Fast Facts Did you know you can make

giving easier all year round by setting up automatic monthly giving through our website? Go to www.kzoolf.org and click the DONATE button or contact Jon Riccio at 488-2617 ext. 206 or jon@kzoolf.org.

Whether you give online or by snail mail, you can receive your gift tax receipt via email. Tell us if you’re interested at info@kzoolf.org.

KLF was the recipient of food donations from more than 600 community food drives in 2012 that brought in nearly 120,000 lbs. of food.

REVITALIZING FOOD SECURITYIt was just a year ago that Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes took up residence in our new home at 901 Portage St. It has been a good year...and a busy one. We’ve seen big changes in our warehouse and pantry, and in the life of the organization. On reflection, we’ve experienced huge change—a revitalization of sorts.

To revitalize means ‘to give new life or energy to somebody or something’. For KLF, the community support that generated the dollars needed for this new facility has indeed created new energy. For all those involved with the organization, the facility itself has changed our lives dramatically.

One part of our new life has been simply that people can now find us—donors, volunteers, and those in need of food assistance can now meet us at our front door. We have greeted people in need, those who want to help in some way, and those just curious about that new building on the corner of Jackson and Portage Streets. All of these folks bring a new energy to us and our daily work.

Another significant area of revitalization is the transformation of our warehouse operations. The lighting, heightened shelving units, truck loading docks and modern refrigeration units have all reinvigorated our operations, allowing us to distribute food in a safer and more efficient environment.

The reality of getting our on-site Mary K. Melzer pantry up and running also proved to revitalize us all. It is the 26th Grocery Pantry site within Kalamazoo County and is open four days a week, servicing up to 50 households per day. This addition, along with our broader network of pantries from Richland to Schoolcraft and everywhere inbetween, gives our neighbors and friends broader access and convenient options to the food resources they need.

In the end, it is our mission—to feed hungry people and engage the community in the fight to end hunger—that is being constantly revitalized. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us that “human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable...Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals”. We know that the struggle to build a hunger-free community is ongoing and we’re committed for the long haul. We’re incredibly grateful to you and this community for your part in this progress as well. Every day, we are one step closer to a food secure Kalamazoo County.

INSIDEReaching People in Need in 2013

Thanks for Meijer Simply Give Campaign

Potluck Pals Raised $18,000+

Filling the Food Gap for Our Neighbors

Volunteers Needed in Clean Room

Meet Our Board of Directors

FEBRUARY 2013

CONTINUING TO REACH PEOPLE IN NEED IN 2013It’s been another record-setting year for fighting hunger in Kalamazoo County—food for more than 1.4 million meals was provided to 122,823 local people through Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes’ Grocery Pantry Program. About 40% of those served were children under the age of 18.

With a dedicated and growing network of volunteers and agency partners, more local people had access to the food assistance they needed this year than ever before. In particular, KLF reached out to caseworkers to create a system that broadens client access to our programs in ways that are convenient.

KLF has worked hard this past year to continue to define our niche as the County’s primary provider of charitable food assistance. By increasing awareness of our services,

more local people were able to obtain a four-day food order, or the equivalent of 12 meals, for their household. This greater availability to food resources helps individuals fill their gaps between paychecks and ultimately meals.

Access grew throughout our Grocery Pantry Program in 2012, with most of our 26 grocery pantry sites increasing their capacity to serve more local households. An average of 484 people were served daily this past year, many of which were new or unfamiliar clients with the world of food assistance.

“It’s because of KLF’s increased engagement with community partners that this incredible level of service

was achieved,” said Art Cole, KLF services director.

Stay connected to the evolution of our programs and stories from households in need of food assistance via our website and Facebook.

MEIJER SIMPLY GIVE DONATIONS HELP SECURE NEEDED FOOD ITEMS Several local Meijer stores once again generously supported Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes through the latest edition of the Simply Give campaign, which concluded on Jan. 5, 2013. This campaign, which debuted in 2008, generates funds for food pantries in areas where Meijer stores are located.

“Hunger is a growing problem in the community and we are so pleased that the Meijer Simply Give program is able to help our food pantry partners address

a critical need,” said Meijer spokeswoman Christina Fecher.

Shoppers purchase in-store donation cards and add it to their order as they’re checking out. Since October 2012, KLF has received about $15,000 in donations in the form of Meijer gift cards. We’ve been putting a portion of those dollars towards securing high-quality fresh fruit—like

apples, pears and grapes—and other much-needed items. Roughly 5,200 lbs. of produce and 360 lbs. of infant formula has been secured from this latest Simply Give campaign, which helps supplement KLF’s overall procurement plan.

Thanks to Meijer and their shoppers who help keep KLF’s pantries stocked. Keep an eye out for the next Simply Give campaign March 10—May 18 at select stores which benefit KLF, or make a direct donation now at www.kzoolf.org, by mail, or in person.

More than 800 lbs. of grapes were purchased with Meijer gift cards received through the Simply Give campaign in October 2012

Volunteer openings in

Call-Center K alamazoo Loaves & Fishes is seeking

volunteers to staff our Call-Center weekdays

from 9 am—1 pm. Duties include answering

our Need Food line and registering clients at a

grocery pantry site. Training is provided.

I f you’re interested in joining our Food Security

Team, please contact Laura Winther at 488-2617

ext. 209 or laura@kzoolf.org.

Thanks to your support, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes is working hard to shorten the gap between missed meals for thousands of local people every week. We’re aiming to raise $300,000 through our Filling the Food Gap annual campaign to help create a stronger food security safety net for Kalamazo County.

Many local households struggle to keep enough food on the table due to unemployment, a medical crisis or a lack of adequate resources to obtain nutritious food each and every day. Your support helps make difficult days easier for our neighbors by ensuring one of their basic needs is met.

To help fill the food gap for local households, you can give in a variety of convenient ways:

online at www.kzoolf.org/donate by mail to 901 Portage St.,

Kalamazoo, MI 49001 or in person weekdays from

8 am—3:30 pm

Thank you to those who have already contributed and helped fill the gap between missed meals for local people in our community. We appreciate your continued support.

Visit our website for updates on the campaign and our efforts in fighting hunger locally.

$1 million giveaway to fight hunger

Donations made to Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes between

March 1 and April 30 will counts towards the national

Feinstein Challenge—an annual incentive program designed

by the Feinstein Foundation in Rhode Island to encourage

donations to anti-hunger organizations.

Every donation made to KLF will help us earn a bigger piece

of the pie. Visit www.feinsteinfoundation.org for more

details and make sure to get your gift in between March 1 and

April 30 to count towards this goal.

Lori Moore and her potluck pals did an amazing job this year by supporting Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes with $18,359.50 in donations raised through the sale of the Holiday Dish to Pass cookbook. These funds will help support the day-to-day operations of KLF, including the purchase of high-quality food items.

Lori’s theme this year—local Michigan recipes—hit home for KLF, since much of our fresh food supply comes from local sources including family farms, markets, gardens

and nearby stores. Local partners, like WKZO, Lori Moore and Harding’s Friendly Market, have been fighting hunger with us for decades and we are so grateful for their continued partnership. KLF relies on end-of-the-year annual events, like the Holiday Dish to Pass cookbook sale, to support our programs.

Support generated from the Potluck Pals cookbook sales comes at such a critical time. We’re providing food assistance to upwards of 500 people per day through our

Grocery Pantry Program during the holidays, when kids are home from school and family meals are so important.

Every $5 donation generated through the cookbook sales will allow us to keep getting food into the hands of hungry people in Kalamazoo County. Thank you, Potluck Pals, for supporting food security in our community.

Staff from Harding’s Friendly Market and WKZO present the day’s proceeds to KLF Executive Director, Anne Wend Lipsey at the grand finale sale on Dec. 14, 2012

THANK YOU TO WKZO AND POTLUCK PALS

WE NEED YOU TO HELP FILL THE FOOD GAP

Join the Loaves & Fishes Team!Interested in helping Kalamazoo become a hunger-free community? We’ve got a place for you! Attend an orientation meeting to get started.

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION DATES: Saturday, February 9 Thursday, February 28 Saturday, March 9 Thursday, March 28

Sign up with our Volunteer Coordinator, Laura Winther: 269/488-2617, ext. 209 laura@kzoolf.org

FOOD WISH LIST

February: Rice (bag or box)

March:Canned fruit

Foods high in protein (6 grams or more) are always needed in our warehouse, too.

KLF February GivinG CouponAMOUNT $ _______________ I wish to remain anonymous.

A household that’s full with food makes a community that’s full with life. Your gift will make Kalamazoo a more food secure community. Please send your contribution by February 25.

FEBRUARY2013

COUPON #115

KLF MarCh GivinG CouponAMOUNT $ _______________ I wish to remain anonymous.

We depend on community support to keep food on the shelves for those whose shelves are empty. Your gift will help those most in need.

Please send your contribution by March 25.

SEEKING VOLUNTEER GROUPS FOR CLEAN ROOM

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity for your co-workers or social group? Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes has openings for groups of up to five people in our clean room—a designated sanitary space where bulk food is repackaged into individual size bags. This area allows KLF to utilize foods procured in bulk amounts and means we can get more of this type of food into the community.

Shifts are available Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Duties may include sorting dry pasta, fresh produce or loose nuts into manageable size bags that households can easily access. To sign up, please contact Laura Winther at laura@kzoolf.org or 488-2617 ext. 209.

Interested in helping out but aren’t part of a group? We also have openings for individuals for weekly shifts. If you’re an existing volunteer, contact Laura for days and times. If you’re not yet a volunteer, see the orientation dates to the left and let’s get started!

MARCH 2013

COUPON #116

Tributes Make an Impact!

Many gifts to KLF are inspired by a special person. These gifts help strengthen the food security of our community. To make your next gift a tribute, simply include the honorees name and contact information with your next donation.

Please contact Jon Riccio at jon@kzoolf.org or 488-2617 ext. 206 if you believe a name was omitted from this list.

Visit the next page to view a list of who received a gift in their name between 11/1/2012 and 12/31/2012.

IN HONOR OF…Dale AlkemaThe Alkema FamilyRoger & Sarah AllenJanet Andersen’s

Friends & FamilyThom AndrewsFrank Arcangeli, DDSLora ArmstrongDave Barnett’s FamilyGordon & Andrea

BarrowsDr. Ken BeadlingBIA MichiganSheila & Gary BigelowLouella BingBob & Linda BlackJessica BlackPriscilla BlairJennifer Bober’s

BirthdayPastor Peggy BoltzArt & Gerry Vander

Bor’s 65th Wedding Anniversary

Nayt BoytCarol & Gregg BradleyDon & Mary BrownTom & Deloris BubinFraser Jones & Joanne

BushDr. James CarterMichael, Natalie, Anna,

Jack & Emile ChilesChrist our LordMike, Elizabeth & Clark

ChristensenJack & Selma ComstockMrs. Cherri CorningPam & Al CoxMonique Y. CoyneBruce & Donna

CunninghamPeg Cunningham & Jane

CrosbyMartha & Tom

DaufenbachYvonne DavisBarbara & Harrie DayVicki & Dale DintamanKim DohertyDr. Phillip DoyleSteve & Marianne

DragicevichDr. Jesse DuranceauDeborah DykeBill & Nell DykhuisEaton Corporation

VolunteersTom & Nancy EdmondsTucky & Chuck ElliotNancy & Joe EngemannJill Engle’s BirthdayJames & Virginia FalaheeFirst Congregational

ChurchMonsignor William

FitzgeraldChristine Flagler & Jim

IshidaTom & Jean FoghinoJann & Michelle ForrestLinda FoxMrs. Margaret FranklinKevin & Mindi FrengTerry GallagherMarlin GerberCarol GilbertGoodwill Management

TeamRandy & Polly GrahamBev & Geoff GrambauScott & Debbie GrosseMarv & Catherine

GrosticJohn & Kay HaasDave & Nadia HabeckerThe Haber FamilyNancy HamiltonDr. Edward HarkenriderTom Small & Ruth

HarringDan HarrisonBetty HawkCorrie W. & Jon O. at

HCMWPhyllis HeppRon & Donna Holmes’

Neighbors Gayle & Garrett

HoogstratenRoy & Sandy HowardBob Hunt & Jan Kline-

HuntMr. & Mrs. Clark HurlbertKathleen IzenbaardRev. Richard JacksonJames Jasiak & his StaffThe Jamieson Family’s

GrandchildrenThe Staff at John Post

LandscapingArnie & Debby JohnstonKalamazoo Endoscopy

Center Physicians & Staff

The Board, Staff & Volunteers at Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes

Kalamazoo Public Schools Curriculum Writers

Kalamazoo Public Schools Reading Coaches & Literacy Interventionists

Kalamazoo Public Schools Teaching & Learning Services

The Kasab FamilyPat KasdorfRobert KellerDawne Kennedy

Kathy & Rick KinasMarvin KingMarlena KirtonSallie KittredgeTom & Jodi KlobucarThe Klott, Engels &

Gershaw FamiliesMyron KollenJean KruegerSharon KruithofLadies’ Library

Association & President Lois Richmond

Jeff LaingSharon Lamson’s

BirthdayKerri LepleyFaye LineAnne Wend LipseyMarin & Sidsel LoefflerThe LOL Lunch GroupKatie & Scott

Longstreth-TokstadDave & Georgia

LundquistCyndy LyonAlyssa MammenKaren & Peter MaasThe Macatawa GangEd ManningReverend Jill McAllisterSean McCannCathy & Mike McCarthyJim & Ellen McDonaldMichele McLaughlinRenee McParlanGil McWethyPeter & Maureen

McWethyEmily MickleyDavid & Michelle

MurphyThomas Myers’

RetirementThom Neal Mr. & Mrs. A.W. NeffNora Faires & the

Smallmouth BandThe Noricks & Isgrigg

FamiliesHelen NorrisMcKenna NorthropFather James O’LearyThe Oliver FamilyDr. Roy & Priscilla OltonMarianne OrrThe Ort FamilyAnn & Don ParfetBetty ParkhurstBrian & Johanna PaulMark & Sharon PaulPavilion Potluck FriendsSr. Anne Paye, RSMArdis Pierce & Wayne

LooneyBill Pierce

Mr. & Mrs. James PohlThe Puvogel’s

Grandchildren Haley, Kelsey & Jeffrey

Jerry RadabaughDylan & Jordan Ramber-

JachDick & Rita RaynesRobert & Kathleen ReMartha A. ReamThe Reeves ClanSid & Sandy RhindRichland Red HatsKaris & Mark RobbinsSteve Rochow’s FamilyHank & Joan RohsKristy RothJudy RuiterLinda RusBeth RusselFrank Sardone & Susan

FallCynthia & Mark

Schauer’s FamilyStaff at Schoolcraft

Middle SchoolKathy SchultzJack & Gloria ShearerJohn ShellyJennifer ShoubChristopher & Kim

SiekluckiJames & Susan SiekluckiVictor SiemersSisters of St. JosephChristine Siwik’s

BirthdayEd SiwikPam Siwik’s BirthdayLinda SlackAaron, Kara, Kelly &

Morgan SmithMike & Frieda SmithRoger SnowThe Spengler FamilyDirk & Patty SteinertKatie StenensDr. Daniel StewartJoyce StewartDr. Lavern H. Stillwell &

Lyda StillwellThe Stohrer Family

ChristmasEleanor Van StreainJohn TaylorTemple B’Nai IsraelRuth & Bill ThornleyCheryl ThrogmortonReverends Howie &

Betsy TobakThe Tuesday Bridge ClubCamille TurpelKay Van DisSandra VandenBergJim & Sandy

VanderRoest’s Birthdays

Lara VanVlack-AilesJim & Janet VossBarbara WagnerJackie WahlWeekend Food Pack

VolunteersJoel & Cindy Welch’s

MarriageSally WellsMichael, Stephanie &

Paul WhiteMike & Sue WilliamsEugene WoodMike WunderlinLiz Yoon & Lys BuckDr. Larry Youse, DDSLawrence & Raye Ziring’s

50th Wedding Anniversary

Raye Ziring’s Birthday

IN MEMORY OF…Yetta AckersonMark AngelocciRobert L. Asher, Sr.Dennis & Fern BaconJustin BaileyJoe & Mary BalintKinsey BeckRobert BeckJohn N. Drolen & Sinnie

Berghuis-DrolenDr. Tom BerglundSuzanne Marie BeurmanSheila Joan BishopRoger BoothMorris & Wilma BosMarian BrailPatrecia BreenDr. Lan H.P. BuiRaymond CarlisleRena CarlsenMaggie CarrollLewis ChapinRichard ChristianJohn CleasbyGene ClysdalePatricia ColemanDavid A. CollinsRobert CoppsTom CrooksOlga DacobaDennis DeneauHarold DeYoungEverett C. DillJames Dillon, Sr.Joseph DillonLucille DillonKen DingmanHub & Bobbi DoerflerJanyce DudashRod ErnestAlan EvertsRobert EwertJeanne Maltby

FahrenbachJames Ferguson

John P. FlynnChuck FordMary ForresterPaul FrenthwayLorna GibsonJames E. GooleJanice L. GooleDora GressleyStephen & Alice GroshkoRamon HamiltonHerman, Rose & Jack

FisherDr. Clayton HoladayJohn C. & Mary Jane

HowardMiriam HughesBarbara HutchisonMarie E. IagnoccoMarcia JacksonGrace JohnsonHarvey JohnsonJudy JohnsonDavid JohnstonRobert JohnsonReggie JonesRobert B. JonesPete KakabakerClaudia KleinThomas & Jodi KlobucarMarguerite KolbTerry KuseskeJoe KusicDara KwiatkowskiDr. Niranjan LalLance LambertDarlene LauthJim LawrenceDominic (Dic) & Nadia

LeonardelliWilliam D. LorentzViolet LotzMaxine LoudenCharles LudlowLinda Renauld LutzArlene MacIsaacEtrole “Jackie” MarconPaul & Mildred MatyasRobert MedemaMike MeyersJeff MilanAnthony & Anne MillerRobert A. MillerHarry & Dorothy MinerKathy MizeurOlive MohneyBarbara MuirZella MuscottRobert MyersVerne NelsonBob & Margaret NewtonDonna NicholsMarilyn NyceJaimie OorbeckThomas OorbeckFrank Ossiff, Jr. David ParkJean Peterson

Jeff PlyGerald L. PochylaJanice RadtkeAnn RaupDave RedmondF.L. ReedJim ReishJessica RenauldOswald & Alvina

RenauldBrian RifeJim RinkerFred & Ardis RobinsonEdward RogersRoseann RonnebaumJohn RossToni RostamiFrances RussellKirk RyderRobert RyderEugene RykseTimothy SchauAnastasia SchauerMarilyn ScheelDr. Peter SchmittMartin & Emma SchmittJean SchraderLouise SchreiberTim ShayFoster L. Sherwood, Jr.James & Esther ShileyJoani SiwikJeanne SlettenIlze I. SmidchensJoe SodaAlice & Ivan SoudenHenrietta Lena SportelIrma StanhopeLaVerne Bishop StanleyEdgar C. & Teresa H.

StewartMarie StolineDoug & Marie Renauld

StoneStephen SuhrSuds SumneyDon SwansonJim SwansonCarol Marcon TillerSusan TinklenbergJohn TobiasAl & Geri VickeryMr. Jan VisserRoon VisserLyle & Eunice VogtStanley WeinbergJane WelbornWelford & Juanita

WilsonDon & Ruth WisserHoward WolpeFred WolterJohanna YzenbaardHelmut Karl Zeil

Thank you for being an inspiration to those who gave a tribute gift this holiday season!

Our MissionKalamazoo Loaves & Fishes will

feed hungry people and engage our community in the fight to end hunger.

Our ValuesCompassion

RespectJustice

IntegrityAdvocacy

Staff / Business Office269/488-2617 EXT.Joan Atwell, Call Center Lead 201Paul Bushek, Warehouse Assistant 211Art Cole, Services Director 207Bob Dekker, Warehouse Assistant 211Pat Early, Warehouse Assistant 211George Geissel, Bookkeeper 222Kathy Gernaat, Operations Director 212Dave Hafer, Warehouse Assistant 211

Connect With Us:

www.facebook.com/ KalamazooLoavesAndFishes

www.twitter.com/ KzoLoavesFishes

Phyllis Hepp, Organizational Development Director 210Mary Hutchins, Warehouse Coordinator 211Jennifer Johnson, Resource Dev. & Public Relations Director 213Deb Josephson, Services Coordinator 214Marvin King, Warehouse Director 224Anne Wend Lipsey, Executive Director 208Ruth Matteson, Call Center Lead 201Jon Riccio, Donor Database Coordinator 206Kimberly Schoetzow, Communications Coordinator 218Carolyn Tyler, Operations Coordinator 222Laura Winther, Volunteer Coordinator 209

MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORSKalamazoo Loaves & Fishes is led by a Board of Directors made up of community leaders who embrace and forward the agency mission to fight hunger in our community. KLF is lucky to have the support of this team who brings their talents to our work in fighting hunger.

The KLF board acts as a policy-making body and guides the organization’s stewardship of resources, including food, funds and volunteer time. As we venture into 2013 with our new Board of Directors, we’re also saying goodbye to Maija Peterson, former board secretary, and Lynn Jessel, former board treasurer, whose terms ended in December 2012. We’re so thankful for their time, passion and dedication to enhancing the food security infrastructure for Kalamazoo County.

KLF’s 2012/13 Board of Directors includes: Jack Abate—Miller-Davis Patricia Carlin—Kalamazoo Public Schools HJ DuBrule—Kellogg-retired Bob Ezelle—Boys & Girls Club Alan Harbaugh—Attorney at Law Mike Henderson—Pfizer-retired Cheryl Knapp—Bronson Healthcare Group Robert Lohrmann—Attorney-retired Karen McPhail—Stryker Instruments Harvey Myers—Pfizer-retired Helen Norris—Community Volunteer Stacey Randolph—Kalamazoo Department of Public

Safety Martha Ream—CPA Martha Simpson—Pfizer-retired Jan Tiderington—Western Michigan University-retired

901 PORTAGE STREETKALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN 49001-3005

FOOD REQUEST LINE: 269/343-3663P 269/488-2617 · F 269/343-3669

WWW.KZOOLF.ORG

NONPROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDKALAMAZOO MIPERMIT NO. 1693