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| That's how we first met Vivian. She and her
four-year-old son Paul were standing in line at the North Side Team Ministry's Food Pantry
hoping to receive a bag of groceries so they could go home and have their first meal in
two days. Vivian was desperately poor -- but she was smart and determined that her two children would not continue to go hungry. The volunteer gave Vivian three grocery bags, each one filled with cereal, vegetable soup, canned spaghetti with meatballs...enough for three meals a day for three days. Vivian came to the Food Pantry twice a week. Slowly, she and her children began to feel hungry less often. "We couldn't even operate two days a week if it weren't for the St. Louis Area Foodbank," Executive Director David J. Wilhold told me. "They're a vital part of our program." North Side Team Ministry's Food Pantry is one of the more than 350 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and emergency feeding programs served by the St. Louis Area Foodbank. Your generosity helps us distribute over 11,000,000 pounds of food each year! Sadly, 37% of those we serve are children under the age of eighteen. Please continue to help so our neighbors won't go hungry. Your generous donations help feed people...and they help change lives! A few months later, Vivian came to the North Side Team Ministry's Food Pantry and said, "You've been so good to me, I'd like to do something in return. How can I help?" She began working in the office, and while she was helping, she was also learning computer skills, general office skills, and about nutrition. Now she is teaching people in her neighborhood how to prepare healthy meals. But she doesn't need the services of the food panty anymore. Her newfound skills enabled her to find a full-time job, which allows her to put food on the table for her children. We're proud of her, but more importantly, she's proud of herself. For Vivian, it's a major goal that she's achieved. |
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 FROM THE PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR |
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Dear Friends, What if you had to tell your children there was no dinner tonight or breakfast in the morning? Nine out of ten of us cannot even imagine it. Nine out of ten of us won’t ever experience it. Nine out of ten of us are the lucky ones. However, in the bi-state area there are many people who are not so lucky. It is estimated that almost 400,000 people in our service area are at risk of going hungry every day. Over 30% of those at risk are children who can't count on nutritious food for their next meal. Those of us who are the "lucky ones" just can't comprehend what it must be like explaining to our children that there will be no dinner tonight. The St. Louis Area Foodbank may not be able to feed every one in our community, but we can try our best. The Foodbank distributed over eleven million pounds of food in 2001. This is enough to feed more than 30,000 people per day! We know it's not enough but we promise to keep trying. Much has changed since last year at this time… 9-11, the economy, and a confused world… but also much hasn't changed… as hunger in the bi-state area continues. Your help can change things for those in need. What can you do to help? You can volunteer at the St. Louis Area Foodbank or at one of our member agencies, you can organize a food drive, or you can donate financially. Any help you provide will benefit those most vulnerable in our community. Some day we hope that a mother will never have to explain to her child that there will be no dinner tonight or breakfast tomorrow. Then, and only then, will our mission be fulfilled. Sincerely,
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| LOOKING BACK @ 2001 |
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| The St. Louis Area Foodbank has always been fortunate to
have friends throughout the community and 2001 was certainly no exception. As part of Campbell's Chunky/NFL Tackling Hunger 2001 program, Damione Lewis of the Rams ‘weighed’ in on a giant soup spoon at Rams Park and helped the Foodbank collect 4,300 cans of soup! Click here to see the picture. Local radio station 93.7 the Bull sponsored a “Bury the Bull” food drive to benefit our organization by asking listeners to drop off canned goods. During the holiday season, local radio station 104.1 the Mall dedicated airtime during the daily “foodcourt” lunch hour giving our food pantries a few minutes to explain what they do to help others in need. In November of 2001, the St. Louis Area Foodbank was recognized by NBC's "Today" show as an organization facing the growing challenge of feeding America's hungry. Executive Director, Frank Finnegan, was interviewed by Katie Couric. During the 5-minute interview, Frank pointed out that with the current economic downturn, many pantries across the country have been forced to close their doors earlier than usual simply because they are running out of food more quickly. He also discussed how the St. Louis Area Foodbank is working to meet this rising need by establishing a Repackaging Center to reclaim food that would otherwise be wasted. Click here for more on the Today show appearance. Also in 2001 ... The Foodbank joined efforts with WSSM 106.5 FM and Blockbuster by asking the community to drop off a canned good or two at any area Blockbuster location during the holiday season. The 2nd annual CANSTRUCTION competition was held again at Saint Louis Galleria and featured some magnificent structures made solely with canned goods. The “Scouting for Food” campaign was a great success again delivering more than 1 million pounds of food to the Foodbank. The 9th annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ Food Drive was held in May of 2001 and collected more than 230,000 pounds of food. And most importantly, because of the cooperative efforts of these organizations and numerous others not listed, along with you and our staff, the Foodbank distributed 11.3 million pounds of food to your hungry neighbors in need during 2001. |
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| BY THE NUMBERS |
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97% of
all contributions are spent on food distribution