The Northeast Iowa Food Bank envisions a community in which hunger is alleviated and all persons have adequate access to nutritious food. We will strive to accomplish our mission so that food security is ultimately achieved for all households.

SPRING 2019

(Learn how we fight the worst of winter on pg.6)

Somtimes winter deals close calls.So sometimes we have to make tough calls.

UNDER THE WEATHER

At 89 she shares her simple, yet profound outlook on life with us.

(More on pg. 3)

DORTHA SUNDQUIST

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Barb PratherExecutive Director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank

Our Board

Our StaffFrom The Director

Grant Gubbrud, ChairKirsten Juhl, Vice ChairCheryl Erb, SecretaryRick Jaacks, Treasurer

Linda AllenAustin BeckBob Brokaw

Houston CampbellAlly Crutcher

Ken CuttsEmily GirschGreg Greazel

Leonard Hanson

Darren D. Herum Phil Jones

Paul Jungen IIBarbara KramerCorey LorenzenMike MessererJeanne MillerLouise Scott

Sheila Wilson

Ex Officio:Reggie SchmittChris Schwartz

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So much has happened in the past few months, that it is hard to know what to say and where to start. As I sit here tonight, trying sum up all the work that the Food Bank Staff and our volunteers have done in the past few months in a few short sentences is difficult. All I can say is northeast Iowa has stepped up and helped us make a difference in the lives of many.

• Funding support - we can’t do what we do without our donors that help the Food Bank provide food to the community. These donations assist us in bringing food into the Food Bank and distributing it out through the community.

• Volunteer support - everyday people come in with smiles on their faces to help us package food, sort food, pick up food and distribute food. We can’t do it without this help.

• Food Donation support - whether it is through the government, retail partners, distribution partners and manufacturers, all of it is gone through to ensure it is safe and then distributed to those in need through our programs and member agency partners.

It has been a particularly tough winter for many. From the government shutdown, to school closings, to business closings, the winter brought many challenges for the people we serve. There were families not able to go to work and kids not going to school, because life put challenges in their way that were beyond their control. The good news is the community stepped up to help in many ways.

The Food Bank added distributions for better access to the people we serve. We added additional Produce Distributions to our services in the Black Hawk County; we added additional food to our mobile pantry distributions and we worked with our school partners to make sure they could access food for their kids.

Working together we accomplish so much. Our strategic plan is to Close the Meal Gap. We can do that because you help provide the Ingredients, Serving Size and Utensils. Having the resources, the food supply to meet the need and infrastructure all make a difference.

Your support has been critical this winter and always. A recent visitor to our food pantry started: “When I first had my daughter it was hard. I was a single mom and it was hard to get Pampers and food assistance and stuff like that. So I decided to go down to the Food Bank for help with diapers and they were able to help me with food to make sure I had food to be able to provide and feed her. Thank you, Food Bank. We love you.”

We thank you for all you do, so kids can concentrate in school, families can use other resources to pay their rent and utility bills and so people can get food and diapers when they need it.

For all of this, we are grateful…

Barb Prather, Executive DirectorMike Knipp, Director of Development

Susan Kraus, Director of Network RelationsAlisha Rulapaugh, Director of Community EngagementMichelle Sullivan, Director of Compliance & Operations

Shannon Bass, Distribution Center ManagerDan Bohnker, Group Volunteer Coordinator

Joslyn Canfield, Agency ServicesMaddie Christensen, Individual Volunteer Coordinator

Debra Eckerman, Driver/Warehouse CoordinatorSusan Entriken, Grants & Contracts Coordinator

Jim Flood, Warehouse ForemanRhianna Galema, Network Relations Coordinator

Brent Groomes, Warehouse Tia Gutierrez, Network Services Coordinator

Bryan Helleso, Marketing ManagerMelissa Hicok, Accounting & HR ManagerAgnes Kress, Community Events ManagerRhonda McBride, Pantry Services Manager

Sherm McNeal, Kids Cafe CoordinatorAndrew Mohr, Network Service Assistant

Tammy Morrison, Admin AssistantCaren Rhoads, Janitor

Tom Roschen, Fleet Coordinator/DriverRon Sichra, Warehouse/Driver

Lisa Spitler, SNAP Outreach CoordinatorTom Swalin, Operations Manager

Doug Stufflebeam, Warehouse/DriverMara Warnke, Pantry Services Assistant

Leo White, Food Room CoordinatorFreddie Williams, Receiving CoordinatorEmily Yoder, Culinary Programs Manager

Daniel Chavez, Americorps VISTAClare Magalaner, Americorps VISTA

Keely Wright-Ogren, Americorps VISTATyler Huckfelt, Volunteer ManagerNicole Valentine, Americorps VISTA

Emily Brumm, Intern

Our Board

Souper Bowl of Caring

Empty Bowls

National Day of Service

Spring Sack Lunch

Letter Carrier Food Drive

Over 18,000 meals were raised/collected during the annual Souper Bowl of Caring, on Sunday, February 3rd.

12 area churches, organizations and businesses came together to support this annual event which focus

around the “big game”. Together they tackled hunger by almost doubling what was collected last year!

Empty Bowls, Friday March 29th, is an effort from artists, volunteers, businesses, students and ALL of northeast Iowa

dedicated to alleviating hunger in our 16 county service area. The event will include a live auction, silent auction, live

music, a soup buffet, and raffle drawings all night long.

Around 675 community volunteers, many of them UNI student athletes , volunteered packing BackPacks

as part of UNI’s annual Martin Luther King Day of Service on Monday, January 21st at UNI. This daylong session resulted in about 18,000 bags for the BackPack

program, or nearly a month’s worth.

Let us pack lunch for you, on Thursday April 25th or Friday April 26th during our annual Spring Sack Lunch fundraising event. Distribution of sack lunches will take place again in the greater Cedar Valley area. Keep your

eye out for how to order in early April.

Friday, March 29th

Thursday April 25th & Friday April 26th

Saturday, May 11th

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

DID YOU MISS THIS?

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Getting Involved | Past & Upcoming Events

The National Association of Letter Carriers will host their annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 11th. Plan on leaving a nonperishable food

donation in a bag near your mailbox, and the letter carrier or a volunteer will make sure it gets delivered to us rain or shine!

Contact us if you would like to volunteer for this event.

HER PAST IS A PRESENT TO THE FUTURE

YOUR DONATIONS GO FURTHER HEREINVEST IN OUR MISSION TO IMPACT OUR CLIENTS, STAFF & SMALL BUSINESSS

MEET DOROTHAIngredients | Volunteers, Donors, & Advocates

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HONORARIUMS“My family, we always had a big garden, and we canned…whatever you wanted. You could go to our cannery, and we’d have it. That’s how we grew up. I’ve always had a garden.”

Dorotha Sundquist, 89, is a long-time financial supporter of the Food Bank. In particular, she helps fund the BackPack and Elderly Nutrition Programs. Dorotha sponsors the cost of operation for these programs right in her home county of Buchanan. We recently visited Dorotha at her wide, welcoming ranch-style home on the edge of Independence to ask her about what getting involved means to her.

We pulled into the driveway and were greeted with a view of the great expanse of snowy fields. This is the land Dorotha and her late husband, Grant, nourished and grew on during the warm seasons, year after year. Surely this place must thrive with life - when it isn’t covered in several feet of snow. A plaque hung on the wall, reading simply, “Home is where your story begins.” To Dorotha, being involved means being home.

“When Grant and I were married,” Dorotha tells us, “we tried out several churches. One church was very receptive to [new] people coming to church, and one church didn’t even know you were there. So we said, ‘We want to go to the church that knows we’re there, and can do something.’ Well, immediately I was on Property and Finance committee for the church. And Grant was always doing something for them. We were always involved in something.”

Dorotha has been involved in the BackPack program for many years, even before donating financially. Her church would host their local packing. “We’d [pack the food and] take it to the schools. We did a lot of laughing and talking, it was just great fun. You knew that if you had a certain group of people come, we’d have a good time.”

Sitting in her living room, Dorotha watched each car as it passed by on the main road, wondering if someone might be stopping by. She tells us it’s typical for her to have visitors from her community. With the amount of heavy snowfall this winter, Dorotha is housebound - but friends bring her home-cooked meals. “I think you have to be willing to receive as well as give,” she explains. “But just to receive is not the way. You have to do something. It does help to know that you’re a part of something. That means that you take as well as give.”

In a final comment, Dorotha added, ”I think you have to be involved in order to live. You have to do something for somebody. It may not be something big, it may not be noticed by anybody else. But you have to have that satisfaction that you have done something for somebody else.”

Honorariums and Memorials are some of the most special Ingredients we have.HONORARIUMS & MEMORIALS

HONORARIUMS

MEMORIALS

Ingredients | Volunteers, Donors, & AdvocatesIngredients | Honorariums and Memorials

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Paul Barnett by James & Phyllis BarnettMarcia & Rich Bechthold by James & Gretchen KullmerMr and Mrs Richard P Brown by Andy HansenTammy Byrd by Cedar Falls Utilities Lonnie Christie by Megan HarmsAllamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative by Wheeler, Van Sickle & Anderson S.C.Heartland Power Cooperative by Wheeler, Van Sickle & Anderson S.C.Molly Cormaney by Cedar Falls Utilities Nancy Culver by David & Mary DuttonKen Cutts by Louis & Susan FettketherKen & Patty Cutts by Liane NicholsMike Dunn by Joellen YeagerDavid & Mary Dutton by Nancy ShireyBetty Jane Engelkes by Mary EngelkesJim Erb’s Birthday by Scott & Lisa SoiferThe Wiles Family by Charles QuirkDeb Fink by Gene & Pat LeonhartDr. Judith Finkelstein by Linda May FitzgeraldCarolyn Flaskerud by Barbara & James DaleJim Gardner by Nancy AndersonPaul & Ardith Goings by Susan KoppmannKent Halder by Cedar Falls Utilities Leonard Hanson by Ronald & Candace SteeleBecky & Greg Hargreaves by Rebecca DugganValeria Herold by Anne BlockerAnastasia Kriener by Anne BlockerRosemary Kriener by Anne BlockerLee & Amy Lindgren by Rocco & Jeanie Scaturro by Tony & Carolyn Dietz The Evans Family by Rachel EvansMike Litterer by Cedar Falls Utilities Katelyn McDonough by Tammy SevereLinda Nielsen by Stephanie MarraAmy Olson by Kari HaaseAlan & Karen Orr by Kirk OrrAlan & Karen Orr by Love, Jill & Stan OrrBrian Quirk by Charles QuirkJeff & Micki Reints by Brad & Stacey Reints

Michael Adams by Barbara AdamsKelsey Ames by Elaine AmesJim Anderson by Michael & Nan QuesinberryEarl Bellis by Mary BellisAaron Berns by G.F. BernsWalter E. Bielefeld by Lenora BielefeldBernadine Bleile by Mary FratzkeBecky Bruce by Douglas BruceKenneth Caquelin by Norma Ellen CaquelinGeorge Carter by Betty CarterJudy Chelle by Jon & Wendy FooteAnieta Claassen by Thomas ClaassenKenneth Clark by Susan ClarkGene Condon by Carmen Condon by Debbie & Walter BrotenRichard Cory by Mary FratzkeMuriel & Harold Cowles by Pat Kobliska

Gene Delagardelle by Kenneth & Kathleen WernimontAmy Denholm by David Nelson, Ken Nelson and everyone at NelsonCorp Wealth Management by Marsha Koenig by Cary Darrah by Mark & Deanna Schwab by James & Barbara Prather by Ross & Teri Stuckey by Melissa ReadeRobert Douglas by David & Susan FeltmanWilma Duckett by Gary & Linda WoodwardJay Dummermuth by Judith DummermuthScott Eberling by Lee Allan EberlingEva Eberling by Lee Allan EberlingMiya Isabella Erickson by Walter & Amy ZehrAlex Etringer by Kenny & Robin EtringerRoger Fisher by Mary Gengler Buck & Dorothy Fisher by John & Delberta FisherPhyllis Foster by LeAnn & Michael CraftMerlin Gesing by Rebecca GesingDon Gobeli by Steven PrescottRuth Gooder by Gary GooderMr. & Mrs Zane Hanlin by Wanda TuckerFrancis “Fritz” Harrington by Katherine HarringtonJan Heggebo by Faris FamilyPatricia Hehr by Erhart HehrDr. Steve Hoody by Timothy & Nancy O’ConnorMary Hunt by Harlan & Bruce Hunt & Jon ReedEdward Jamosky by Alice JamoskyDorothy Jennings by Suzanne BembridgePatricia Johanns by Clem JohannsMalay Kar by Drew Fober & Stephanie ArensdorfKenneth Kenner by Judith KennerWilliam “Bill” Knoepfler by James & Sharon MeggisonDonald Leyh by David & Karen Matt Robert Lichty by Mary LichtyIla F. Lincoln by DeLaine & Jane FreesemanKenneth Lowin by Audrey LowinMary Mausehund by Dorothy PoppM. Bernadette McCoy by John & Margaret McCoyNeil Nordman by Connie NordmanMichael Olson by Beatrice Wilson

George Oluf Stokker by Kathleen StokkerRoy Page by Teresa PageMerle & Harriet Picht by Walter & Teresa BrandtKay Prentice by Deborah LoersRandy Reed by Kenny & Robin EtringerNicolas Scott Remfrey by Dwayne Johnson Andrew J Schaefer by David & Teresa SchaeferLeRoy Schmit by Joan Schmit Carl Schneider by Eva SchmitzDonald Schutte by Eleanor WilkesJohn Sinnott by Kathleen SinnottBill Sinnott by Sinnott Family Pastor Larry & Eleanor Stumme by Martha OlsenMary Elaine Thoma by Kenneth & Kathleen WernimontRoman Thome by Marcella DunnwaldRoman Thome by Victoria ThomeDelbert & Gladys Timion by John & Delberta FisherRev. Russ Tomlinson by David & Susan FeltmanDorothy Untiedt by Marcella Dunnwald by Julie WilcoxJames Van Arkel by David VanArkelKendryk Ward-Washington by Katherine Plummer Esther Weber by Gary & Marjorie WeberArdys Weltge by Lorraine BakerWarren Weltge by Lorraine BakerWarren & Ardys Weltge by Cynthia WilsonLyndon Wenthe by Perry Novak Electric Inc.Wendall Wexter by Lorraine Baker by Betty WexterCharles Wilkes by Eleanor WilkesDr. Jack D. Wilkinson by Carole WilkinsonDeborah Willig by Denise WilligCatherine Willwerth by Donna MitchellEsther Winning by Sandra DerifieldDelbert & Delores Woodward by Gary & Linda WoodwardRichard Yarnes by Kelly SchottPercy Nelson by Juliann Nelson-Duffy Mohning Family by Barbara MohningOur beloved grandson Nicolas Scott Remfrey by Dwayne JohnsonJay by James & Cheryl Erb

Don & Phyllis Reiter by Gerald & Sue O’LoughlinJeffry Sales by Jennifer SalesLaura Schaefer by Lynne CavanaughKathy Sinnott by Steven SinnottEric & Lindsey Smith by A & L LindgrenDouglas Tharpe by Kelly Oppelt Delza J. Van Arsdale Brown by Redonna J. ParkerBrody Vogel by Daniel BreenMarv & Joan Vore by Norma WebberHudson United Methodist Church by Mr. & Mrs Edward SmithHope for the future by Kevin & Stephanie NahnsenIndependence Food Pantry by Tim HomanCedarloo Church of Christ by Mark McColmIn honor of our Grandparents by Emily SchwickerathChildren-No child in America should go hungry by Fred CollinsHudson United Methodist Church by Edward & Marlys SmithFolks whose paychecks are held by Gov. action by Austin & Judith FernowHudson United Methodist Church by Mr. & Mrs. Edward SmithThe Glory of God by Chad FolkenIn honor of my deceased family members and those here with me by Karon Gram

Utensils | The Tools We Need To Close The Meal Gap

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NEW IMPROVEMENTS ARE ‘TIGHT’!In December 2018, the Food Bank received funding from ConAgra Brands to purchase a brand new wrapping machine for our warehouse. The machine allows users to wrap full pallets quickly and efficiently, saving time as well as resources by reducing wasted plastic. The pallet is loaded onto a turntable and as it spins, the machine dispenses an even stretch of plastic wrap as it rises up and down the pallet.

Prior to acquiring the wrapping machine, warehouse employees and volunteers resorted to hand-wrapping each pallet, a time-consuming and haphazard task. Frequently, wrapping pallets can quickly become a mess – especially if the pallet is stacked with unusually shaped items. But the new machine can easily accommodate even the most Pisa-esque towers of food products. Thanks to this new acquisition, the Food Bank can more quickly and safely store every agency order destined to leave our warehouse.

NOW THAT’S A WRAP!

NORTHEAST IOWA THANKS YOU!TIP: JUST $25 CAN FILL A FAMILY’S GROCERY CART AT A FOOD PANTRY

Serving Size | 46,440 Hungry Northeast Iowans

WINTER WEATHER ALERTS A NEEDHUNGER HAS NO SNOW DAYS

From countless sequential snowfalls delivering multiple inches, to freezing, thawing and flooding seemingly happening all in the same day, we find ourselves in a time of year when any day could deliver inhospitable conditions. Now, you already knew how Iowa can be, but what you might not think about is just how terrible this ends up being for an organization with our scale and operational responsibilities. If you were to think about what we do at the most simplistic level, you would say we primarily have three major operations as a Food Bank, all of which suffer from tumultuous weather:

• Food is transported to our facility • Food is inventoried in our facility • Food is delivered from our facility

When winter weather hits, we have many things to factor when assessing “Is it safe to be receiving food in these conditions?” We have to think about the safety of our food-rescue team, most of whom get here by 5AM to ready the trucks and warehouse for grocery store pick-up. We have to think about the semi-drivers bringing large shipments from manufacturers and retail outlets, who have 14 more wheels to traverse the ice and snow through. And we also have to think about those who visit us every day to drop off donations of food from their cupboards or food drives. We love food, but at the end of the day, we care about people more.

We inventory our food to an excruciating level of detail, to optimize efficiency and remain organized. Though this all happens inside and away from the outdoors, we rely heavily on volunteer groups and individuals to help us sort, store, repackage, package, and fulfill orders. On any given day we could have over 100 different volunteers here to assist us. In regards to their safety, if the weather is bad, we want them to stay home. The flip side of this, is that as soon as we start loosing volunteers due to weather, we have effectively lost all the help and kept all the work remaining to be done. This is a tough call, but we always choose their safety over our convenience.

Lastly, both staff and volunteers are responsible for taking the food that’s transported and inventoried here, and delivering it across northeast Iowa, meaning that our clients are the ones who end up suffering. From pantry deliveries across 16 counties, 13 monthly mobile food pantries, our Cedar Valley Food Pantry, and our after school meals we deliver daily, just one day where we have to close - potentially mean thousands of people must wait. To us, this is unacceptable.

At the end of the day, we know our clients are the ones who are affected most by this, but thankfully, they are often the ones who understand that, from time to time, the worst case scenario happens and plans must change. That’s why we appreciate you, our donors, volunteers, and supporters, for giving us the grace and resources to overcome a day of terrible road conditions, wind-chill, and blizzards and say “Tomorrow is a new day.” Your gifts say this to us, and there’s 45,260 northeast Iowans hear it too, even when the worst weather isn’t the worst thing someone may be experiencing. Thank you.

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FOR SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITYTHANK YOU

Bertch Cabinets Manufacturing

Premier Casting Services, Inc.

Exchange Club of Waverly Iowa

Service Signing, L.C.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Rabo AgriFinance, Inc.

Hydrite Chemical Co

Church World Service, Inc.

QPS Employment Group

Farmers State Bank

Scheels All Sports

ILNorplex, Inc.

DONATIONS DOUBLED UNTIL APRIL 30THCAN WE RELY ON YOUR GIFT TODAY?

Friends of the Food Bank have generously agreed tomatch every gift — up to $10,000 — from now until April 30.

Now every $10 you give — when doubled — helps provide up to 80 meals!Visit www.northeastiowafoodbank.org for more information!