So dear reader, if you didn’t already know most Food Banks across the country share similar programs to tackle the fight against hunger.  There are several programs specific for children who are food insecure:  Kid’s Summer Feeding Programs, Kid’s Back Pack Programs and Kid’s Café.  The goal is to feed children outside of School Feeding Programs.  The most critical time is in the evening, on weekends and over the summer.

St Mary’s in Arizona takes these programs to a whole new level.  They are involved in all the programs I listed above, but go beyond hunger outreach.  As a part of a community service drive, state inmates also participate in the fight against hunger.  While learning how to work within a large warehouse, many of the inmates help assemble boxes that feed families with children, fill kid’s back packs with food and work in the kid’s café producing hot meals.

At the end of our visit, we toured a working culinary learning facility complete with a conference style class room, full kitchen and food prep area.  Participants who are out of work not only get boxes of food to feed their families, but receive a culinary certificate after nine weeks of instruction while they work in the kid’s café preparing hot meals for children and the elderly.  The culinary facility also includes an employment center where participants are connected with hiring managers from local restaurants, hotels, resorts and kitchens throughout Phoenix.

St Marys really shows us that food is not only good for the body, but also good for the soul.

FeedItForward

As I sit to write our daily blog for the very first time, I can’t help to think about images from the movie “Julia &  Julia”….except for me, I think about Coach John Wooden who just recently and sadly passed.   How did my connection to Coach Wooden all start?

Having children in my late 30’s I reached for inspiration to impart with my family as their “new patriarch” and received, by chance, a book from Lance Armstrong; “It’s Not About the Bike”.  I flew through it and picked up Lance’s second book and found another from Sidney Poitiers…and then Ben Franklin and Covey….until I landed on a few books by Coach Wooden…and the books from people who were “inspired” by him.   And that’s what struck me…the effect he had to “move” people.

Now in my 40’s…as I look at my children who are about to embark on kindergarten…and tell them about my day….I am excited to tell them what I do.  I made the choice to work with Non-Profit Organizations who help in the Fight Against Hunger: Food Banks, Soup Kitchens, Food Pantries and Relief Organizations.  It is what “moves” Me.

When I talk to my children about the importance of sharing and giving back to the community, I can now share with them all the stories I hear when I see different Food Banks and Non-Profits across the country.

Hopefully, I can share some of these same stories of people helping people in need with anyone who comes into touch with this blog. 

Just think…our first step is just a few inches…and before you know it we are walking miles.   Here is to our first step together in sharing awareness in the Fight to Feed the Hungry!

FeedItForward

We are Good Source Non-Profit Solutions.  We have been partnering with the non-profit community since our company’s inception in 1989.  We work exclusively with food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, Share programs, Meals on Wheels, relief organizations and other non-profit agencies in order to fully understand the unique needs of this community.

We are excited to get our blog up and running and to have the opportunity to reach out to you, our customers, in a new and unique way.  We are looking forward to learning from you as we will be collectively sharing industry insights that we think will be of interest to helping your organization grow.

So, who will be contributing to the blog? Ilona Fordham and Rene Flohr will be the main blog contributors; Ilona is a registered dietitian and loves all things to do with food while Rene has been involved in sales and retail management for over a decade. Other contributors from our Non-Profits Team include: Laura Roche, Maureen Richards, Matt Story, Gaby Escobedo, and Dan Harrison. You’ll get to know us all a lot better as time goes, but for now, know that we’re a pretty close knit group that loves sharing ideas and best practices that support our customers’ business growth.

We welcome any and all comments so please subscribe to our blog and feel free to contribute.