April 2010
FoodforThought
Inside This Issue
Empty Bowls
Folk-rock Concert
Letter Carriers Food Drive
Volunteer Opportunities
Feinstein Challenge
35th Crop WalK
28th Annual Meeting
& Potluck Supper
Tributes
In-house Food Pantry
Fast Facts:
KLF depends on the
support of over 450
volunteers every week
All KLF food orders are
based on the USDA food
pyramid for nutritional
quality
Remember:
Your donation could
be stretched further by
applying for a matching
gift from your employer.
Talk to your
HR representative
today!
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes
913 E Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Business: 269.488.2617 / Fax: 269.343.3669
Food: 269.343•3663 / Email: info@kzoolf.org
Website: kzoolf.org
Complexities of Food Hardship
2 As I looked this week at the Food Research Action Center’s (FRAC) Food Hardship: A
2 Closer Look at Hunger report, the words ‘food hardship’ struck me hard. FRAC defines
2
food hardship as ‘the lack of money to buy food that families need’ and they describe
it as a national problem with nearly 1 in 5 households struggling with hunger. On
3 one hand, this is no surprise to us here at KLF; we’ve been working to meet the
3 emergency food needs of individuals and families in this community for nearly 30
3 years. And yet it strikes me that the definition of ‘food hardship’ is somehow both
a similar and more comprehensive description of the reality of the challenge faced
4
today.
Food hardship in its simplest form is the struggle at the household level to put
Insert food on the table. When one faces food hardship, everything else is harder too. For
Insert a parent, elder or student, nothing is more frustrating than not knowing where your
next meal is coming from. Easing food hardship helps to make living easier and more
productive for us all and it is the core of the Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes mission.
With that in mind, staff recently undertook an active outreach effort seeking
to 1) increase awareness of Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes services and 2) better
understand the emergency food needs of vulnerable populations – those hardest
to reach yet often most in need. Through a series of face-to-face meetings with key
representatives from 18 area human service providers, a number of repeated themes
surfaced:
• Regular Outreach: KLF needs to reach out strategically and regularly, particularly
to our most vulnerable community members – children, elders, single-parent
households, and those with disabilities – so they can access available assistance.
• Community Partnerships: KLF needs to systematically develop relationships with
human service systems that regularly do ‘home visits’ to explore opportunities for
their support in getting food into the hands of the people they serve.
• Refined Service Delivery:
• Grocery Pantry Program (GPP): the GPP will continue to serve as the
organization’s core service delivery system with refinement of service geography
and accessibility based on demand.
• Supplemental Food Support: focus supplemental and meal support
programming to better meet the needs of vulnerable populations, easing access
and increasing availability of no- and low-cost food.
In the face of these findings, the KLF board and staff are working hard to step
up our efforts to ease food hardship across this community. It will take not only our
commitment to the strategic expansion of the GPP, but also exploration of new ideas
and partnerships to actively expand how we deliver emergency food assistance and
how we think about ending food hardship.
There is good energy here at Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes. It is evidenced by your
contributions of food and dollars. It is evidenced by the hundreds of volunteers
across our system – in the warehouse, the call-center and
“One in five pantries across the community. Kalamazoo Loaves &
Fishes has a strong and proud history here in Southwest
households Michigan. We know that the challenges ahead will continue
to stretch our resources but not our resolve. We seek a
struggles with community where food hardship is replaced by food
security, and we know that with your help we are making a
hunger” difference every day.
– Anne Wend Lipsey, Executive Director
 Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes: FoodforThought–April 2010
Empty Bowls Raises Awareness through Art
On April 23, Kalamazoo Loaves &
Fishes will partner with Prairie Ridge
Elementary School to host an Empty
Bowls event as part of a greater 2010
Empty Bowls Project with Kalamazoo
Public Schools and Panera Bread.
Over the past few months, area
students created ceramic bowls while
learning about hunger and proper
nutrition, culminating with a simple
community meal of soup and bread.
Guests then take home a handmade
bowl to remind them that someone’s
Folk-rock Concert to Benefit KLF
Smallmouth , a six member folk-
rock band from Southwest Michigan,
will be holding a concert on May
23 to benefit Kalamazoo Loaves &
Fishes.
Drawing upon a wide range of
influences, a Smallmouth show is full
of tunes you’ll love to hear again and
again. Band members Dennis Martin,
Bob Duke, Sandy Duke, Ed Martini,
Ann Marie Renaud, and Mike Renaud
play many selections by artists like
Letter Carrier Food Drive in May
It’s here again! The National
Association of Letter Carrier’s Food
Drive is scheduled for Saturday,
May 8. This national event benefits
our local community through
the collective donations of many
throughout Kalamazoo County.
Simply set out your non-perishable
food items on Saturday, May 8 and
your local Letter Carrier will pick
them up.
This year, participating local
agencies
the Portage
Community
Center, The
Salvation
Army, and
Kalamazoo
Loaves &
Fishes would
love to see
a total of
913 E Alcott, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001 / P: 269.488.2617 / F: 269.343.3669 / E: info@kzoolf.org / W: kzoolf.org
Page 2
bowl is always empty in Kalamazoo 5:30-7:30 p.m.
County. with an admission
There were five preceding events this fee of $5 per
year with the following participating family. Soup
schools: Edison Environmental Science and beverages
Academy, Indian Prairie Elementary, will be provided
King-Westwood Elementary, Maple along with live
Street Academy for the Arts, and Spring entertainment
Valley Center for Exploration. and a silent auction of professional
Prairie Ridge’s event will also feature and teacher-made bowls. Bread is
bowls made by Kalamazoo Valley being donated by Panera Bread. For
Community College students and KPS more information, please call Kimberly
teachers. It will take place April 23 from at 269-488-2617 ext. 218.
Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, Bob
Dylan, the Beatles, and the Byrds.
The concert is May 23 from 4-6
p.m. in the atrium lobby of the
Gilmore Theatre Complex on Western
Michigan University’s campus. There
will be a cash bar, light refreshments
and a silent auction. Tickets will be
$20 in advance or $25 at the door.
Advance tickets will be available April
1 by calling 269-665-6567 or emailing
sandy.duke@wmich.edu.
Smallmouth
120,000 lbs collected. We almost donation out by your mailbox on
reached that amount last year – Saturday, May 8!
with more than 111,000 lbs in food
donations. This year we’ll need the
help of more people in order for the
goal to be reached. Here are ways
that you can contribute and make a
difference for many this year:
• Advertise the event in your church
newsletter
• Make a yard sign to advertise in
your neighborhood
• Tell at least 10 friends
• Send out an alert through Facebook
or link to the Kalamazoo Loaves &
Fishes’ Facebook page
• Volunteer! If you are able to
repeatedly lift up to 40 lbs we can
use your help. Please call Seema at
269-488-2617 ext. 209 to sign up
For more information, visit www.
kzoolf.org or call 269-488-2617
ext. 210. And don’t forget to put your Westwood Letter Carrier, 2009
Page 3 Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes: FoodforThought–April 2010

The KLF Crop Walk – 35th Anniversary

Volunteer
Department
Interested in helping out in
the warehouse or at special
events? Help KLF spread
the word by becoming a
knowledgeable volunteer.
Orientation dates are:
Saturday, April 10th
Wednesday, April 14th
The Kalamazoo Valley Crop Hunger Walk is celebrating
its 35th anniversary this year by asking supporters to meet a
greater challenge than ever before.
Walkers and donors alike are encouraged to incorporate
the number ‘35’, whether it’s by gathering 35 walkers, raising
35% more funds than last year, asking sponsors to give $35,
or a combination.
More than 400 walkers are expected to gather in Bronson
Park on Sunday, May 2 to embark on the roughly six mile long walk, the two
mile shorter walk or the family walk, complete with kid-friendly activities, to
raise funds for global hunger relief.
Sponsored by Church World Service, the funds collected will benefit over
40 nations worldwide, including recent natural disaster sites such as Haiti and
Indonesia, as well as local human service organizations such as the Ecumenical
Senior Center, Ministry with Community and Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes. For
more information on how to get involved, visit www.kalamazoocropwalk.org.

Wednesday, May 12th The Feinstein Foundation

Help End Hunger in America 37 Alhambra Circle
 Cranston, RI 02905
Sign up with Seema  (401) 467-5155

Jolly by calling 13th Annual $1 Million Challenge

269-488-2617 ext. 209 or Give between March 1 and April 30 to help KLF earn part of the
email at seema@kzoolf.org. $1 million Feinstein Challenge award.
See www.kzoolf.org for more details.

Remember:
KLF February Giving Coupon
913 E. Alcott, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 Your ongoing support
April 2010 – Coupon #81
is important to KLF. It’s
Amount $ never too soon to think
The last two weeks of the month are the busiest time for KLF,
when assistance benefits sometimes fall short for families. about Planned Giving.
Donate now to help families get through to the next month. See www.kzoolf.org for
Please send your contribution by April 26 more information.

KLF March Giving Coupon As you are filling your

913 E. Alcott, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
May 2010 – Coupon #82 shopping cart, please consider
shopping for and donating
Amount $
During the summer, when school lunches are no longer available,
these high demand items:
many kids go without meals.
Your donation can help get food on their table.
April – Canned Chicken
Please send your contribution by May 20 May – Pasta

913 E Alcott, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001 / P: 269.488.2617 / F: 269.343.3669 / E: info@kzoolf.org / W: kzoolf.org

 FoodforThought–April 2010 Page 4

Non•Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Kalamazoo, MI
Permit No. 1693
913 E Alcott
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001

Business Phone: 269.488.2617

Food Request Line: 269.343.3663
Fax: 269.343.3669
Email: info@kzoolf.org
Website: kzoolf.org

OUR MISSION:
To expand the availability of
emergency food resources and
promote the ability of hungry
people to feed themselves.

OUR VALUES:
l Compassion l Respect
l Justice l Integrity
l Advocacy

You’re invited!
to KLF’s 28th Annual Meeting & Potluck Supper
When? Monday, April 12, 2010, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
Where? Hope Reformed Church, 910 Jenks Road, HOPE REFORMED
910 JENKS
Kalamazoo, MI 49006 ALTHEA

What? Agenda: Volunteer Awards & Recognition

NICHOLS

COOLIDGE

GRAND PRE

JENKS

N. FLETCHER

Organizational Structure Decision: Membership

KENWOOD
or Directorship, Board Member Elections
WEALTHY

JENNISON

PINEHURST

How? RSVP to Seema at (269) 488-2617 ext. 209

WES
TM
AI N
WEST MAIN
or seema@kzoolf.org
SOLON

KENDALL

Please bring a dish to pass.

Tableware and beverages will be provided.

Board of Directors Staff/Business Office 269.488.2617 ext.

Leatta Byrd Cheryl Knapp Dick Anson, Warehouse Assistant 211 Seema Jolly, Volunteer Coordinator 209
Patricia Carlin Sam Lealofi Joan Atwell, Call Center Lead 201 Deb Josephson, Services Coordinator 214
Robert Ezelle Donna McClurkan Melissa Burel, Data Entry Gift Processor 206 Marv King, Food Director 211
Bruce Gelbaugh Harvey Myers Art Cole, Services Director 207 Anne Wend Lipsey, Executive Director 208
Martin Glista Helen Norris George Geissel, Bookkeeper 206 Kimberly Schoetzow, Comm. Coordinator 218
Alan Harbaugh Maija Petersons Kathy Gernaat, Operations Director 212 Scott Spicer, Call Center Lead 201
Lynn Jessel Martha Simpson Phyllis Hepp, Project Planner 210 Sue VanderMeer, Call Center Team Leader 201
Jennifer Johnson, Public Relations/Dev. Director 213