Before she took a job at Whole Foods Market in August 2012, Lisa Frumhoff struggled to make ends meet as a self-employed real estate agent.
In 2009, the Mizzou grad and University City native found herself in need of food assistance.
“Jewish Family & Children Services was there to help me through those times,” Frumhoff said. “The food pantry at JFCS was always packed back then with all kinds of people. I was delighted to find out last week that the St. Louis Area Foodbank provides food to JFCS.”
Now, in her role as a customer service team member and personal shopper at Whole Foods Market – Galleria in Brentwood, Frumhoff found herself in a position to help others in need.
During the Whole Foods Market’s “Feed 4 More” program, Frumhoff joined cashiers from across the Midwest in asking customers if they’d like to donate to local hunger relief efforts.
By the time Feed 4 More ended in December, Frumhoff had collected more donations from customers than any other cashier in the 45 stores in the Midwest Region.
She alone raised a whopping $7,003 for the St. Louis Area Foodbank!
The two local Whole Foods Market locations – Galleria and Town & Country – raised a total of $40,331.59 for the St. Louis Area Foodbank.
Since the Foodbank can provide four meals with every dollar donated to the organization, the “Feed 4 More” program helped provide more than 160,000 meals for hungry families in our region.
The Midwest region overall raised an amazing $650,000 for hunger relief charities.
Frumhoff and Whole Foods Market representatives visited the St. Louis Area Foodbank on January 16. After their tour, Frumhoff said seeing the fruits of her labor was “truly one of my top five magical moments.”
“For the first time since our fundraising efforts, I truly got the impact of my efforts, the impact of our efforts, and all the generous customers,” Frumhoff said.
In November and December, Frumhoff and her counterparts across the region asked each customer if they’d like to donate to local hunger relief.
“I’d say ‘we’re raising money for the St. Louis food bank and every $5 feeds a family of four for the day,’” Frumhoff said.
Whole Foods Market reps say their customers were incredibly receptive.
“I feel blessed to have been in a position to make such a difference, just by asking people and giving them the choice,” Frumhoff said. “I asked at least 95% of the people who came through my line.”
Frumhoff says that the Feed 4 More program has made her realize the value of fundraising for a good cause.
“I’ve discovered my passion for fundraising and helping feed the hungry,” Frumhoff says.
She set a personal goal to raise $7,000. In the end, she surpassed her goal by $3.
“When I was fundraising for the last two months, I often shared my story of using the food pantries, myself,” Frumhoff said. “My desire to raise as much as possible came from a deep desire to have healthier food offered in food pantries. I know it costs more, because I spend any money I can, leftover from bills, to pay more for healthier food.”
Frumhoff has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in computer science from the University of Missouri, Columbia. She says her education and career history make it easy for her to relate to the thousands of individuals who work hard, but still have trouble providing food for their families.
After touring the Foodbank and seeing firsthand the volume of food we distribute, Frumhoff said, “down to my bones, I’ve been profoundly moved, touched and inspired.”
Thanks to Frumhoff and all the team members at the Whole Foods Market – Galleria location, they raised the fourth most funds among all the participating stores in the Midwest region during the Feed 4 More campaign.
The St. Louis Area Foodbank is grateful to Frumhoff and all the staff and customers at both our local Whole Foods Markets for their dedication to hunger relief.
By Bethany Prange
Communications Coordinator at the St. Louis Area Foodbank
