Gerald Stejskal 2009 Outstanding Senior Volunteer

On Friday, dedicated volunteer Gerald (Jerry) Stejskal was named Outstanding Senior Volunteer at a celebration at the Itasca County Fair. One of two outstanding seniors presented with this year's honor, Jerry has been a volunteer at Second Harvest since 2002. He showed up one day at the old food bank building looking for ways to help and he has been volunteering at least twice a week ever since.
Jerry can be depended on to do whatever is needed; stock the food shelf, pick up donated bread, work in the re-pack room, assemble boxes for the holiday program or carry out for people coming for food. He is a core member of the "Pie Guys" working every Monday and Thursday mornings to stock the food shelf.
Second Harvest relies on people like Jerry who give of their time to help others. We couldn't provide food for thousands of people every week without the support of many volunteers.
Congratulations Jerry - Super Volunteer.

Missing Meals

During the summer we raise awareness about the stress on low-income families when children are at home and not getting meals at school. Children are missing the lunch, and often the breakfast, they receive at school every week day. Food shelves and other hunger relief organizations help provide those missing meals.

Another way to think of missing meals is the gap between the meals people provide for themselves through wages or other earned income, the meals provided by government sources like food stamps, school meals and WIC, the meals provided by charity such as food shelves and food bank programs and the amount of food required to meet minimum standards. A study done by Second Harvest Heartland Food Bank in St. Paul, an released in March of this year provides county by county data on how large this gap is in Minnesota. Check out www.missingmeals.org to see the full report.

The report shows that in the seven counties served by Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, individuals who’s incomes are at 185% or less of the federal poverty guidelines, provide between 59% and 65% of their meals through their own cash resources. Public sources: federal food stamps (SNAP), school meals, summer feeding, WIC, Commodity programs (Mac & Naps, TEFAP, and state food shelf funding, provide between 15% and 26% of their meals. Non-profits like food shelves, community meals, afterschool snack programs and other food bank programs provide between 4% and 6% of the meals required.

The gap between these food sources and minimum food requirements are the “Missing Meals”. In north central Minnesota, the gap is between 8% in Mille Lacs county and 17% in Aitkin county. Our challenge is to find ways to fill these gaps and provide people with adequate food.

Rotary Truck Visits Walker Club

At the annual Pass the Gavel event on Monday, June 29^th, members of the Walker Rotary Club had the opportunity to see the new Rotary Hunger Relief Truck up close and personal. Members and spouses met at the Lucky Moose for dinner and to “pass the gavel” from Roxanne Olson to the next club president, Ronald “Skip” Duchesneau . Claudette Holly, member of the Walker Rotary Club and Rotary District 5580 Foundation Chair, updated the club members regarding the project. Claudette was instrumental in the Rotary Hunger Relief Project as she encouraged the grant applications and helped shepherd the Grand Rapids Rotary Clubs and Second Harvest through the process.

The truck was parked at the event for all to see the result of the collaboration between area Rotary Clubs and the Rotary District. The Rotary Hunger Relief Truck is a rolling billboard for the organizations that came together to make the truck a reality. The Walker Rotarians gathered alongside the truck for a photo, leaving space in the crowd for “Walker” to show. Each club that participated in funding the truck is listed in the signage on both sides of the box.

It was gratifying for Justin Linnell, Operations Manager, (who drove the truck to Walker) and me to be able to talk to the Walker Rotary Club about the project and to thank them for their early participation in the project.

Rotary Hunger Relief Truck visits sponsoring Rotary Clubs

Area Rotarians got to see the completed Rotary Hunger Relief Truck when it was on tour in June. Rotarians were invited to visit the local food shelf and see the Rotary Hunger Relief truck delivering food to their local agency. Stops were made at Lakes Area Food Shelf in Nisswa where the truck was sponsored by Central Lakes Rotary, Brainerd Lakes Salvation Army, truck sponsored by Brainerd Sunrise Rotary, and International Falls Hunger Coalition, truck sponsored by International Falls Rotary.

Bremer Banks Taking Action Against Hunger

Bremer Banks are Taking Action Against Hunger by teaming up with Feeding America Food
Banks in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin to end hunger! For every$5 donated, Feeding America food banks can purchase and distribute $45 worth of food and grocery products to individuals and families in need. 100% of donations collected are distributed to regional and local food banks and food shelves in Bremer communities.

In addition to collecting funds for Feeding America Food Banks, including Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, Bremer employees are participating in hunger relief volunteer opportunities. Today, June 3, four Brainerd/Baxter Bremer staff assisted with MAC & NAPS commodity distribution at the Salvation Army in Brainerd.

Thanks to Bremer for this great effort on behalf of Feeding America Food Banks in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin!