Bruce Springsteen visited the Times Union Center on Monday, April 16. The Boss has always been an avid supporter of hunger related charities, and for the Albany show, he allowed Food Bank staff to collect donations before and after the concert. We are proud to announce we collected $9,100! A very special thank you to all who donated and an even bigger thank you to Bruce for allowing us to be there! That money will go a long way in helping feed the hungry in our community!

On April 22, Pasta Pane will donate 30% of your total bill’s purchase to the Regional Food Bank if you bring this flier. (Right click to save to your desktop, then print.) We encourage you to make a donation so our friends at Pasta Pane know how many people to expect! Please “check in” at the restaurant on your phone and they will donate another $1 to the Food Bank (up to $250). Additionally, if you “like” Pasta Pane’s Facebook page in the month of April, they will donate $1 to the Food Bank up to $250.

Show your support for the Regional Food Bank on your Facebook page! Open the full size image here, save it to your computer, and upload it as your Facebook cover photo!

Open the full size image for this version here! Watch for more coming soon!

by Susan Lintner, Director of Program & Agency Services

As the economic climate continues to be bleak, demand for our services and the services of our agencies continues to grow.  In 2011, we distributed 25,684,484 pounds of food and other supplies, a 30% increase from when the recession hit in 2008.

To meet this need, we have expanded our outreach and training to help agency staff increase their ability to meet the changing needs of their clients, maximize their use of the Food Bank’s supplies, and take advantage of other community resources. In these ways, we help agencies stretch their budgets so they can feed the growing number of people turning to them for food assistance.

Agency Services

Workshops

The Food Bank provides a wide variety of workshops on a monthly basis, such as:

• Agency Best Practices
• Accommodating Special Diets
• Client Choice for Food Pantries
• Disaster Preparedness
• Food Bank Orientation
• Food Safety
• Fundraising 101
• Menu Planning
• Outreach Opportunities
• Pantry Tours
• What’s in a Bag?
• And More!

One-on-One Support

Our Agency Relations staff works hard to address the needs of our member agencies and offer them support. Food Bank staff members analyze agency ordering patterns to ensure agencies optimize their use of the Food Bank. In addition, we educate member agency staff so they can provide resources beyond emergency food, such as information on Food Stamps, affordable health care, and nutrition.

Food Bank Programs

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)

As a sponsor of this federal program, the Food Bank partners with community agencies to provide nutritious breakfasts and lunches to low-income school-aged children throughout the summer, when school breakfasts and lunches are not available. The Food Bank sponsors sites in Albany, Montgomery, and Fulton Counties. (SFSP is an equal opportunity provider and employer.)   In 2011, we provided a total of 13,740 meals (4,798 breakfasts and 8,942 lunches) to children in need,  an increase of 2,372 meals from 2010.

BackPack Program

The BackPack Program helps alleviate child hunger by providing at-risk children with nutritious and easy-to-prepare food on weekends, when other resources may not be available. The Food Bank provides backpacks filled with child-friendly and easy-to-prepare food each Friday during the school year. The Food Bank’s BackPack Program currently serves 500 students in 23 schools!

Kids Cafe

Kids Cafes are soup kitchens for children. In addition to providing healthy meals in a safe atmosphere, Kids Cafes provide athletic activities, homework assistance, and nutrition education to disadvantaged youth. The Food Bank currently operates a Kids Cafe at the Schenectady Boys & Girls Club’s Mont Pleasant site.

Mass Distribution

The Food Bank’s Mass Distributions – also called Mobile Pantries – supply people in low-income neighborhoods with surplus food on a monthly basis.  Mass Distributions give people food over and above what they may receive at a food pantry, helping them stretch their limited dollars and giving their nutrition a boost through the provision of healthy food like yogurt, juice, and fresh produce.

Save the Date! Our 29th Annual Golf Tournament will be held on June 7, 2012 at Western Turnpike Golf Course in Guilderland. The day includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktail hour, silent auction, live auction, raffles, and much more! $150/pp or $600/foursome. For sponsorship opportunities, click here. For more information or to receive an invitation, email CaitlynK@regionalfoodbank.net.

Reward Volunteers is a free, easy way to track the time you spend volunteering at the Regional Food Bank and elsewhere in our community — and to earn rewards for your contributions!

Sponsored by Cabot Creamery Cooperative and national community partners, Reward Volunteers runs from February 14 to July 7, 2012. Use our iPhone app or web widget to log your volunteer activity and get your friends involved by sharing on Facebook or via email.

The more hours you log at the organizations of your choice, the more Reach points you’ll earn — opportunities for you and the organizations you serve to win cash and prizes like tasty Cabot cheese and exciting vacation packages!

You can also earn Reach points by sharing your activity on Facebook or via email. The more “likes” and comments your posts receive, and the more emails from you that your friends open, the more chances you’ll have to win. With Reward Volunteers, you or your organization can support volunteer efforts, inspire friends to get involved, and bring well-earned recognition to hard working volunteers throughout the US. More info here.

Mike Breslin has served with distinction over the course of his career, most recently as Albany County Executive for 17 years.  During his administration, Mike refocused services to effectively and efficiently meet the needs of our community’s most vulnerable residents – children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and those striving to achieve self-sufficiency. His unwavering commitment and dedication to Albany County has resulted in lasting positive contributions to thousands of Albany County families, friends and neighbors. 

Mike’s vision as County Executive included a commitment to support the less fortunate. He has been a steadfast champion of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and its efforts to ensure that no one goes hungry. The Food Bank collects and distributes nearly 25 million pounds of food a year to help feed hungry people in our community. This one-time event will aid the Food Bank in its mission to provide food and grocery products to non-profit programs serving hungry and disadvantaged people in 23 counties.

Tickets are $100. If you would like to purchase a ticket for this event, please email Caitlyn Krug at caitlynk@regionalfoodbank.net.

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Tickets are now on sale at all Price Chopper stores for the 3rd Annual timesunion.com/Table Hopping Mac -n- Cheese Bowl to benefit the Regional Food Bank! Tickets are $15/adult, $5/children under 10, and children under 5 are free!

Get more information and check out the participating restaurants here.

Help CDPHP^® support the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York’s BackPack Program. During December, CDPHP will match donations of $100 or more to the BackPack Program (up to $5K) and will donate $5 for every new “like” on the Food Bank’s Facebook page (up to $5K).

To make a donation, mention the “2011 CDPHP Holiday Appeal” and:

• Mail a check, payable to the Regional Food Bank, to 965 Albany-Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110.

• Or, donate online.

• Visit Facebook and share this news with your friends.

• For additional information, visit Twitter.

Registration is now open for the 64th Annual Troy Turkey Trot, and the Regional Food Bank has been designated to receive the proceeds this year! To register, stop by and pick up a registration form at Troy City Hall in the Comptroller’s Office located at 1776 Sixth Avenue or register online at www.troyturkeytrot.com.