Dear Friends, Thank you so much for requesting information about how to organize a Food or Funds event to support Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Every day, thousands of our neighbors continue to struggle to feed their families and with your help, we can make their lives a little easier. The Food Bank provides food assistance to over 120,000 individuals each month through a network of agencies such as food pantries, after-school programs, soup kitchens, and shelters. Your donations will go directly to help feed those individuals. If you are planning to organize a food drive, we have included a list of our “Most Wanted Items.” If you prefer to collect monetary donations on our behalf, we would like you to know that through our wholesale purchase program, the Food Bank can purchase $5 worth of food and grocery items for every $1 contributed. Checks can be made payable to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, with the memo line marked ‘Food Drive’. If you are looking for a way to take your office/community food drive to new heights and boost participation, you can also host a Virtual Food Drive which the Food Bank can customize with your company logo or your name. The Virtual Food Drive is offered to groups with 200 or more participants. For more information or to have a virtual food drive developed for your event, please contact Zachary at 412.460.3663 x 231 [email protected] . If you have any questions about organizing a food drive, please call me at (412) 460-3663, Ext. 209, or feel free to email me at [email protected]. Sincerely, Patty Van Dillen Special Event and Food Drive Coordinator Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank One North Linden Street • Duquesne, PA 15110 • (412) 460-3663 • Fax: (412) 460-0418 Reach us on the Internet at www.pittsburghfoodbank.org 1. Cereal (Low Sugar, High Fiber) 2. Tuna or Salmon (Packed in Water) 3. Fruit (Packed in 100% Juice or Water 4. Canned Beans (Black, Garbanzo, etc) 5. Peanut Butter 6. Hand Soap/Toiletries 7. Toilet/Facial Tissue 8. Laundry Detergent 9. Diapers (Infant & Adult) 10. Canned Vegetables (No or Low Sodium) Food Drives are a powerful way to contribute to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s mission to end hunger. Not only for drives produce critical food for our hungry neighbors in need (a total of 475,000 pounds of food and non-food products, calued at $802,817 were collected last fiscal year), but they also serve as a catalyst that brings the issue of hunger to the forefront, providing immeasurable value to our mission. Children begin to discuss the issue in the classroom, food insecurity becomes a topic that colleagues talk about at lunch, there is a ripple effect. The more our story of hunger is heard and people understand how easy it is to take action, the closer we get to solving the problem. THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION! For more information, visit: www.pittsburghfoodbank.org or contact Patty Van Dillen at: 412-460-3663 ext. 209 [email protected] 10 8 6 4 Cereal, Suzie GPCFB 4124603663 For her ability to feed 1 in 5 food insecure children. REWARD: 380,000 food insecure southwestern Pennsylvanians will go to bed full. A Food Drive Kit to help you catch the 10 most wanted items to end hunger in southwestern Pennsylvania CONTACT THE FOOD BANK 1. Go online and register to host a food/funds drive, as well as to read and sign our Third Party Agreement, at: www.gpfcb.org/FoodFundsReg 4. The success of your drive depends on your ability to market the cause to your network. Motivate them to participate, inspire action! Explore ways to get the word out through newsletters, social media, signage and more! To schedule a drop-off time, email [email protected] or call 412-4603663 x209 No computer access? Call our Food Drive Coordinator (contact on brochure back) to get started! • Take your donations to one of our local or regional donation centers! To ensure acurrate, real-time information, a list of participating drop-off locations can be found online at: www.gpcfb.org/dropoff PLANNING FOR SUCCESS 2. Will you be collecting food, funds or both? Choose dates and collection sites for your event. a company, classroom, etc. competition! Aim for 100% participation. If you plan on having a kick-off event, contact us to request a Food Bank Speaker! Our Volunteer Team can help you schedule the visit! email [email protected] or call (412) 460-3663 ext. 301 • Drop off your donation at the Food Bank during regular operating hours: Monday through Friday, 8am-3pm. Once this has been completed, a Food Bank representative will contact you to answer any questions you may have and provide the support you need to host a successful drive. 3. Set a goal; create a theme; or make it • Bring your donations, and fellow contributors, to the Food Bank for a tour or volunteer experience. 5. Drop off your Donations! There are several ways to get your donations to the Food Bank. Consider one of the following options: GOOD LUCK AND PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CONTACT WITH QUESTIONS! MOST WANTED Food Drive Items Shopping List Cereal (Low Sugar, High Fiber) MOST WANTED Food Drive Items Shopping List MOST WANTED Food Drive Items Shopping List Cereal (Low Sugar, High Cereal (Low Sugar, High Fiber) Fiber) Tuna or Salmon (Packed Tuna or Salmon (Packed in Water) Fruit (Packed in 100% Juice or Water Canned Beans (Black, Garbanzo, etc) in Water) Fruit (Packed in 100% Juice or Water Canned Beans (Black, Garbanzo, etc) in Water) Fruit (Packed in 100% Juice or Water Canned Beans (Black, Garbanzo, etc) Hand Soap/Toiletries Hand Soap/Toiletries Hand Soap/Toiletries Toilet/Facial Tissue Toilet/Facial Tissue Toilet/Facial Tissue Laundry Detergent Laundry Detergent Laundry Detergent Diapers (Infant & Adult) Diapers (Infant & Adult) Diapers (Infant & Adult) Canned Vegetables (No Canned Vegetables (No Canned Vegetables (No or Low Sodium) or Low Sodium) Tuna or Salmon (Packed Peanut Butter or Low Sodium) Peanut Butter Peanut Butter Non-Perishables Only Non-Perishables Only Non-Perishables Only NO GLASS PLEASE NO GLASS PLEASE NO GLASS PLEASE www.pittsburghfoodbank.org 412-460-FOOD www.pittsburghfoodbank.org 412-460-FOOD www.pittsburghfoodbank.org 412-460-FOOD ENDING HUNGER... WITH YOU! Food Drive to benefit: greater pittsburgh community food bank When: MOST WANTED Food Drive Items Shopping List Cereal (Low Sugar, High Fiber) Tuna or Salmon (Packed Where: in Water) Fruit (Packed in 100% Juice or Water Canned Beans (Black, Garbanzo, etc) Peanut Butter Hand Soap/Toiletries Toilet/Facial Tissue Laundry Detergent Diapers (Infant & Adult) Canned Vegetables (No or Low Sodium) Non-Perishables Only NO GLASS PLEASE www.pittsburghfoodbank.org (412) 460-FOOD Food Drive FAQ’s I want to host a food/fund drive. How do I get started? Visit our website and be sure to fill out the Food/Fund Drive registration form and agree to our ‘Third Party Event Agreement’. These steps are necessary for the Food Bank to provide you with the most adequate support. Once the documents are submitted, a Food Bank staff member will be in touch with you within 3 business days to ensure that you have everything needed to have a successful event. Be sure to download our ‘Food Drive Kit’. Will Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank pick up my food collection? Please understand the Food Bank has very limited resources, especially when it comes to transportation. We encourage all food drive participants to incorporate a ‘food drive drop-off’ as part of their donation. We welcome your team to combine your food drive delivery with a tour of our facility or a volunteer activity. If that is not possible, please review our extensive list of drop off locations and identify a site near you. We are more than happy to talk with you about the various delivery options for your drive, please contact us if you have any questions! Does the Food Bank have collection bins or boxes for us to use? We encourage our supporters to use their own boxes to collect food drive items. If you do not have access to cardboard boxes, grocery and retail stores are usually more than happy to provide you with extra boxes they have on hand. Xerox boxes also work well for food collection. We do provide branded signage in our Food Drive Kit that you can download and place on your boxes. Can I use the Food Bank logo on my promotional materials? Sure! First you must fill out the online Food/Fund Drive registration form and sign and return our ‘Third Party Event Agreement’. The Food Bank must provide you with our official logo and approve all signage used to promote your event. One North Linden Street • Duquesne, PA 15110 • (412) 460-3663 • Fax: (412) 460-0418 Reach us on the Internet at www.pittsburghfoodbank.org HOW GREATER PITTSBURGH COMMUNITY FOOD BANK WORKS. WORKS FOOD SOURCES Growers Government Food Preparers Manufacturers Retailers Shippers Packers Food Brokers Food Drives FOOD BANK MEMBER AGENCIES Partner Distribution Organizations Food Pantries Shelters PDO Member Agencies After School Programs Soup Kitchens Public Housing Communities PEOPLE IN NEED Senior Centers Produce to People The Impact of Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank The Impact of Food & Nutrition Programs in Southwestern PA The Numbers Food Insecure Population: 314,840 Food Insecurity Rate: Together with partner agencies, the State Food Purchase 12.9% Food Bank serves 11 southwestern Program Pennsylvania counties. A state funded program administered Food Insecure Children: by the PA Department of Agriculture. 89,250  The Food Bank and its partners Income eligibility: below 150% of  served 101,637 people throughout poverty level.  the 11‐county service area in Child Food Insecurity Rate:  September 2013. Out of those who 18.1%  received food assistance, 11,897 $2,922,606 was allocated to the 11  individuals were first‐time recipients, counties in the Food Bank’s service Population in Poverty: area in fiscal year 2011‐12. This  meaning they had never received  emergency food assistance during 308,963 helped feed 125,219 households,   which included 88,834 children and the previous twelve months.   42,800 seniors.*  Poverty Rate:   13.1%  The total allocation for the counties In fiscal year 2012 ‐ 2013,  within the Food Bank’s service area for  28.8 million pounds of food were fiscal year 2013‐14 is $3,019,840.04. Children under 18 in Poverty:  distributed to individuals by the 88,532  Food Bank and its partners  throughout the service area. The Emergency Food  Of the total pounds distributed, Under 18 Poverty Rate: Assistance Program 8,359,636 pounds were government (TEFAP)  18.6% commodities, 12,694,640 pounds were donated, and 7,790,351 pounds A federally funded program  were purchased. Seniors over 65 in Poverty: administered by the PA Department  of Agriculture. Income eligibility: below 33,264  150% of poverty level.  Over 65 Poverty Rate:  7,031 volunteers contributed 63,031 hours of their time to the Food Bank The Food Bank and its partners 8.2% last year. These combined volunteer distributed over 5,241,648 pounds of hours equal the work of 32 full‐time government commodities through Unemployment Rate (July ‘13): employees. TEFAP in fiscal year 2012‐13. 7.2%   Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP / Food Stamps) National School Lunch & Breakfast Programs A federally funded entitlement A federally funded entitlement program program administered by the PA administered by the PA Department of Department of Education. Income eligibility: below 130% of poverty level Public Welfare. Income eligibility: for free meals and 185% for reduced‐ below 160% of poverty level or below price meals. 200% of poverty level for households with individuals over age 60 or with a disability. A total of 17,519,461 free or reduced‐ price lunches were served in fiscal 333,101 individuals in the Food Bank’s year 2011‐12. Approximately 96,479 service area received SNAP benefits in children participated in the program each day. Only 45,873 of those October 2013. children received free or reduced‐ price breakfast each day. In fiscal year 2012‐13, $486,171,386 in SNAP benefits were redeemed at Summer Food Service 1,792 SNAP‐authorized stores. For Program every $5.00 in new SNAP benefits distributed, as much as $9.00 in A federally funded entitlement economic activity is generated. program administered by the PA Department of Education. Income eligibility depends on type of site. 70 sponsors served a total of 901,912 Commodity Supplemental meals and snacks over the course of Food Program (CSFP) the summer of 2013 in the Food Bank’s service area. Approximately A federally funded program 17,258 children participated in the administered by the PA Department program each day. of Agriculture. Hunger‐Free Pennsylvania partners with the Food Bank and other community partners to Child & Adult Care Food distribute the boxes. Income eligibility: Program (CACFP) seniors below 130% of poverty level. A federally funded entitlement program administered by the PA Department of Education. Income Approximately 9,170 low‐income eligibility depends on type of site. seniors throughout the Food Bank’s service area received a monthly box of In fiscal year 2011‐12, 1,015 sites nutritious food in 2013. served a total of 9,215,417 meals and snacks throughout the Food Bank’s service area. *Duplication may be possible. Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC) A federally funded program administered by the PA Department of Health. Income eligibility: women and children under age 5 below 185% of poverty level. In fiscal year 2011‐12, approximately 37,947 women, infants and children participated in WIC each month. In the same year, $71,449,963.91 in WIC benefits were redeemed at 243 WIC‐authorized stores. Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank 1 North Linden Street Duquesne, PA 15110 412‐460‐3663 www.pittsburghfoodbank.org Revised December 2013 Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program A federal and state funded program administered by the PA Department of Agriculture. Income eligibility: WIC participants or seniors below 185% of poverty level. In 2012, vouchers worth $20 were used by approximately 13,229 WIC participants and 37,971 seniors at authorized farm stands and markets. Congregate & HomeDelivered Meals Federal and state funded programs administered by the PA Department of Aging. County Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) administer these programs. Eligibility is based on age or in‐home assessments by AAA. A total of 961,569 congregate meals and 1,273,705 home delivered meals were served to 34,281 seniors* during fiscal year 2011‐12.