Focus on Food
Fall 2015
Mission
The mission of the Northeast Iowa
Food Bank is to provide nutritious
food and grocery products to nonprofit
organizations and individuals in
Northeast Iowa, while offering hunger
education programs to the community
and those in need.
Serving the Counties of:
Allamakee
Black Hawk
Bremer
Buchanan
Butler
Chickasaw
Clayton
Delaware
Fayette
Floyd
Grundy
Howard
Mitchell
Poweshiek
Tama
Winneshiek
Hunger Action Month
Every September, the Northeast Iowa
Food Bank, observes Hunger Action
Month – an initiative designed to
mobilize the public to take action and
join the movement to help end hunger.
“47,000 Northeast Iowans lack access
to an adequate supply of food, and the
Northeast Iowa Food Bank is eager
to rally around Hunger Action Month
as we continue our fight to solve this
issue,” said Barbara Prather, Northeast
Iowa Food Bank Executive Director.
“September is an opportunity for all
of us to take simple steps towards
supporting those in need.”
Beginning September 1, the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, along with other food banks
in the Feeding America network, kicked off Hunger Action Month by holding events
throughout the country to inspire people to take action to help the millions of people
who are food insecure in the United States. The color orange represents hunger.
People in the community were asked to wear orange on September 3rd, Hunger
Action Day.
Governor Branstad also declared September as Hunger Action Month in Iowa during
a visit to the Iowa State Fair.
Vision
The Northeast Iowa Food Bank
envisions a community in which
hunger is alleviated and all persons
have adequate access to nutritional
food. We will strive to accomplish
our mission so that food security is
ultimately achieved for all households.
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www.northeastiowafoodbank.org
Staff
Barbara Prather
Executive Director
Michelle Winkey
Director of Compliance & Operations
Sunni Kegebein
Director of External Relations
Karen Showalter
Director of Programs
Jim Blough
Warehouse Driver
Holly Caquelin
Client Intake Specialist
Dan Derr
Warehouse Assistant/Driver
Pat Eastman
Operations Manager
Jim Flood
Warehouse Foreman
Brent Groomes
Product Manager
Shauna Herold
Kids Cafe Coordinator
Sheri Huber-Otting
Food Solicitor
Carmen Lappe
Agency Relations Coordinator
Niki Litzel
Development Manager
Chris Madigan
Volunteer Coordinator
Ali McHone
Assistant Client Intake Specialist
Leigh Ann Moyer
Food Handling Coordinator
Stormy O’Brink
Volunteer and Fundraising
Coordinator
Ryan O’Connell
Community Garden Coordinator
Ruth Orth
Accounting Assistant
Caren Rhoads
Custodian
Josh Rodgers
Health Educator
Alisha Rulapaugh
Office Coordinator
Stephanie Thoma
Agency Relations Manager
Leo White
Food Pantry Supervisor
Freddie Williams
Warehouse Assistant
Roger Wilson
Community Programs Coordinator
Kevin Winstead
Warehouse Assistant
Christie Zeien
Customer Service Representative
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From the Director, Barbara Prather
Fall is upon us and school is open again for another year. But, for the nearly 1 in 5 children
in Northeast Iowa who are food insecure, school means access to school lunch and school
breakfast. School means access to the BackPack program so they have access to nutritious food
they can prepare on the weekends. Also, in Black Hawk County, they have access to nutritious
meals we prepare at Salvation Army and Boys & Girls Club sites.
This year Congress is supposed to enact the Child Nutrition Bill which funds, WIC, school
lunch, school breakfast, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Feeding. To date,
they have not done anything. With the need in our country higher than ever, we need your help
to ask them to enact this legislation. These programs are vital to those we serve and you make
a difference by lending your voice to ensure there is adequate funding. Kids Cafe and Summer
Feeding, both of which we operate, rely on funding from this bill. Your voice is important, so
please contact our federal legislators to tell them what these programs do in your community.
With the beginning of fall, we go into the season where we heighten the awareness of hunger as
an issue in Northeast Iowa. We kick it off with Hunger Action Month in September. This is a
time to act and do something in your community that makes a difference. It helps us bring about
change with more and more people getting involved.
Consider what your actions did for us last fiscal year:
• It took nearly 10,000 volunteers and over 40,000 hours to help us accomplish our mission this
past year.
• It took many local businesses, manufacturers, the government, retailers, farmers, and
community members for us to gather the much needed product to provide these programs.
• Funding is critical and the community provides about 90% of our funding that enables us to
provide access for the many people who need our help.
With 1 in 8 people and 1 in 5 children in Northeast Iowa lacking access to an adequate supply
of food, there is much to be done. We can do that by taking action this month and every month.
Taking action gives a voice to those who may not think they have a voice. So give a voice to the
grandparent who is now, unexpectedly, taking care of her grandchild; give a voice to the family
who is suddenly stricken with medical bills; give a voice to the senior who needs extra help after
working very hard his whole life; and finally give a voice to a hungry child who needs your
help.
So please call Congress and your state elected officials to encourage them to take action….it will
help someone who needs our help and it will make a difference.
Our Wish List clip. keep. donate.
Northeast Iowa Food Bank
• canned meat
• soup
• crackers
• canned fruits
• whole wheat pasta
• tomato sauce
Kids Cafe
• plastic food storage containers
• quart-size zip lock bags
• juice boxes
BackPack Program
• peanut butter
• pop top cans of fruits/vegetables
• single-serve meals
www.northeastiowafoodbank.org
Cedar Valley Food Pantry
• canned meat
• canned fruit
• juice
• peanut butter
Elderly Nutrition Program
• peanut butter
• canned fruits
• instant potatoes
• 64 oz. juice
• single-serve meals
World Food Day
News and Events
For the last three years, John Deere Citizenship has partnered with Outreach to host a
volunteer event for employees. An Outreach meal packaging event provides a company
the ability to gather employees in a team-building, hands-on practical activity that is fun
and helps feed the hungry in their community. The meals are nutritionally balanced to
meet recommended dietary guidelines.
The goal of the annual event is to provide meals to the communities in which John
Deere employees live and work. John Deere Waterloo Operations worked with the
Northeast Iowa Food Bank as the recipient of packaged meals from the event. This
year’s event exceeded the group’s goal and packaged more than 152,000 meals.
“Meal packaging with Outreach is an event that John Deere employees
really look forward to every year. Everyone is excited by the fact that all
of the meals are going directly back into their communities,” said Shannon
Adams, Project Manager, Corporate Citizenship for John Deere.
“Employees feel a great sense of pride knowing that they have made such
a huge impact.”
The event has been held at the National Cattle Congress grounds for the
last three years.
Year
2013
2014
2015
Meals Packaged & Donated
84,888
118,584
152,064
Aldi Foods - Cedar Falls
Cedar Heights Presbyterian
Cedar Valley Lions Club
Cedar Valley Unitarian Universalists
Cedar Valley United Way
Central Christian Church
City of Cedar Falls
Comfort Care
Community Church of Hudson
Fareway - Cedar Falls
Fareway - Evansdale
Fareway - Waterloo
Fareway - Waverly
Ferguson Enterprises
Fighter Body Fitness
First Presbyterian in CF
First Wesleyan Church
Hammond Ave. Church of the Brethren
Hearth Fest, Inc.
Hometown Foods
Volunteers (Employees)
227
330
350
Food Drives
Hudson Library
HyVee - Flammang
Iowa Irish Fest
Kaplan University
Kathy Calhoun
KOKZ 105.7
Lincoln Savings Bank - Tower Park
Lincoln Savings Bank - Viking
Lincoln Savings Bank - Downtown CF
Lost Island Water Park
Lou Henry Elementary
Marlys Hughes
Mount Hope UMC
Music Station
Nestle in Waverly
Northwestern Mutual Financial Net
Our Savior’s Lutheran
Randall’s in Hudson
Redeemer Lutheran Church
River’s Edge Christian Church
www.northeastiowafoodbank.org
Riverview Conference Center - PHN
Schumacher Elevator
Silver Eagle Harley Davidson
St. Ansgar Lutheran Church
St. Edwards
St. Johns Lutheran CF
St. Timothys Lutheran in Hudson
Stuff, Etc.
Trinity Episcopal Parish
UNI Womens Soccer
United Church Of Christ Cedar Falls
Unity Presbyterian Church
Walmart - Cedar Falls
Walmart - Independence
Walmart - Waverly
Walnut Ridge Baptist Church
Waterloo Homecoming Association
Westminster Presbyterian
Zion Lutheran Church
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2,000 Pounds Harvested
Program Updates
It has been a busy summer both inside and
outside the Food Bank. The Community
Garden passed a number of milestones and
has produced more than 2,000 pounds of fresh
fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, potatoes,
squash, and watermelon have been the
heaviest produce, but several beds of beans,
Swiss Chard, kale, and collards have brought
in impressive numbers as well.
The garden needs constant attention to
continue to provide for the Cedar Valley Food
Pantry clients. We are always looking for
volunteers to help tend the garden. From planning to weeding to harvesting, our success depends on the people who take
time to come in and help make the garden successful. Please call 319-235-0507 to find out more about how you can help
in the garden.
Summer Classes
This is the first year for a client cooking class at the Food Bank. Clients from the Cedar Valley Food Pantry are given the
opportunity to sign up for a monthly cooking class. Clients said they appreciate having questions answered about cooking,
gardening and produce. One client said,“I’m 62 years old and I still have learned a lot.”
The Food Bank also partnered with the Salvation Army and Boys and Girls Clubs of Waterloo and Evansdale to teach
children about gardening and nutrition this summer. The kids attended a seven week course at the Food Bank that included
container gardening, planting pizza gardens and cooking. They harvested the ingredients to put on a pizza for a snack. The
Waste Trac Education Team also visited to talk about composting and recycling.
Nutrition News: Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti Squash makes a very good noodle that is lower in calories
and higher in water content than most wheat based pastas. It is highly
rich in beta carotene and potassium. It can lower high blood pressure if
consumed over time. The folate contained in spaghetti squash helps in
strengthening the walls of blood vessels and enhances blood circulation.
Quick Spaghetti Squash
Cut squash in half
Spoon out seeds
Puncture a few holes in squash
Place on microwave safe dish and microwave 6-12 minutes
(depends on size)
Fork out inner layers
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www.northeastiowafoodbank.org
Personal Care Drive
Summer Highlights
Most of us take for granted that we have a toothbrush or soap, but imagine
if you didn’t. Nonprofit organizations are often in short supply of personal
care items and families are unable to purchase these items with SNAP
benefits (food stamps).
With the help of several organizations, businesses and churches, the
Northeast Iowa Food Bank hosted the annual Personal Care Drive, throuh
the summer.
The Food Bank worked with several locations to serve as collection points
for the drive. Items could also be brought to the Food Bank.
Requested items for the Personal Care Drive included toilet paper, soap,
shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste and boxes of tissue.
“Low income households struggle to purchase these basic necessities,”
commented Barbara Prather, Executive Director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank.“This drive gave us a chance to collect
many of these items for local distribution as well as distribution through other pantries in Northeast Iowa.”
Representatives from the Food Bank also collected personal care items at several Cedar Valley retail locations in Waterloo,
Cedar Falls, Waverly and Hudson. Thanks to your help, we were able to bring in more than 2,500 pounds of personal care
donations!
Food Bank Welcomes New Staff
Chris Madigan (Volunteer Coordinator) joined the Food Bank in July, although he had been a volunteer
since 2013. Chris also interned in the Programs Department in the Fall of 2014. He is originally from
Chicago, Illinois, but his family later moved to Pella, Iowa when he was young. Chris graduated from
the University of Northern Iowa with his Bachelor’s degree, with honors, in Family Services. Chris
was also a recipient of the Old Gold and Purple Award. Chris lives in Cedar Falls and enjoys writing,
snowboarding, and going on brewery tours.
Patrick Eastman (Operations Manager) joined the Food Bank in September. He grew up in Janesville
where he is an assistant football coach for his oldest brother for the Janesville Wildcats. He was formerly
employed as a Regional Manager at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, overseeing more than forty-five
IT employees nationwide. He has a 4-year-old son, Brady. Patrick enjoys waterskiing as a member of
the Waterhawks show ski team, tailgating with family and friends, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and
watching the Hawkeyes, Patriots, and Red Sox.
Carmen Lappe (Agency Relations Coordinator) joined the Food Bank in September. She is from La
Porte City, Iowa. She graduated from Upper Iowa University in May of 2015 with degrees in Human
Services and Psychology. Carmen is a big music lover and she enjoys singing, as well as playing
the piano, guitar, and ukulele. She also enjoys traveling and sports. Carmen lives in Waterloo with
her husband Jeff and their dog Rosie. They will be welcoming a new bundle of joy to their family in
February of 2016.
Ali McHone (Assistant Client Intake Specialist) joined the Food Bank in September.
She is originally from Chicago, Illinois, but recently moved to Iowa to be closer to family.
Ali currently lives in Cedar Falls with her husband Keith. She has two step children, two dogs and two
cats. She enjoys reading, gardening and going on road trips.
www.northeastiowafoodbank.org
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Board of Directors
Linda Allen
Kirsten Arnold, Secretary
David Braton
Bob Brokaw
Houston Campbell
Ken Cutts
Cheryl Erb
Grant Gubbrud, Treasurer
Aric Halloran
Darren D. Herum, Chair
Phil Jones
Justin Kasuske
Barbara Kramer
Mike Messerer
Jeanne Miller
Todd Rohlfsen, Vice Chair
Reggie Schmitt
Louise Scott
Craig White
Sheila Wilson
Jon Crews, Ex Officio
Carolyn Cole, Ex Officio
Board Member Bio
Ken Cutts is a retired university
teacher who also volunteers
as a truck driver for the Food
Bank. He has initiated a
community meal and food
pantry at St. Lukes Episcopal
church where he is Senior
Warden.
He serves on the Grant
Distribution Committee of the
Community Foundation of
Northeast Iowa and volunteers
at the Catholic Worker House.
He and his wife Patty are
mentors to young people at
the Waterloo Boys and Girls
Club. They are avid supporters
of UNI sports and music, and
enjoy hiking in the Canadian
Rockies and the White
Mountains of New Hampshire.
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Honorariums and Memorials
In Memory of:
by John & Joanne Crabb
by Eldon & Hisako
Adeline Panos
McDade by Richard & Nancy Bahr
by Pamela & James Mason
Athol Cuckie by Sam & Lynn Neill
by David & Susan Feltman
by William & Jane Hobbs
Austin Seitz by Mathias & Mary Jensen
by Richard & Nancy Bahr
by Roger & Evelyn Bergman Bob Delegardelle by Roxann Brown
by Patricia Delegardelle
by William & Barbara Yungclas
Brylea Morgan by Connie Markle
by Karen Kane
by Stephen & Kay Wessman
Charlotte Nelson by David & Karen Huber
by Ronald & Juliann Nelson-Duffy by Lloyd & Joyce Applegate
by Gerald & Leslie Chapman
by Jean & James Zarifis by Vince & Yvonne Heuer
by Helen Forbes
by Steven & Theresa Dixon
by Loretta Roe by James Dixon & Anne Benson
by Gregory & Nancy Hapgood by Barbara Xeches-Rudolph & Keith by Julie Gilbert
Rudolph
by Phillip & Pamela Evans by Wayne & Gail Lundeen
by LD & DR Everts by Shirley Elsberry
by Ken & Sharon Larwick
by Gerald & Beth Voermans
by Jacquelyn & Ronald Smith by Jame & Christine Draude
by Joanne Van Dyke
Cliff Hauser by Michael & Tracy Sanden by Richard & Nancy Bahr
by Jefferson Gospel Open Bible Clinton McMartin Church
by William & Doris Kuhlman
by Friends & Colleagues at NetApp
Dave Huston by Brian Harrington
by Gerry Wester & family
Joan Garthoff Dr. T.F. Thornton by Richard Garthoff
by Mary Mauer
Joan Rogers Earl Wilson by Carolyn Hamilton
by LM & Beverly McCollough
by Gary & Joy Kracaw Edwin Hauff by Thomas & Sherrie Moore
by Rusty & Cathy Bowman
by Gene & Beverly Johnson by Melodie Cummings
by John & Carol Hofstadter Esther Winning by Jon & Mary Johnson by Sandra Derifield
by Stephen & Kathleen Honn
Floyd Epperson by Dale & Ardeth Holmes by Henry L Epperson
by Nancy Dunkelberg
Gene Condon John S. Pavek by Carmen Condon
by Patricia Kramer
by Debbie & Walter Broten
John T. McCoy, MD George & Lena Cavanaugh by Mary B McCoy
by Kenneth Cavanaugh
Joyce Litteaur Harold Reiter by Jan Van Metre
by Jacqueline Reiter
by Litteaurs Garden Produce
Homer Larsen by Lee & Barbara Miller
by Merle & Joyce Larkin
by Phyllis Zager
Jean Garthoff by Larry & Ruth Weigle
by Richard Garthoff
Julia Wulf Jim Grandon by Glen & Rachel Bakker
by Bernard & Joyce Arends
La Dora Wehling by Kent Kenyon
by Erwin Wehling
www.northeastiowafoodbank.org
Marti Siefer by David & Susan Feltman
Mrs. Dorothy Schlueter by Suzanne Bembridge
Mrs. Joan E. Tietz by Suzanne Bembridge
Mrs. Rachel Fulton by Tom Mueller
by Michael Mueller
Mrs. Richard Litteaur by Janice & Gilbert Glasson
Mrs. Richard Litteaur by Mary L. Lichty
My beloved John by Packers Inn
Myron P. Zimmer by Delores Zimmer
Orville Landwehr by Dave Otting & Sheri Huber-Otting
Our daughter, Nancy by Marilyn Wente
Our grandson, Nicolas Scott Remfrey by Dwayne Johnson
POW Korea by Kenneth Cavanaugh
Rachel Fulton by John & Karen Miller
by Robert & Annette Andres
by Eleanor Crownfield
by Dave & Mary Dutton
by Frederick & Ruth White
by Jan Van Metre
by Frederick & Jacqueline Freese
by Frank & Jeanne Alexander
by Jerald Martin
by Paul & Jane Hogan
by Angela & Troy
by John Knoll & Coney Rajkumos
by Duane & Barbara Kuenstling
by Carmen Strauser
by Katinka Keith
by Kris & Rod Waschkat
by Donald & Dianne Shoultz
by Donna Coyle
by John Calton
by Robert Fulton
by Richard & Sandra Fulton
Richard E Nemmers by Marianne Nemmers
Robert Doerscher by Jean Bacon
Robert S. Richardson by Annabell Richardson, Ken & Bonnie Schwab & Maggie Owen
Ron Coffman by Margaret Cundy
Shirley Meyer by Jean Bacon
Thomas Wesley Weissenfluh by Wesley & Dorothy Weissenfluh
Virtus Ramundt by Dorothy Keith
In Honor of:
7th Marines - Korea by Kenneth W. Cavanaugh
Bob Sloan by Cedar Valley Cyclists
David & Amanda Wente wedding by Adrian Johnson
by Laura Hill
Delores Guhl 85th Birthday by Mike & Flo Tovar
First Ref. Church of Bristow by Dale & Phyllis Schwechel
Fr. Paul McManus by Sacred Heart Church
God our Savior Jesus Christ by Troy Wilkes
Harry Lehman’s birthday by Mike & Florence Tovar
Hazel & William Pickrell by Henry L Epperson
Howard Hughes
by Delbert & Nina Pudil
by Lowell Lentzkow
Hudson United Methodist Church by Gary & Barbara Doughty
by John & Mildred Mumm
by Mildred & John Mumm
by Hudson United Methodist Church
by Edward & Marlys Smith
Irene Weber by Gene & Pat Leonhart
Jane & Steve Novick by Gene & Pat Leonhart
Joy Thorson by Keith & Martha Thorson
Marie Oden by Theodore Batemon
Sharon & Al Midthus by Gene & Pat Leonhart
St Paul’s United Methodist Church by Merrill & Claudia Siler
www.northeastiowafoodbank.org
Kudos To:
Rudy’s Tacos staff and
everyone who came
out to support our
Community Garden
fundraiser! You helped us
raise over $800.00 in just
three hours.
The media for their support
in spreading our
message and mission
including KWWL, ICAN,
Mix 93.5, 105.7, KXEL,
97.7, 101.9 and the
Waterloo Cedar Falls
Courier
Wheaton Franciscan
Healthcare for their
donation
Principal Financial for their
grant for the BackPack
Program
Retiring Board member Mark
McGarvey for his service
to the Board of Directors
Welcome to our new Board
Members, Louise Scott
from Upper Iowa, and
Justin Kasuske from
Tyson Fresh Meats
Client Corner:
“I had three of my
grandchildren living with
me for the summer and
was finding it hard to
feed them on just my
income. Now that they’re
in school, I shouldn’t
need your services, but
I’m very thankful for
your help feeding my
extra family through the
summer.”
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NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Waterloo, Iowa
Permit No. 306
1605 Lafayette St.
PO Box 2397
Waterloo, IA 50704
Electronic Service Requested
Student Food Drive
Mark Your Calendar
Students from local schools will host events and fundraisers in an effort to collect
or purchase food for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank October 5th - November 16th.
The Student Food Drive serves as a friendly competition which will benefit the
needy in Northeast Iowa, as well as the students and schools involved.
The Student Food Drive serves as one of the largest food drives for the Food Bank,
gathering between 30,000 and 40,000 pounds of nonperishable items each year.
Tyson Sack Lunch Tyson Fresh Meats is partnering with the Food Bank to raise
money for the annual “Sack Lunch Day.” We are asking local businesses to participate by
ordering lunches for delivery at the end of October, just in time for Halloween festivities. The
lunches will be delivered to offices Thursday, October 29 and Friday, October 30.
All of the funds raised go to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. Orders can be placed by
contacting the Northeast Iowa Food Bank at 319-235-0507 or by e-mailing skegebein@
feedingamerica.org.
#Giving Tuesday
We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to
giving back. On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the
world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give. More information is available at
www.givingtuesday.org.
Gift Wrap Drive
The Northeast Iowa Food Bank will be offering a gift-wrapping service to mall shoppers
in Waterloo and Cedar Falls again this year to collect free-will donations. Every dollar we
collect provides up to 4 meals for families. To help us with this fundraiser, we are requesting
holiday gift wrap donations. Please contact the Food Bank to make a donation of money, gift
wrap, boxes and other supplies needed for the annual Gift Wrap event.
Focus on Food is a quarterly publication of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and is partially underwritten by Pioneer Graphics.
For more information, please contact Sunni Kegebein at (319) 235-0507 ext. 105 or by email at [email protected].