Fighting Hunger. Feeding Hope. H u n g e r I n A m e r i c a 2 0 1 4 Bank of Northwest NC Local Report
I think a lot of kids are happy to get this food. My mom has gone without so many times because she feels like my sister and I are not getting enough to eat. This program makes me happy though, because it helps kids here get a balanced meal. All kids should be able to have a good meal each day. They should have this program in lots of different places because it s not just kids in my neighborhood who need help kids need help all over. ~Wenona A child being helped through the Feeding America network of afterschool meal programs. Every four years, the Feeding America network conducts the nation s most comprehensive study of hunger and the critical role of Feeding America food banks and our partner agencies in addressing this serious issue. The Hunger in America 2014 report provides new and revealing information about the circumstances of the people asking for our help the challenges they face and the difficult choices they are often forced to make living on extremely limited household resources. The report also provides in-depth information about the characteristics and capacity of our partner agency network. When people do not have enough food to get through the day, the costs are borne by us all. Hungry children cannot learn. Hungry adults cannot be productive. Hungry communities cannot flourish and grow. HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY Hunger in America 2014 documents a sustained, significant and still-growing need for food assistance across Northwest North Carolina. Bank s Network Helps 300,000 People Each Year 32% 10% children* seniors 65+ Bank of Northwest NC is a vital resource for its partner programs and the people in need we serve together. Bank s regional network includes 287 agencies operating nearly 400 programs rely entirely 51% on volunteers are faith-based 82% organizations 65% or 1 of the food distributed by partner programs comes from Second Harvest Food Bank. 84% of programs report that not having access to Bank as a resource for food would have a major effect on their ability to serve their community. Continued slow economic recovery in our region challenges our network. of report programs 62% continuing of programs have had to increases in requests for food assistance. in 6 people living in Northwest NC 20% of households includes a military vet * This percentage underestimates the number of children served through Bank of Northwest NC s network. Our BackPack and Kids Cafe Programs were not eligible to participate in the study. 32% make cutbacks, including limiting their services. Please don t give up on us. Your work and gifts are a blessing for our family to get through the month. The Hudspeth Family Working with partner agencies operating in local communities and supported by a compassionate and growing community of dedicated donors, volunteers and collaborators, we help families and others with the basic need for nutritious food something that is essential to strengthening our communities. Along with the entire Feeding America network, Bank of Northwest NC will use the information drawn from this study to: Raise public awareness of the problem of hunger. Guide the development and enhancement of programs. Inform public policy discourse. Economic recovery has not reached those we serve. Unemployment, reduced hours and low wages are factors. 78% of households live at or below the poverty level 57% have income less than $1000 per month 52% of households have at least one employed adult 32% of adults have less than a high school diploma or equivalent* * Nationally, only 14% of the general population of adults does not have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Families we are helping face difficult choices and circumstances. HOUSEHOLD SPENDING TRADEOFFS 73% BETWEEN UTILITIES HOUSEHOLD health Issues coping strategies 84% Purchase inexpensive, unhealthy food 72% BETWEEN TRANSPORTATION 60% of of households have a member with high blood pressure 57% Receive help from family or friends 72% BETWEEN FOOD AND MEDICINE/ MEDICAL CARE 43% Water down food or drinks 64% BETWEEN HOUSING 42% Sell or pawn personal property 24% BETWEEN FOOD AND EDUCATION EXPENSES 33% households have a member with diabetes 26% Grow food in a garden Hunger Exists in Every Community in Our Country Bank of Northwest NC is a proud member of Feeding America, a nationwide network of 200 regional food banks and 60,000 local food pantries and meal programs united in a vision of hunger-free communities. Together, we provide critical food assistance to more than 46 million Americans each year including 12 million children and 7 million seniors as we work to end hunger through education, outreach and advocacy. Bank of Northwest NC s service area encompasses 18 counties, stretching from Boone to Burlington: Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Caldwell, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Iredell, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, Wilkes and Yadkin. Want to learn more about hunger in your county? Visit hungernwnc.org for a link to our interactive map.
Help Solve Hunger WORK Partnering, Collaborating & Innovating to HOW WE Bank of Northwest NC 1 3 It all begins with YOU! Compassionate and engaged individuals and organizations lend their voices and give gifts of food, funds and time to provide food and hope to neighbors in need. 2 We build partnerships to provide nutritious food to our hungry neighbors and prevent good food from going to waste: Grocery Retailers USDA/NC Dept. of Agriculture National Food and Grocery Manufacturers through Feeding America Growers, Processors, Wholesalers Food Drives We ensure safe inspection, storage and distribution of food across 18 counties through our network of nearly 400 partner programs: Food Pantries Soup Kitchens Shelters Senior and Youth Meal Programs 4 TOGETHER, we provide critical nutritional support for 300,000 people each year, helping them find the strength to move forward and flourish. SPECIAL INITIATIVES TO FEED OUR COMMUNITY The complex intersections between hunger and other vital issues, such as nutrition, health and education, compel us to ensure investments in our work do more than put food on the table. Promoting Healthy Communities 1 in 4 As concern grows over the alarming increase in chronic, diet-related diseases, community leaders are recognizing the role healthy food plays in promoting personal health, robust neighborhoods and a healthy economy. For people struggling with economic insecurity, eating a consistent and healthy, balanced diet is too often unattainable. The Bank network is committed to strengthening and growing initiatives to provide more fresh fruits and vegetables and enhanced nutrition education services: Nourishing Our Children A top priority for Bank children living in the 18 counties served by Bank goes hungry More than 50% of school-aged children living in Northwest North Carolina receive free or reduced-price meals at school. For many, it s the only meal they can rely on getting regularly. While Bank provides the most meals for children through our core food distribution program, targeted BackPack, Kids Cafe, School Pantry and Summer Feeding Programs provide nutritious meals after school, on weekends, during long breaks in the school year and in the summer. Program sites are made possible in collaboration with new and existing network partners, schools and funding supporters. Ensuring that our children have adequate nutrition to grow, thrive and learn benefits us all. Dr. Essie McCoy, School Principal Hunger Affects Our Children s Minds, Bodies & Spirits. Our Children s Health Be sick more often. Suffer growth deficiency. Have developmental impairments. Our Children s Educational Development Our Children s Future Not be able to learn as quickly. Do poorly in school and have lower academic achievement. Have more social and behavioral problems. Not be well prepared to perform and fulfill their potential. Our Partner Agency Capacity Grant Program provides additional resources to partner programs, such as refrigeration, to safely transport and distribute fresh produce and frozen meats. With an added refrigeration unit awarded through Bank s Capacity Grant Program, we ve increased the number of nutritious lunches we provide and can store more fresh produce for delivery to families in the food deserts of our county. Marty Tenille, H.O.P.E of Winston-Salem Our Nutrition Education Services programs empower partner agencies, individuals and families with practical nutrition information and strategies to extend limited resources to shop for and prepare healthy, affordable meals. Collaborating with FOODCORPS is taking our Cooking Matters nutrition education classes to the next level. Not only are parents and children learning about nutrition, they re getting hands-on experience growing their own produce. Keren Ferris, Second Harvest Food Bank, Nutrition Services Coordinator Neighborhood Food Drops, Mobile Pantries and our Partner Agency Retail Match Program provide increased access to fresh foods in rural and urban communities. Food and Nutrition Services Outreach (formerly known as food stamps) connects families and others to additional resources to get through temporary hard times and provide for their basic nutritional needs. The enemy is hunger; not the hungry. A child making a difference in the fight against hunger.
Supporting Fresh Starts With Bank s Triad Community Kitchen (TCK), we re on a mission to empower people to achieve their goals of employment and self-sufficiency. Each year, the TCK Culinary Program provides skills and training to 60-80 individuals seeking to get back into the workforce or to enhance their skills for advancement in the food and hospitality industry. The Training Innovating Through Social Enterprise Sessions include 12 weeks of instruction and a one-week internship with a local food service organization or restaurant to help students gain real world job experience. Students have the opportunity to give back during hands-on training in the production kitchen, as they prepare ready-to-heat meals for distribution to partner programs, including soup kitchens, emergency shelters and others. In 2009, Chef Jeff Bacon, an ACF certified Chef, member of the Academy of Chefs and TCK Program Director, launched a catering division. This innovative social enterprise capitalizes on the exceptional culinary talent of TCK staff and growing skills of TCK students and alumni to provide full-service catering, as well as earning opportunities for program students and graduates. All catering proceeds support the culinary program. Many have likened the Triad Community Kitchen (tck) Program to a culinary boot camp. If participants leave the program with a hunger to continue learning, growing and achieving their goals, then we ve done our job well. Chef Jeff Bacon, TCK Program Director Leading the Fight Addressing the problem of hunger requires the public and private sectors and compassionate, caring individuals working together. Feeding America network members are leading the fight against hunger in our country through raising awareness and engaging key stakeholders and individuals. Together, we advocate for programs that protect people facing hunger and help keep our communities strong. Our network s public policy goals are based on our shared values. Together, we are working to ensure that: No child is at risk of hunger. People can get help during hard times. Regional food banks and local partner agencies are well stocked to help those in need. Families have a solid foundation by having access to nutritious food. As individuals, charities, businesses and government, we all have a role to play. Working together, we can solve hunger. For more information about the impact of our work in the lives of hungry Northwest North Carolinians, view our Annual Reports at hungernwnc.org. Hunger is a solvable problem There s a growing awareness of the grip hunger holds on millions of Americans, including thousands of families, children and others in our community. Be part of the solution. A financial gift. An hour of time. A bag of groceries. A call to your Member of Congress. These are a few of the many ways you can help solve hunger in our community. A gift of DONATE provides enough No gift is too small when every $1 donated allows Second Harvest Food Bank to provide 7 nutritious meals. Give a Gift Online at hungernwnc.org or send a check payable to: Second Harvest Food Bank, 3655 Reed Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27107 or Support Food Drives We gratefully accept donations of food on behalf of our partner agencies at the Bank warehouse and at Goodwill Stores across the region. Look for the list of the items needed most by our network at hungernwnc.org. $24 food to sustain a family for 2 weeks volunteer Each year our volunteers contribute a number of hours equivalent to 18 fulltime staff positions. The gift of your time is priceless in helping to feed our community. Contact us today at 336.784.5770 to give an hour or two or more! advocate It takes more than food to fight hunger. Together, we can educate and engage others and make ending hunger a priority for our country s leaders. Learn about our current advocacy efforts at hungernwnc.org.
TOGETHER WE CAN SOLVE HUNGER Bank of Northwest NC Partnering with local programs to feed our community 3655 Reed Street Winston-Salem, NC 27107 (336) 784-5770 hungernwnc.org facebook.com/food.bank.nwnc twitter.com/nwncfoodbank www.hungernwnc.org