Holiday 2013

The Future of Hunger Relief

Touch Their Hearts for the Holidays

Bonner Scholars Make Lasting Impact

Do Facts Count Anymore?

The Quarterly Newsletter of

IN THIS ISSUE:

How We Can Prevent Hunger

Letter from the Director 2

Solving Hunger Together 4

Volunteers Make a Difference 5

How We Can Prevent Hunger 6

Touch Their Hearts for The Holidays 8

An Outpouring of Support for Hunger Action Month 9

Thank You, Donors 10

Well Done! 12

Calendar of Events 14

Bonner Scholars Make Lasting Impact 15

Save the Date for Hunger Walk/Run 16

CONTENTS

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Holiday 2013

Letter from the Director

EDITORSAngie Clawson

Amy Hudson

CONTRIBUTORSBill Bolling, Angela Boroden,Ben Burgess, Angie Clawson,

Michael DeCoursey, Chris Ferguson, Sarah Fonder-Kristy, Daphne Hill,

Steve Hargrove, Amy Hudson, Valderia Mathis, Jovanni Railey,Carol Richburg, Suzanne Roush,

Greg Sims, Alexis Tiacoh,Naretha Timberlake, Vilma Wallace,

Jon West, and Allison Young

COVER PHOTOAngela Boroden

INSIDE PHOTOSAngela Boroden, Angie Clawson, Atlanta Mission, AutoTrader.com,

Louie Favorite, Marcus Krause, Neal Patton,

Sony Pictures Animation,Prince Williams and Allison Young

DESIGNFain & Tripp, Inc.

I recently attended a reception and was introduced to a civic leader in the community. When she learned that I was the executive director of the Food Bank, she looked me in the eye and said she doesn’t like to support people who use food stamps because they buy things she views as unhealthy. When asked for examples, she mentioned soft drinks, snack food, beer and cigarettes. When I told her that was not quite true - that people couldn’t actually purchase cigarettes, beer, lottery tickets, or even toiletries with food stamps, I detected a chill in the air. She then told me she didn’t think people who could work should get any help at all. When I told her that most people who receive food stamps do in fact work, but make very low wages, and that access to food stamps is strictly income based, she didn’t seem to believe me. When I suggested some books and websites to learn more about the facts, she quietly walked away. She had a strong narra-tive about fraud and abuse, and she ob-viously didn’t want to change it. Facts didn’t seem to matter for her.

Recently, a national TV network fea-tured a half hour program on SNAP (food stamp) fraud. It featured able-bodied people who refuse to work because they rely on food stamps, which is hard to understand when the average benefit per meal will be less than $1.40 in 2014i. What wasn’t included in the story was the fact that food stamp fraud is cur-rently at its lowest level in history – less than 1 cent of every dollar.ii Or the fact that among SNAP households with at least one working-age, non-disabled adult, more than half work while receiv-ing SNAP — and more than 80% work in the year prior to, or the year after, receiving SNAP.iii It clearly didn’t matter that important facts were left out. As-sumptions prevailed. So where did this alternate narrative come from? And if it

wasn’t factually based, then what was the motivation for believing and spread-ing an untruth?

We spend a lot of time at the Food Bank gathering facts so we can share them, not only upon request, but more intentionally. We share with our staff and board, the media, social media fol-lowers, website visitors - anyone who wants to learn more. We do the research to make sure we’re getting the numbers right, and use trusted sources as our reference points. Why? Because we’re in this work to stand up for those strug-gling for food. Because we believe facts are essential to accurately convey how desperate things are for people in need.

We’ll continue to put the facts on the table, but when they seem to count less and less, I have to wonder where that leaves us as a country - especially at a time when our leaders are clearly strug-gling with how to set priorities. If we don’t have the facts, how do we decide where to invest our time and treasure? And most importantly, how do we trust each other again?

What if we had the end in mind when we begin planning for the future? What if we viewed providing food security as an investment in better education and public health outcomes? Would that change the way we thought about nutrition programs? Are there not com-mon things that both conservatives and liberals are willing to work for?

If we believe that high unemployment – even in the worst recession in our life-time – is a reflection of laziness and lack of discipline of the unemployed, then let’s test that assumption.

If we actually believe that greater wealth for our country is possible while we continue living in the present reality of low and stagnant wages for so many of our workers (while decreasing funds for education), then let’s be sure that is true.

do facts count anymore?Bill Bolling, ACFB Executive Director

Today our greatest poverty may be our lack of constructive ideas and the courage to try them. It may have more to do with our fear that our future is being taken from us by others, who-ever in our minds “they” may be, and our ability to act on the wisdom gained from past experience. It may be that we only find our richness by giving up our prejudices and fears and having a more generous spirit toward others.

May those among us with the courage to act, take action. Time does not wait on those who are fearful or unsure and success does not come to those who fail to act.

May those with a strong moral com-pass stand-up and speak-up for what is right. If we can’t agree on the facts, may we dig deep into our collective soul to take the higher path based on com-mon values and higher aspirations.

May those with a vision and commit-ment to make the world a better place for everyone, no matter their station in life, gain the support to make that vision a reality.

It’s time to create a new narrative for our collective future. It requires a generous heart full of grace and brutal honesty about what we know in our hearts is true.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS2013/2014 OFFICERS

ChairArlene Glaser

Vice ChairMary Moore

SecretaryJackie Parker

TreasurerDavid Eidson

Advisory Board ChairKathleen Ciaramello

2013/2014 BOARD MEMBERSMartha Brooks

Joe ChowSteven J. de Groot

Ed FisherPatrick JonesRobby KuklerDavid Leeds

Matt McKennaJackie Parker

Margaret StagmeierAndrew StithWayne Vason

Lesley T. WainwrightJerry Wilkinson

GENERAL COUNSEL

David Long-Daniels

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Bill Bolling

OUR MISSIONOur mission is to fight hunger

by engaging, educating and

empowering our community.

WHO WE SERVEThe Atlanta Community Food

Bank supports more than 600 local

nonprofit organizations with hunger-

relief programs in 29 metro Atlanta

and north Georgia counties.

acfb.org

If Congress truly believes it’s accept-able to cut nutrition services for the poor and unemployed by $4 billion a year, then let’s talk about what assump-tions these cuts are based on and what action they hope this policy will moti-vate.

We know through experience and empirical research that SNAP benefits not only reduced food insecurity and poverty this year; they also reduce poverty in the next generation. Recent research that tracked children into adulthood found that families’ access to food stamps improved their infants’ health and birth weight. Children who benefited from the program later posted better health and higher educational at-tainment. The outcome for women was greater earnings and less reliance on welfare as adults. Why would we cut a program with such positive benefits?

Does Congress have expectations that the private sector will take up the slack? Food banks and the agencies we serve play a critical role, and we’ve continued to distribute record-breaking amounts of food and groceries over the past four years. But the sobering truth is as hard as we work, mandatory cuts to food stamps that took effect on November 1 – and the $4 billion annual cuts currently proposed by Congress – far exceed the total annual meal distribution by Feeding America food banks across the country.iv What is the likelihood that the private sector would be able to fill in the gaps caused by such severe cuts to nutrition programs? I can tell you from 35 years of food banking experience that the private sector cannot fill the gaps. I would strongly encourage our leaders to thoroughly examine any assumptions that might be guiding such a critical decision.

Let’s move from throwing our person-al sets of “facts” at each other like rocks and determine what works. Let’s test our suppositions, learn from our experi-ence, and change as we go. Otherwise we will continue down the path of the poor getting poorer, our businesses becoming less competitive, citizens less healthy and our young people less prepared.

i. Center for Budget and Policy Priorities http://bit.ly/19E9bdQ

ii. USDA Food and Nutrition Service http://1.usa.gov/16y0IuK

iii. Center for Budget and Policy Priorities http://bit.ly/1d6VMfU

iv. Feeding America http://bit.ly/Hgm0BP

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Atlanta Mission has been a partner agency of the Food Bank for 33 years. Between all of the campuses, Atlanta Mission serves about 2,050 meals a day and is grateful to have a partner like the ACFB because it helps manage the food budget and allows them to serve healthy, nutritious meals.

Jose visits the Food Bank each week himself after placing their order online. “I always like to pick up food from ACFB myself. I love interacting with the staff. They know they can count on me and I know that I can count on them. We’re in this together,” said Jose.

As the holidays approach, Atlanta Mission is prepar-ing for a full schedule of events and meals including Thanksgiving. They get support from the community during this time as well as host a big Thanksgiving meal of their own on the Wednesday before Thanksgiv-ing. Part of the food for the Wednesday meal comes from an event that the Food Bank hosts with local media called Thanksgiving Dish, where reporters, anchors and producers come together to make Thanksgiving meals for Atlanta Mission and a handful of other organizations.

Atlanta Mission gives support all year long to many deserving people in our community. For more infor-mation about the organization and how you can get involved, visit atlantamission.org, and find them on Facebook at Facebook.com/atlantamission or on Twit-ter and Instagram at @atlmission.

Solving Hunger Together

Atlanta MissionWhere hope Begins

As the city’s largest and longest-running provider of homeless services, Atlanta Mission transforms the lives of those facing homelessness. Established in 1938, At-lanta Mission provides overnight shelter, job attainment programming, long-term residential discipleship pro-gramming and transitional housing for more than 1,000 homeless men, women and children daily.

The meal is one of the most important pieces of the transformation process for those who seek assistance at the Atlanta Mission. It begins with a conversation or interaction around a warm, healthy meal, leading guests and residents to feel good about themselves again, to think more clearly and have a better outlook on their future.

Atlanta Mission truly believes that hope begins with a meal. “I know the power that a meal can have on a person,” said Jose Marquez, the Atlanta Mission’s Di-rector of Food Service. “Food isn’t just for the body, it’s for the soul. We take a lot of pride in our food services at Atlanta Mission, because we truly believe it can open the door for help and hope through a warm meal.”

Jose empowers the residents that are working in the kitchen to make menus each week/month. This gives them ownership in the meal and an opportunity to take pride in the cooking process. Residents receive com-plete meals, including a protein, a vegetable or two and a starch.

Hope begins with a meal.

If you would like to learn how your organization can become a partner agency and receive food from ACFB, visit acfb.org and click “Agencies” at the top of the page.

does your nonprofit feed the hungry?

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Volunteers Make a Difference

Transforming Supporters into Advocacy ChampionsfErTIlE SoIl for NEW advoCaTES

In the past year, the Atlanta Com-munity Food Bank has invited its supporters to become Advocacy Champions around the issue of hunger. How does this relate to vol-unteering you ask? Well, a number of our Champions are volunteers at the Food Bank. For some, it’s their experience volunteering that has inspired them to want to do more. Rodje Malcolm and Whitlie Irving are two such volunteers.

Rodje began volunteering at ACFB as a part of the Morehouse College Bonner Scholars program. He first helped out accepting food donations, then assisted the Volun-teer Department with administra-tive duties, and now volunteers with the Advocacy and Education department. Rodje was inspired to get involved in advocacy efforts because of the things he learned during the time he has spent in the various departments.

“Oftentimes people justify their lack of civil engagement by claiming that solutions simply don’t exist to

societal problems. Regarding the issue of hunger, volunteering at the Food Bank made it abundantly clear that solutions do exist to the issue of hunger in America,” said Rodje. “Because I believe that the issue of hunger can be solved (or at least reduced) through effective advocacy, becoming an Advocacy Champion was a no-brainer.”

Rodje is currently using what he’s learned as an Advocacy Champion to increase awareness and advocacy activities on the Morehouse College campus.

Whitlie’s interest in the issue of hunger started with her education. While getting a degree in Health and Fitness Management, she studied the impact poor nutrition and lack of exercise can have on the body. Her program included a requirement to volunteer at a health promotion event, which led her to sign up as a volunteer for Taste of the Nation, a gala fundrais-er for hunger relief. She has been a steady volunteer since then, but

Whitlie Irving (r) and others interested in becoming Champions attended an advocacy training workshop at ACFB.

With the holidays fast approaching, many people want to make a difference and give a gift that tran-scends material wealth by volunteering. It feels good to give back! It’s also a good thing for the Food Bank. The food sorting shifts in our Product Rescue Center fill up quickly, and we’re typically set to go well in advance of the busy holiday sea-son.

We realize, however, that this leaves many people still hoping for a meaningful holiday vol-unteer experience. So, we’ve joined with some of our partner agencies who host seasonal events for their clients and are in need of extra helpers! For a list describing the details of each volunteer oppor-tunity, including dates, times and contact informa-tion, visit acfb.org/volunteer.

wanted to take things further.“I was inspired to become an

Advocacy Champion because of my education most definitely,” said Whitlie. “I learned about the health and hunger disparities that we have in our local communities and it made me want to learn more about hunger, how to fight it and where I can get the resources to fight hunger and its side effects in my local community.”

The Food Bank provided the “how” when she was asked to become an Advocacy Champion. So far, she has participated in an advocacy training workshop, joined with other Champi-ons for Food Bank Day at the Capitol and written a letter to her congress-man about the Farm Bill.

You, too, can become a Champion! No experience is required, just a passion for helping those who face hunger and food insecurity. In the meantime, you can learn more about ACFB’s Advocacy Champions initia-tive by reading our cover story on page 6 or by visiting acfb.org/ advocacy-champions.

Featured Volunteer Opportunity:

HolIday HElPErS

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PreventHunger

What’s the problem with this parable? In those cir-cumstances, surely no one would ignore the importance of fire prevention, right?

Welcome to much of the history of hunger relief work in the United States.

No nation on earth can boast of a hunger response network as robust, dynamic, and strong as the Feed-ing America network of more than 200 food banks and 60,000 plus front line partner organizations. Here at the Atlanta Community Food Bank we have increased the efficiency and volume of our distribution by almost 100% over the last four years. Over that time period, the 600 plus congregations, nonprofits and community based organizations working on the front lines of our

a Parable: A house in your neighborhood catches on fire. The fire department arrives quickly to put

the fire out. No one is seriously hurt and the damage is minimal. The next night another house catches

on fire. Same story, same ending. The night after that another house catches on fire. Night after night the

same scene plays out across the neighborhood. Before too long, the fire department has to buy new trucks

and hire more firefighters. House fires in your area are no longer an occasional issue but now a persistent

problem. The neighbors begin to mobilize volunteer “smoke watchers” and bucket brigades. The whole

community soon organizes itself around the hard work of fighting fires. And it pays off. A lot of fires are

put out. Houses are saved and few people are injured. Good work is done by a lot of good people who care

about their neighbors and their communities, but the fires keep happening. Unfortunately, everyone is

working so hard to put out fires that no one has time to think about working hard to prevent fires.

Advocacy Champions speak with Representative Jay Neal (R – House District 2) during the 2013 Food Bank Day at the Capitol.

How We Can

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One of our Champions writes a letter to her representative.

House Minority Leader and State Representative Stacey Abrams (D – House District 89) leads a training session on how to work most effectively with members of the legislature.

29 county service area responded to the rising needs of their communities in ways that are humbling, inspir-ing and sacrificial to the point of breaking. Good work is being done by thousands of people who care about their neighbors and communities … but the hunger keeps happening. Sound familiar?

What’s the problem with that reality? It isn’t the work being done. When a house is on fire it is irrespon-sible not to put it out. When people are hungry it is ir-responsible - morally, economically and practically - not to respond to that need. The daily work of connecting hungry people to the food and resources that they need to feed themselves and their families will always be necessary. Fires must be put out.

But what about the work of preventing hunger? If the history of hunger relief has been about mobilizing to extinguish fires, what does the future of hunger relief look like? As we look back over recent years of un-precedented growth of need in our communities, it’s a question that we are increasingly asking ourselves here at the Food Bank.

We caught a glimpse of that future in early September. There were about 40 of us gathered in the room - a handful of ACFB employees, several faithful volunteers, leaders and staff from a dozen or so partner agencies, as well as curious members of the community at large. All of us came together around a common concern for our neighbors who struggle to put food on their tables - food they need to live healthy, productive lives.

We gathered to brainstorm ways to join our voices in an amplified conversation about preventing the spread of hunger in our communities. What we heard from the seasoned “firefighters” in the room was that they were increasingly convinced of the need to move our com-munities, our congregations and our elected officials

to envision a new reality in which the sparks of hunger cannot catch fire.

Over the last year, ACFB has facilitated two of these gatherings of community members - we call them Advocacy Champions. The Champion initiative is an investment in what we believe to be a key component in our future work - creating spaces, opportunities and platforms for community members and organizations to share stories, learn from each other and unite their voices.

We’ve had the chance to mobilize these Champions to speak face to face with their elected officials at our annual Food Bank Day at the Capitol. We’ve also orga-nized our communities to participate in phone and mail campaigns to voice support for programs that are vital resources for hardworking Georgia families, like SNAP (food stamps). We’ve sat together and learned from po-litical leaders about how best to share our stories and to take effective political action that best responds to the burning fires of hunger as well as the source of its spark - the poverty, unemployment and lack of equity that plagues many of our communities.

What emerges from these shared experiences is a re-newed commitment to both put out fires of hunger and work to prevent them from starting. These are conver-sations that end with optimism about the abundance of opportunities and gifts we have in our communities, not only to continue to respond to hunger, but to work towards preventing it with a new earnestness and effectiveness.

Are you inspired to join in this movement? We need more Champions! If you would like to participate or mobilize your community and congregation to do so, please visit acfb.org/advocacy-champions.

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An OutpOuring Of SuppOrt fOr Hunger ActiOn MOntH

Another successful Hunger Action Month is in the books, as Septem-ber saw tons (literally, tons) of food being donated to the Food Bank, as well as some amazing supporters donating funds and volunteering their time.

Over 200,000 pounds of food was collected through various food drives hosted by the Jewish and Mormon communities, Panera Bread and the Atlanta Braves, among oth-ers. Companies such as AutoTrader.com and AT&T stepped up their game in a big way by volunteer-ing in our Product Rescue Center (PRC) and collecting food and funds. Rent-A-Center also made two major donations in honor of Hunger Action Month - $25,000 for the Food Bank and stand up freezers for 10 of our partner agencies. We appreciate ev-eryone who donated during Hunger Action Month!

Another great way our commu-nity showed its enthusiasm was for Go Orange Day on September 5th. The staff here at ACFB, as well as

CFLane and Warren Averett had some pretty stylish orange outfits to help raise awareness for hunger, and WSB-TV’s Erin Coleman made sure to wear an orange jacket dur-ing her newscast.

Here at the Food Bank, Hunger Action Month also centered around raising awareness of the day-to-day challenges for people who deal with hunger. ACFB hosted three screenings of the documentary A Place at the Table which helped get conversations started and action taken. We encouraged at-tendees to fill out special postcards to send to their representatives to urge them to protect funding for programs such as The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps) and Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Dozens of post-cards were filled out and sent in during September. We hope to keep the momentum going – post-cards are still located in our lobby,

grocery floor waiting area and the PRC orientation room.

While there is a nationwide focus on hunger during September, the problem remains year round. We continue to urge everyone to keep taking action through volunteering, donating and supporting the Food Bank, and have fun doing it!

ACFB Foodbankers (l-r) Elizabeth Haskell, Vilma Wallace and Greg Sims celebrate Go Orange Day!

AutoTrader.com employees are regulars at our Product Rescue Center, but they especially love to volunteer during September.

tHAnkS tO tHe fOllOwing cOMpAnieS fOr tHeir SpOnSOrSHip Of Hunger ActiOn MOntH:

AT&T

AutoTrader.com

Gas South

Panera Bread

Willy’s Mexicana Grill

Rent-A-Center

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Thank You, Donors

CloUdy WITH a CHaNCE of… ProdUCE!

This September, the Food Bank received a very special treat.

More than 1 in 5 children in the U.S. struggles with food insecu-rity, and the folks at Sony Pictures Animation wanted to do something about it. So, in celebration of the release of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2, they partnered with Feeding America and grow-ers across the country to “shower” select food banks with over 200,000 pounds of fresh produce. Here at ACFB, those showers produced 40,000 pounds of healthy fruits and vegetables!

Along with the special donation, came a special guest. Sean Weath-erspoon of the Atlanta Falcons was delighted for the opportunity to visit

the Food Bank and address the crowd of nearly 40 children from one of our partner agencies, The Study Hall. Weatherspoon, whose SPOONFUL of Hope Foundation provides low income inner-city youth with opportunities to reach their full potential, also had a chance to volunteer with the kids. Together, they helped unload and sort some of the donated produce, which included strawberries, cel-ery and watermelons. In addition, the children learned about nutri-tious snack alternatives and were treated to a demonstration on how to make some of the “Foodimals” from the movie.

Sony Pictures Animation led the way in this collaboration with a

cash donation to Feeding America, while the produce was donated by participating food growers Califor-nia Giant Berry Farms, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Grimmway Farms, and the National Watermelon Promotion Board. At a time when unhealthy snack options are so prevalent, it’s extremely important to educate kids about the benefits of choosing fruits and vegetables.

We applaud the efforts of Sony Pictures Animation for their thoughtful campaign and for help-ing to provide thousands of nutri-tious meals for families in need. Thanks also to Sean Weatherspoon (GO FALCONS!), our volunteers, and all the kids that made this not only a special event, but a HEALTHY one!

Atlanta Falcons Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon joins in with volunteers from The Study Hall to bag some of the donated celery.

One of the participants from The Study Hall tries her hand at making a “Foodimal.”

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Atlanta Apartment Association President Mitch Harrison with First Communities and Food-A-Thon Co-chair Tracy Bowers with Matrix Residential (aka Siegfried and Roy) kick off the 26th annual Food-A-Thon parade at ACFB.

26th aNNUal food-a-THoN HITS THE JaCkPoT!

Thank You, Donors

The Atlanta Apartment Association (AAA) went “all in” for this year’s Vegas themed “CANsino” Food-A-Thon, breaking all prior records and raising over one million dollars and 110,000 pounds of food for the Food Bank. More than 40 apartment companies and manage-ment groups involved their residents, employees and vendors at communities in this 26th annual Food-A-Thon.

There is no end to the creativity generated each year to raise food and funds. Communities hosted movie nights, concerts and contests while owners waived application fees in lieu of donations and organized employee giving campaigns. The four month long cam-paign culminated in a parade at the Food Bank. More than 500 people celebrated in style, with “Siegfried and Roy” and an Elvis impersonator or two spotted in the crowd.

“One of the things that is always exciting about what we do is the enthusiasm we bring,” said Mitch Har-rison, current AAA President and COO of First Com-

munities. “It’s part of the reason this is so successful. People get behind it and they want to have fun year in and year out. We’ve been through so many cycles with new leadership coming in, but we’ve never lost momen-tum. It just keeps getting carried over generation to generation, and we always exceed both in food items given and monetarily because of the creativity everyone brings to the table.”

The Food Bank is so thankful for this longstanding partnership. “The Apartment Association members are true mission partners with the Food Bank,” said Sarah Fonder-Kristy, Vice President of Development. Our abil-ity to feed more people is directly related to the suc-cess of this partnership. So many of our neighbors are struggling to put food on the table, and the members of the AAA do everything in their power to ensure that families won’t have to go hungry. Their passion, enthu-siasm and joy for helping others is infectious!”

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The 2013 NACS Show held at the Georgia World Congress Center in October brought together conve-nience and fuel retailing industry professionals. When the show end-ed, Food Bank staff and volunteers gleaned 93,438 pounds of food from participating retailers’ trade show booths. Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success!

Well Done!

Sign up to receive the Supper Club e-invitation so you don’t miss out! Visit acfb.org.

Thanks to last quarter’s host restaurants: Chick-A-Biddy and Bantam & Biddy in August, Inman Park Restaurant Week in September, and Opulent in October as well as our monthly sponsors CBS Atlanta, Ethic, Inc., and Jezebel Magazine.

Monthly Supper ClubMakeS GivinG baCk eaSy

Don’t miss our exciting line-up of upcoming classes! See our calendar of events on page 14 for the current class schedule, or visit acfb.org for full details.

Learn the finer points of gourmet cooking with Atlanta’s best chefs and support the Food Bank at the same time! Simple Abundance Cooking Class participants enjoy demonstrations, tastings and a chance to win fabulous door prizes. Each exciting course is held at one of four Cook’s Warehouse locations and is made possible by the generous support of many sponsors. 100% of class proceeds benefit the Food Bank. We are extremely grateful to the talented chefs who donate their time and to The Cook’s Warehouse for donating the class space.

laSt Quarter’S SiMple abundanCe ChefS: • Chef Chad Clevenger of Alma Cocina• Chef Emily Hansford of Miller Union• Chef Virginia Willis of Virginia Willis Productions, LLC

Sharpen your CookinG SkillS at a SiMple abundanCe CookinG ClaSS.

Atlanta Homes & LifestylesBella Cucina Artful FoodsCabot CheeseThe Cook’s Warehouse

Gordo’s Print ServiceHey Roger, LLCNational DistributorsSherlock’s Wine Merchant

Monthly SiMple abundanCe SponSorS:Sponsors & Door Prize Providers

our SinCere appreCiation to thoSe who orGanized or partiCipated in theSe eventS and proMotionS benefitinG aCfb auGuSt 1, 2013 – oCtober 31, 2013:

86 Hunger Project Fundraiser

Atlanta Apartment Association Food-A-Thon

Atlanta Browncoats “Serenity” Movie Screening Fundraiser and Food Drive

Atlanta Falcons “FalCan” Food Drive

Atlanta Jewish Community Food Drive “Operation Isaiah”

Bi-Union Radio Players’ 10th Annual “Lend Me an Ear!”

Boost Mobile “Shrink Hunger” with Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Kim Zolciak

Cisco and Chick-fil-A “Connect Race” Series of Gwinnett

JEZEBEL Magazine “To Live and Dine in Atlanta”

Panera Bread Hunger Action Month Fundraiser and Food Drive

Pappas Restaurants “Bite to Fight Hunger 2013”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “Lend a Hand, Give a Can” Food Drive

YEAH! Burger’s “Monday Night Matters”

Gather with friends and family for an excellent meal while supporting the Food Bank. Each month, a different restaurant hosts Supper Club and donates 20% of the evening’s proceeds to benefit the Food Bank. What a great way to try out the best new restaurants in town while supporting hunger relief!

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Well Done!

The AARP LIFE@50+ conference was held in Atlanta this October at the Georgia World Congress Center. Activi-ties included a Community Day of Service and a meal-packing event in partnership with the Food Bank. Volunteers packed 100,000 food boxes to help feed seniors in our community as part of the AARP’s Drive Away Hunger cam-paign. In addition, the AARP Foundation presented a check for $25,000 to ACFB. Pictured (l to r) are AARP Personal Growth Expert, Chris Gardner, AARP Travel Ambassador Samantha Brown, Chase Card Services General Manager Michael Rittler, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of AARP and President of AARP Foundation Jo Ann Jenkins, and ACFB Founder and Executive Director Bill Bolling.

For the 23rd year, Atlanta’s Jewish community to-gether marked the Day of Atonement with a metro-wide food drive called Operation Isaiah. This year’s effort garnered 48,633 pounds of food items to help the Food Bank meet the needs of the food insecure in our commu-nities this fall. Thanks to everyone who donated!

We’d like to thank The Church of Jesus Christ of Lat-ter-day Saints, whose “Lend a Hand Give a Can” food drive was a great success for the Atlanta Community Food Bank and our affiliate, the Georgia Mountain Food Bank. Church members helped collect 94,039 pounds of nonperishable food items during Hunger Action Month this past September.

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VISIT ACFB.ORG FOR UPDATES AND FULL DETAILS ON ALL EVENTS BENEFITING ACFB!

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Calendar of Events

11/1 Genki Sushi & Noodles donates 10% of gift card sales through 12/31

11/1– Judith Bright Jewelry donates 11/3 15% of sales

11/4 Simple Abundance Cooking Class with Chef Tyler Williams of Woodfire Grill at Cook’s Warehouse Brookhaven

11/8– Canstruction® structures on 11/17 display at Colony Square

11/11 Simple Abundance Cooking Class with Chef Kevin Gillespie of Gun Show at Cook’s Warehouse Midtown

11/12 Supper Club at BoccaLupo

11/13 Canstrucion® Gala at the W Hotel

11/17 Kroger Can Hunger kicks off at all metro area Kroger stores

TBD Supper Club

TBD Simple Abundance Cooking Class

12/7 California Pizza Kitchen donates 20% of sales from all locations

12/10 Simple Abundance Cooking Class with Chef/Owner Mary Moore of The Cook’s Warehouse and Wine Specialist Don Hackett of Sherlock’s Wine Merchant at Cook’s Warehouse Decatur

TBD Supper Club

TBD Simple Abundance Cooking Class

Together we can fight hunger! Join Kroger in support of

those in need this holiday season by donating to their Can

Hunger Campaign. From November 17 through December

24, look for the $1, $3, or $5 icons while checking out at any

Kroger in metro Atlanta. The money will benefit the Atlanta

Community Food Bank.

KROGER CAN HUNGER

15

A Fresh Perspective

“Service is the rent we pay for the privilege to live on this earth.” These words are the motto for a select group of students across the nation charged with the dual duty to learn and serve. The Bonner Scholars Pro-gram calls over 5,000 students at more than 75 national universities to be active servant leaders and challenges them to change the world around them. As part of their completion of 280 hours of community service per year, each Bonner Scholar must complete two initiatives focusing on the pillars of economic development, health and wellness, environmental sustainability and educa-tion.

This year, the 13 Bonner Scholars serving their hours at ACFB will assist in various areas including Agency Services, the Product Rescue Center, the Agency Gro-cery Floor, the Volunteer Department, Product Sourcing and Distribution.

ACFB Director of Agency Services Carol Richburg is working with returning Bonner Scholar Kevin Coker, now a junior studying Political Science at Morehouse College. “Kevin is innovative, motivated and dedicated

– a young thinker, but an old soul,” said Carol. “It’s great to have him back. I think we learned as much from him last year as he did from us!” Kevin is pleased to be teamed up with Agency Services again. “This placement is well aligned with my academic history and professional goals,” said Kevin. “I’ve been able to build skills in critical thinking, problem solving and communication through working directly with agency staff and volunteers, as well as the people being helped, including a new initiative with food insecure elemen-tary school students.”

Former Bonner Scholar, and recent graduate of Spel-man College, Whitley Smith, served her hours in ACFB’s Human Resources department and made quite an impression on Queie Barnett, ACFB Senior Human Re-sources Manager. So much so, that Whitley was hired as our new Human Resources Assistant this September.

“As a Bonner Scholar, Whitley brought a fresh perspec-tive,” said Queie. “She was a strong contributor; she took on very challenging projects and demonstrated the eagerness to learn more and develop skills beyond those she already had.” In addition to paving a ca-reer path, participation in the Bonner Program helped

BoNNEr SCHolarS makE laSTINg ImPaCT

Whitley in her personal development. “It enhanced my knowledge of how to serve the community and better understand the issues,” said Whitley.

Jovanni Railey, a senior Bonner Scholar at Spelman College, is volunteering with ACFB’s Agency Grocery Floor, as well as the Volunteer Department. Serving here has shaped her college experience in new ways.

“To be honest, before being a Bonner and being here at ACFB, I didn’t think of nonprofits as having the ability to be such grand businesses,” said Jovanni. ”Espe-cially here at ACFB, it was very overwhelming at first to see all the different aspects of the organization. Before college, I didn’t think that I would ever want to be a part of a nonprofit full time, but now going into my last year I definitely see that as an option.” Jovanni hopes not only to learn more about the nonprofit sector but also to gain more knowledge about the effects of hunger and poverty.

ACFB Volunteer Program Manager Vilma Wallace organizes the Bonner Scholars’ participation at the Food Bank and believes they bring invaluable qualities to ACFB. “These students already have the passion for helping people embedded in them,” said Vilma. “Be-yond that they have new skill sets in the areas of tech-nology and presentation, energy for doing good, and overall are a very intelligent group of young people.”

To learn more about the Bonner Scholars Program, visit bonner.org.

Former Bonner Scholar and newly employed food banker Whitley Smith (l) takes a moment to visit with current Bonner Scholars Jovanni Railey (center) and Kevin Coker (r).

Nonprofit Org.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDAtlanta, GA

Permit No. 3763732 Joseph E. Lowery Blvd., NWAtlanta, GA 30318-6628(404) 892-9822acfb.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Save the Date!

2014 Hunger Walk/Run5K Walk/5K RunSunday, March 9, 2014Turner Field • Atlanta, GA

Hunger Walk/Run is a project of the Atlanta Community Food Bank.