!

When sweet potatoes are harvested for the market, only the ones that fit a specific size and shape requirement are picked. But sweet potato plants produce tubers of all shapes and sizes, and all shapes and sizes can be eaten! Sweet potatoes that have been cut by the tractor or other tools are also left in the fields.  But thanks to our several groups of wonderful, hard-working volunteers, about four and a half tons of sweet potatoes will now be made into tasty, nutritious meals. Not only are sweet potatoes packed with nutrients, but they also store well! This means these sweet potatoes can even be used for our Turkey Take Out program, providing Thanksgiving meals for those who would otherwise go without.

One of our lovely groups of volunteers from Saint Paul's Church in Hillyer took a minute to talk about why they decided to come out and glean:

Many thanks to ERW Farms and to all of our gleaners! You made a big difference!

Growing to Give Back

by Sandie Zazzara Inmates at Johnston Correctional Institution are learning horticulture as part of their rehabilitation.  Taught by Johnston Community College horticulturist Phil Beaumont, they also learn what it means to give back.

JCI is one of the Food Shuttle's largest donors to Plant a Row for the Hungry, bringing in over 1,200 pounds this year.  Recently, Lindsay Perry, IFFS Local Produce Coordinator, caught up with Phil to ask him about the program and what it means for the community, both inside and outside the walls.

Realizing the importance of giving back is a part of the rehabilitation process, and being a part of something bigger than themselves.  "The idea of giving back to the community is really a hit with them. They’d much rather it go back to the community than to feed the unit", says Phil.

“I’d rather work and do something productive by being in here to help somebody else on the street," said inmate Michael Greene.

Learning basic skill sets in a variety of vocations, inmates are being challenged, and gaining a sense of confidence and pride in what they're doing.  With that confidence comes an air of peace and serenity in being surrounded by and working with plants.  "Being incarcerated is always there, but they’re not so mindful of it when they’re working in the garden; all that stuff fades away. It’s an oasis in many ways. A green oasis, and a mental health oasis," remarks Phil.

Flowers are planted around the grounds; herbs are used in anger management classes; inmates can enjoy a fresh tomato sandwich, something most of us take for granted.  They have something to care about while they’re being detained and their families can appreciate the work they’ve done.

Beyond inmates' contribution to hunger relief, this program has a broad social impact. Phil points to statistics that show that inmates who are successful in vocational training programs in prison are less likely to return to prison.

"We have to challenge them to see beyond the here and now," says Phil. "Every day we make choices, and hopefully we’re teaching them to make the right choices. So when they get out they make the right choices. That’s how we’re gonna impact society."

IFFS is so grateful for all the fresh healthy produce JCI helps to provide to communities in need. What a difference they are making in these communities. It's amazing what giving can do to the soul, and how it can transform a life.

Saturday's Harvest Fest Cooking Demo with Vivace Chef on the Farm!

This past Saturday morning foodies and farmers alike gathered at the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle’s Farm in Raleigh for IFFS’ Nutrition, Farms and Gardens special “Harvest Fest Cooking Demo” workshop with Vivace’s own Chef Schaumann and Alice Hinman.

All of the local, organic, and seasonal produce used for the demonstration was grown by the apprentices of the Young Farmer Training Program. The apprentices were present to see their beautifully harvested produce put to tasteful use by the culinary experts along with a great crowd of IFFS supporters!

The quality of the locally harvested vegetables matched the uniqueness of the dishes created:

Chef Schaumann crafted a Ristotto Cracker topped with Arugula Salad, Roasted Beets, and a Creamy Dijon Vinaigrette.  Alice Hinman, who works at Vivace and as an intern with the Young Farmer Training program, also was there to demonstrate how to make a delicious raw and marinated Collard Salad.

Here is what a few attendees had to say about the event's impact on them:

“I plan to ask more chefs about their food sourcing when I go to restaurants in the future, and I think I’ll be able to ask more insightful questions of them now"

“The highlight of this workshop for me was learning some of the professional food prep tips from Chef Schaumann”

A big thank you to everyone who helped with this event and who came out to enjoy the sun, the fun, and the food!!