A Solution Shaped By Choice

Recently, I read a thought-provoking sentiment, it said….”at no time have humans had greater power in the sense of greater ability to shape the world around us. Yet we experience utter and complete powerlessness to shape the course of change.” After reflecting on that, I have to say I disagree about the piece on powerlessness. For those of you who support us (and did so in a very generous way during December), you made a choice to use your personal power to make an impact and as a result altered the course of change in many lives of people who did not know where their next meal was coming from. For all of you who support us, thank you. Your collective efforts allowed us to distribute enough food at the end of last year that is equivalent to 2,000 meals per hour. That’s a powerful solution shaped by collective “choice”.

Second Harvest Food Bank is fortunate to receive support in terms of food, volunteer time and financial donations. This support comes from all directions in a variety of ways, locally, State-wide, nationally and even internationally. Here’s an interesting international example: We recently met with a representative from Last Minute Market, a non-profit organization from Bologna, Italy. They help facilitate the movement of surplus food, pharmaceuticals, seeds and books. We shared “bueno pratiche”, otherwise known as “best practices”. This exchange was an invigorating two-way dialogue in ideas and possible new connections, concepts and programs. This is just one of hundreds of examples of how people have used their power to shape their world through choice.

As negative and fatalistic as the news is nowadays, let’s not fall into the trap of accepting it at face value. While it would be naïve to think everything is just fine, there is so much we can do to change things for the better in our neighborhood and in our community. If not us, who?

Dave Krepcho
President/CEO

Your Generosity Makes A Difference

At this time of the year and especially during these challenging economic times, my sincerest thanks go to thousands of you who have provided support to help the less fortunate. In a recent nationwide study, Florida was named the nation’s most fiscally distressed State – what a dubious distinction. Central Florida is in the same boat so to speak.

Your support has taken the form of donated food, funds or your time as a volunteer or advocate. Because of your support, we remain strong in our mission of fighting hunger. We cannot accomplish this without you. You have decided to, as it is said, “light one candle rather than curse the darkness”. Some of you have lit many candles and we are very grateful.

Your support is humbling because I realize you trust us to do the absolute most with your gift. We will are committed to be the best possible steward of the community’s resources. Lately, we have communicated the message that every dollar donated to Second Harvest Food Bank enables us to distribute $9 worth of groceries. What a wonderful return on investment. Some people have questioned that claim – that’s a healthy thing to do! So how is that kind of return possible? It’s pretty simple math, really. The millions of pounds of grocery products we distribute each year have a value.
Last year, the retail value of those products exceeded $36 million. By contrast, it cost our organization just over $4 million in expenses to collect, store, and distribute those products to the community.
$4 million in expense to provide $36 million in value…a simple but powerful equation. The value divided by our cost to provide it yields the 1 to 9 return that we’re so proud to claim.

Naturally, part of being a good steward is to value transparency. Nowadays, there are too many stories of fraud and waste. In that spirit, I invite you to check out our organization by visiting one of the most reputable third-party source for rating charities – www.CharityNavigator.org. They have awarded us with their highest possible rating: Four Stars. An important part of their report shows that 97.1 cents of every dollar donated to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida goes directly to feeding people.

As we continue distribute food at disaster relief levels, we thank you for your critical support. You are making the difference in many people’s lives. Here’s to a hope filled 2009.

Dave Krepcho
President/CEO

Food Deserts

During some recent research on Childhood Nutrition & Obesity, I came across a new term. It describes areas of cities and communities where there are no grocery stores and no stores of any kind that sell little, if any, fresh fruits or vegetables. The term is “Food deserts” (that’s not “dessert” as in apple pie)… and this does not refer to a Third World country; it’s here in the United States and in Central Florida! These are typically lower-income neighborhoods with many people not having dependable transportation to get to stores. It highlights one of the challenges and reasons why inadequate nutrition and obesity can coexist. If you don’t have access to healthy foods and you’re surrounded by convenience stores selling snacks and candy and circled by fast food restaurants as your accessible alternative – chances are the odds are against you getting adequate nutrition. Combine the above with low awareness of and little physical activity; it’s a recipe for disaster. Someone said…”It’s easier to buy a gun than a tomato in these areas.”

A quote from an article on the topic of childhood obesity and lack of adequate nutrition said…”This may be the first generation of children in American history that will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.” I thought it was a mistake; this couldn’t be true, not in America. How can this be?

There are just over 100,000 children living in Central Florida who live at the poverty level or below; and the number is growing. USDA just released in November sobering results of hunger among children: “The figure (amount of childhood hunger) in the United States has grown by more than 40% since 2000.”

All of this and even more evidence point us to the fact that getting nutritious foods to children is absolutely critical; they are in circumstances beyond their control. If you’re interested in helping one of our Kids Cafes or Food Back Pack programs that deliver to nine elementary schools; please contact us. We continue to be part of the solution to a very large problem.

Dave Krepcho
President/CEO
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Nearly every conversation I have nowadays I’m on the receiving end of anxiety, dread or fear about the current economic situation in this country and around the world. We’re surrounded by the talking heads on television telling us that the “sky is falling”. As well, we see it in the newspaper; hear it on the radio and it’s imbedded into Presidential campaign politics. No doubt, we have cause for concern…the sky is falling. I see the impact on the population we serve at Second Harvest; not only are folks in poverty feeling the economic shortfall even more, we now see a whole new face to those who are in need. Blue collar, and yes, now white collar workers who have found themselves in a position unimaginable 5 – 6 months ago – now in need of emergency food to get them through a tough time.

Amidst all of this news, each morning, before I hit the road, I gather my wits about me and remind myself that there is another option…an attitude of hope. We at Second Harvest believe hunger is solvable despite many problems in this world that perhaps are not. We make a difference each and every day in thousands of lives. We’re made up of a core of people who are predisposed to hope rather than despair – people who read reality through different lenses, who dare to dream of something better. This is not being in denial of the realities around us, but we can broaden our view. The writer Parker Palmer states, “…that abundance, not scarcity, is the ultimate reality…..hospitality and service are paradoxes that enrich us as we give to others. These are wild, even disorienting ideas in a society where forces of greed and frantic self-centeredness often seem to prevail.” Yet, we need these wild ideas to counter the negativity that surrounds us.

My point is that we at Second Harvest Food Bank offer you a wonderful opportunity to help make a positive difference in this community; a chance to at least momentarily escape the bad news. The reality is that our work is more demanding in this economic upheaval. You will need to join us in closing the ever-widening gap between the food that is available and those people in need – kind of like changing the tires of hunger in this community while the car is running. We invite you to join us to be part of a solution; find out about the many ways you can be plugged in.

Dave Krepcho
President/CEO
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Making a difference

Hundreds and thousands of people from every walk of life connect with us over the course of a year. These folks can be people in need, volunteers, food or financial donors, groups feeding people, media or other interested parties. Despite the incredible diversity of people, there is one unifying statement heard and it goes something like this “I want to make a difference”. With the current economy and state of affairs across the country and in our own communities, people have not lost hope that things can be better; not only for themselves but also for their neighbor.

This is my first blog on our new web site – we’ve totally re-designed our site to make it easier for you to get plugged in. We’ve done this because there is a huge GAP between the need for emergency food and available resources. September is Hunger Action Month, please take a few moments to check out the “Million Meal Challenge” on our site how you can become involved – it’s simple and there’s something for everyone.

In future blogs, I’ll share our progress on the Million Meal Challenge, insights on “food security”, how financial donations to Second Harvest are making a difference with people in need and a series of thought-provoking questions and topics around hunger in our communities. Stay tuned and let us know what you think of our new site, we welcome and need your feedback.

Dave Krepcho
President/CEO
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida