A N N U A L R E P O R TNOWAVA I LABLE AT
KZOOLF.ORG
- A N N U A L -
A W A R D
W I N N E R SANNE WEND LIPSEY
FOOD JUSTICE People’sFoodCo-op
COMMUNITY PILLARMapleHillAutoGroup
FOOD INDUSTRY SUPPLY HERORajzer’sFarmMarket&Greenhouses
GOLDEN LOAF (GROUP AWARD)
St.MartinofToursEpiscopalChurch
GOLDEN LOAF (INDIVIDUAL AWARD)
JudyRoss
MARCIA JACKSON HUNGER ADVOCACY
SUMMERFEEDINGSITESPONSORSComstockPublicSchools
Galesburg-AugustaComm.SchoolsGullLakeCommunitySchoolsKalamazooPublicSchoolsParchmentSchoolDistrictPortagePublicSchools
VicksburgCommunitySchools
WILLIE WEBSTER OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER
GloriaCopeland
2 0 1 4 | 2 0 1 5
Louisaquietguywhoworkshardanddoesn’taskformuch.Perhapsthat’swhyitcameasashocktohiscoworkerswhentheyfoundouthewasutilizingtheservicesofKalamazooLoaves&Fishestomakeendsmeet.
BeforemovingtoKalamazootopursueabarberingdegree,LouworkedforaretailwarehousestoreinHolland,Michigan.Hewasemployedthroughatemp
agencysowhenthingsatthestoresloweddown,hewasoneofthefirsttolosehisjob.HeknewstartingoverinKalamazoowherehedidn’thaveasupportsystemwouldn’tbeeasy,buthewasdeterminedtomakeagoofit.
Whenfinishinghisbarberingdegreedidn’tpanout,Lougotajobatalocalsupplycompany.Whilehewasgratefultohaveanewjob,hefoundhewasstill
havingtroublepayinghisbillsandhavingenoughleftoverforfood;that’swhenheturnedtoKalamazooLoaves&Fishes.
“IusedtovolunteeratafoodpantryinHolland,”Louexplained.“Isortofknewwhattoexpect.”Louknewhewouldbeonatightbudgetwhilegettingbackonhisfeet,butheneverexpectedtoutilizeKLF’sservicesaspartofhisacclimationtoanewcity.
“SomeofmycoworkersfoundoutIwasgoingtoLoaves&Fishesforfood,”Lousaid.“Whenmanagementfoundout,IwasgivenaraisesoIcouldaffordtopurchasemyownfood.We’reonebigteam,whereIwork.Theytakecareoftheirpeople.”
Louisthankfulfortheopportunitieshe’sbeengivenbyhisnewemployerandisalsothankfulfortheresourcesKLFprovidedwhilehewasreestablishinghimself.Whenaskedwhatadvicehewouldgivetootherswhomaybeinhissituation,hereplied,“Ifthere’saservicelikeKLFinyourcommunityandyou’regoinghungry,utilizeit.That’swhatit’stherefor.”
Lou’s story
Name changed for anonymity
APRIL/MAY 2016
It’snotunusualtoseethelookofsurpriseonaperson’sfacewhenIrevealtothemthatKalamazooLoaves&Fishesreliesonthehelpofapproximately1000volunteerstomakeourfoodprogramspossible.Thisastonishingfactisusuallymetwithinquiriesaboutourservicesandhowwe’reabletoretainsomanydedicatedindividuals.Dedication,Ioftenexplain,istheveryheartandsoulofourvolunteerforce.
ManyofKLF’svolunteershaveplayedanactiveroleinallowingustofeedhungrypeoplesincethe1980s.WiththeselongtimevolunteerscomesawealthofknowledgeandadeeppassionforhelpingthoseinKalamazooCountywhoneedahand.Thesedevotedindividualsarealsoinstrumentalinourabilitytorecruitandretainaqualityvolunteerbase–eagerlytakingnewphilanthropistsundertheirwingsandwelcomingthemtotheKLFfamily.
Ourvolunteerscomefromallwalksoflife.They’reallages.They’reallracesandreligions.They’rebusinessprofessionals,collegestudents,serviceclubmembers,andretirees.Withthemtheybringuniqueskillsthatallowustooperate,mostdays,likeawell-oiledmachine.At
KLF,thisdiversitymeldstogethertoblurthelinesofwhatmakesusdifferentand,instead,emphasizeswhatbecomespossiblewhenagroupofpeoplecomestogetherforacommonpurpose:tofeedhungrypeople.
NOTE FROM JEN COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: MELODY STIRK
KELLER WILLIAMS REALTYWith36yearsinrealestateintheKalamazooarea,MelodyStirkisnostrangertothemanythingsthatmakeourcommunityagreatplacetolive.Butshealsoknows
therearepeoplestrugglingtomakeendsmeet.Sheisdedicatedtogivingback,andfeedinghungrypeopleremainsclosetoherheart.
“Ican’tstandhavingpeoplehungry.Oneoutofevery5kidsishungry.So4outof5canhelp–whyarepeoplestillhungry?”Melodycontinues,“I’mjustshockedthatthereisanyonehungryinthiscityofsomanyresources.”Shealsoregularlyencourageslocalfarmerstoconsiderdonating
excessproducetoLoaves&Fishestohelpgetmorefreshproductintothehandsofthosewhoneedit.
Melodycontributesmonthlybecausesheknowsthathungerisayear-roundissueandtherearetimeswhenKLFexperiencesfewerdonations,butneedremainshigh.Overthepasttenyears,Melodyhasdonatednearly$40,000ofherincomefromrealestatesalestosupportLoaves&Fishes.“Igivemonthlybecausethereisalwayssomeonehungry.Therearesomanypeopleinourcommunitywhocandonatejust$5or$10dollarsamonthtohelpwipeouthunger.”Reflectingonherownlife,Melodyrememberswhenshewasjuststartingoutandbarelyhadenoughtoliveon.“IwillneverforgetthatandgivebacknowthatIamable.”
InadditiontohelpingKLF,MelodyisactiveinsupportingtheGospelMission,GirlScouts,AnimalRescueProject,andToysforTots.Thelocalartcommunityisalsoapassionbecauseit’spartofwhatmakesourcommunityagreatplacetolive.
Thankyou,MelodyStirk,foryourunwaveringdedicationtofeedinghungrypeople!ExecutiveDirector
• StartafuntraditionofdonatingtoKLFinaparent’sname.
• It’sagreatgiftforaparentwhohaseverything.
• It’sathoughtfulwaytohelplocalparentsstrugglingtoputfoodonthetablefortheirchildren.
• It’sameaningfulwaytohonorparentsandgrandparentswhohavepassedaway.
• Ithelpspeopleinneedatatimeoftheyearwhenourservicesaremostindemand.
T H I S M O T H E R ’ S DAY & FAT H E R ’ S DAY
GIVE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
Celebrate the parents in your life with a gift in their honor or memory!
We’ll send, or you can pick up, a special KLF donation notification card to celebrate the
gift made in their name.
Formoreinformation,pleasecontactGretaat269-488-2617x208
“”-Susan,Mother&KLFClient
THE UNDENIABLE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERSHowmuchwouldyouguesstheestimatedhourlyvalueofavolunteer’stimeisworth?Woulditshockyoutoknowthatit’sestimatedatover$23perhour?Theeconomicvalueofthe60+millionvolunteersintheUnitedStatesisover$160billionperyear.Volunteerssupplycriticalserviceslikefirefighting,counseling,caringforthehomeless,andstockingshelvesatlocalfoodpantries.AtKalamazooLoaves&Fishes,weknowfirsthandthedramaticimpactadependablevolunteerbasecanhaveontheabilitytoachieveamission.
KalamazooLoaves&Fishesisresponsibleforoverseeing23pantriesinourcommunity,allofwhicharemannedbyvolunteers.InadditiontoourGroceryPantryProgram,weoperatefouradditionalprogramsthatrelyonvolunteertimetoprovidefoodat71sitescountywide,includingschoolsandlow-incomeseniorhousingcomplexes.Withoutourvolunteerbase,hungerinKalamazooCountycouldlookdramaticallydifferent.The700+peopleweserveeachdaywouldlookelsewhereforfoodormorelikely-gohungry.The10,500localchildrenwhostrugglewithhungereachdaywouldbemoreworriedaboutovercominghungerpangstogettosleepatnightthangettingadequaterestsotheycandowellinschool.
Eachandeverydayourworldistouchedbythegenerosityofvolunteers.Ourrivers,parks,andhighwaysareclearoftrashduetotheirefforts.Ourchildrenlearnvaluableskillsfromcoaches,mentors,andtutors.Kindfacesgreetusatcommunityevents.Wecan’timaginewhatlifewouldbelikewithouttheirselflessness;canyou?
KalamazooLoaves&Fishesisextremelygratefulforitsvolunteers.Whethertheyareabletogiveonedayperyearoronedayperweek,theirdonatedtimemakesallthedifferencetosomanyinourcommunity.ThoseeffortshavearippleeffectthatspanbeyondKalamazoo.Ifyou’rethinkingaboutdonatingyourtime,weencourageyoutodosoregardlessoftheamountoftimeyouhavetogive.Sometimesallittakesisamomenttomakealifelongdifferenceforsomeoneelse.
Knowingyouwillhavefoodonthetable[foryourchildren]—Idon’tknowhowtodescribethatrelief.
Thisyear’sNALCFoodDriveisSATURDAY, MAY 14THHelpthisyearbyleaving
non-perishablefoodforyourmailcarrier.Lookforspeciallymarked
paperbagsinthemailsoon!
GIVINGCOUPON:APRILCOUPON#151
Westretcheverydonated
dollartohelpthoseinneed.
Thankyouforyoursupport.
DonationAmount
$
Please send your contribution by April 15th.
FoodWishList:CannedTuna
Please send your contribution by May 20th.
FoodWishList:CannedVeggies
GIVINGCOUPON:MAYCOUPON#152
Considermakinga
Mother’sDaydonationin
someone’sname.
DonationAmount
$
MO
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HLY
GIV
ING
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KLF VOLUNTEER GROUPSAreyouitchingtomakeadifferenceinyourcommunity?Doyouknowagroupoflike-mindedpeoplewhowanttogetinvolvedtoo?NowisagreattimetostartyourownvolunteergroupwithKLF!
KalamazooLoaves&Fisheswelcomesvolunteergroupsthatdoeverythingfromsortingfoodandmanningpantryshiftstohelpingprepareournewslettersformailing.OurvolunteercoordinatorworkshardtoschedulegrouprotationsduringtheworkweektofittheirscheduleswhilehelpingKLFrunsmoothly.
KalamazooLoaves&Fishesisseeingmorecorporatevolunteergroupscomethroughourdoors.BusinesseslikeOldNationalBank,KalseeCreditUnion,GreenleafHospitalityGroup,andStrykerencourageemployeestovolunteeronaregularbasistogivebacktothecommunityduringworkhours.Checkwithyouremployertoseeiftheyhaveacommunityvolunteerprograminplaceorifthey’dbeinterestedinstartingone.
Ifyou’reinterestedinbeingapartoftheKLFfamilyasavolunteer,pleasecontactVolunteerCoordinatorCheriseBuchananat269.488.2617ext.209orCherise@kzoolf.org.
SAVE THE DATE!Thisyear’sCROPWALKisSUNDAY, APRIL 24TH
GrabfriendsandfamilyandjoinusinBronsonParkat1p.m.towalktohelpendlocalandglobalhunger.
WouldyouprefertoreceivecommunicationsfromKLFelectronicallyorviasnailmail?
We’dlovetohelpwiththat!PleasecontactLaura Winther at 269.488.2617 ext. 206or
CAN WE BETTER SERVE YOU?
TRIBUTES 1/1/16-3/5/16SpecialthankstothosewhohonorfriendsandfamilythroughcontributionstoKLF!
IN HONOR OFAunt Judy M.Robert&LindaBlackAnna Banner Margaret&TimFranklinBob Black LindaBlackJoe Black M.Robert&LindaBlackSammi BlackM.Robert&LindaBlackLily Black M.Robert&LindaBlackJustin BlackM.Robert&LindaBlackJessie BlackM.Robert&LindaBlackJeane CandidoRobert&ElizabethCandidoCatholic Deacons Joe&BeckySchmittMarlene DePierre RobertLihosit&PamelaDePierreTimothy Fallon ClarionGroupJuanita Goodwin ErvinArmstrongPatriciaColes-ChalmersSierd Hoekstra, Jr.GertrudeHoekstraAlbert Hoekstra GertrudeHoekstraJamie Jeremy LindaPoquetteJennifer Johnson JonRiccioJack Oudsema Clyde&MaryStevensCollin Palmer Michael&BarbaraPalmerPatients & Families of Drake Road OrthodonticsDrakeRoadOrthodonticsSusan Paul MarkPaulDan Pope Dan&BarbBarberJoan Rentschler AdamRentschlerRobert & Loree Bagley’s ChildrenRobert&LoreeBagley
Isaac Rubin EliRubinJoyce VandermayDonnaJohnsonJulius VanDerSlikEdward&MarilynDavis
IN MEMORY OFBette Anderton Carl&GaleDeKleineRobert & Marion Barr ThomasBarrPatrecia Breen KayBaetsenMarilyn Burlington CarolGrantKaren Cernik JosephJ.CernikRobert Cleland BettyClelandPatricia Coleman LizRoelofsTom Crooks MarthaVandelindeMarie CumminsJohn&CherylWestbrookEvans Dallavalle BermoEnterprises,Inc.Irene Evans BettyClelandColleen&MichaelDixonSueEvansAlvin&BettyHolmesHelenNorrisVern&JeanneWilsonJamie Haan Christine&RobertZedeckSierd Hoekstra Sr. GertrudeHoekstraMary KlitzGrantKolbMarguerite Kolb GrantKolbVirginia & James Kordupel, Sr. JamesKordupel,Jr.Lance Lambert MarthaVandelindeTerry Lason NancyJonesPat Loftus Lois&SterryVanderMeer
Linda Mary Renauld LutzRobert&NorbertaRenauldMichael Martin NeysaE.ImusPaul Millikan Roxy&GeorgeYeagerKathy Mizeur VincentMizeurM.S.N. Murty Kameswara&VijayaTatineniAnnice O’Brien Elizabeth&RyanOpriaIsabelle Olivarez Stephen&MaryCohleOlgaMercadoRebeccaVignaskyJaimie Oorbeck MarthaVandelindeRichard Osborne Charlene&TomArmintroutFrank Ossiff, Jr. Diane&GeraldOssiffJames Overley JacksonFox&KatrinaSchurrFoxFr. Carl Peltz William&JaneBourbonnaisFrancesPratlOswald & Alvina Renauld Robert&NorbertaRenauldJessica Ann RenauldRobert&NorbertaRenauldMary Roche JanWalunasBetty Roskam Samuel&PatriciaRoachAntonia H. Rostami Mr.JeffreyRostamiDarrell M. Rostami Mr.JeffreyRostamiMarilyn Scheel JohnF.ScheelMartin & Emma SchmittRobert&NorbertaRenauldPeter Schmitt BeverlySchmittCecelia ShepardRobert&JudithShrimplinVictor Siemers BeverlySiemers
Joani Siwik ChristineJ.SiwikTom Sonday Kristi&SteveChapmanCharlotteHubbardCindy Sue Stephens GayleDentonSarahRugeR. Marilyn Stieglitz David&WendyArnoldAnn&DaveMartinJoyceK.ThranDoug and Marie Renuald StoneRobert&NorbertaRenauldRose Struble Hunter’sPlaceCondo AssociationJamesGilboDiannKorowinDonna&TimLaMasterBarbara&EdwardOwensKaren&MarkPeperCynthiaVietaKatherineWalzThose Who Died on February 20, 2016Ronald&DonnaHolmesRichard G. Tomlinson KateBarnesTucky&ChuckElliottClara Van Til ThelmaJ.VanTilKathleen Vander Broek Deborah&RandallSchultzMarilynJ.SmithH.Raymond&SharonVinstraChuckWebsterRoon Visser InekeF.WayShirley Walter Kent&AnneSouthworthMrs. R. Weltevreden JohnWeltevredenFlorence, Barney and John Westra KarlW.WestraMichael WoodhamsJohn&PeggyCostelloThelma Wuerffel Rev.Dale&RuthKrueger
APRIL/MAY 2016
Our MissionKalamazoo Loaves & Fishes will feed hungry
people and engage our community in the fight to end hunger.
Our ValuesRespect
Diversity & InclusionStewardship & Accountability
IntegrityCollaboration
UrgencyService
KathyGernaat,OperationsDirector 212MegGernaat,MarketingCoordinator 218DaveHafer,WarehouseCoordinator 211PhyllisHepp,OrganizationalDevelopmentDirector 210JenniferJohnson,ExecutiveDirector 213DebJosephson,ServicesCoordinator 214MarvinKing,FoodProcurementSpecialist 224KimHinds-Lepsy,CallCenterAssistant 307JackieSmith,PantryCoordinator 221MaryFoley-Wilson,AccountingCoordinator 222LauraWinther,DonorDatabaseCoordinator 206
Staff / Business Office269.488.2617 EXT.JoanAtwell,CallCenterCoordinator 201CheriseBuchanan,VolunteerCoordinator 209Mary-ElizabethBell,Finance/OfficeCoordinator 222PaulBushek,WarehouseAssistant 211ArtCole,ServicesDirector 207JoeCook,WarehouseAssistant 211BobDekker,WarehouseAssistant 211GretaFaworski,ResourceDevelopmentDirector 208LindaFox,CallCenterCoordinator 201JoeGalaviz,WarehouseAssistant 211
Connect with Us
www.facebook.com/KalamazooLoavesAndFishes
wwwtwitter.com/KzoLoavesFishes
901PORTAGESTREETKALAMAZOO,MICHIGAN49001-3005
FOODREQUESTLINE:269/343-3663P269/488-2617·F269/343-3669
WWW.KZOOLF.ORG
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