Food Committee Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Location: St. John’s United Church of Christ
Agency Spotlight:
St. John’s United Church of Christ food pantry has been in operation for 25 years. St. John’s food pantry serves on the average 180 people per month. St. John’s is the gracious host of the SNA General meeting every month.
Approval of last month’s minutes
Welcome and Introductions
Updates
· Kroger is changing pick up times, depending on the store you pick up from.
· Costco is still in need of agency’s to pick up. Costco is donating mostly bakery and some random items.
· Aldi in Newport is currently donating to Brighton Center in Newport; Aldi in Independence will be opening April 4th.
· Fresh Thyme in Newport is donating to local agencies.
· Sarah Celenza has contacted all agencies regarding Meijer pick up day and has addressed agencies picking up all product offered.
· Freestore Foodbank will be opening a location in Wilder, Ky.; Jolly Industrial park will be the home of their temporary location. Pick up from the Wilder location may be available by summer 2016.
· Giving Fields-Molly will be working until5/27/16 and return late July. Internal staff along with the Burns family will be filling in for Molly during her leave. Molly has a new farm plan and is currently working on a schedule for agency pick up. Master Gardeners will lead some groups in planting. The Giving fields may be looking for some new volunteers, to be announced on the Freestore Foodbank website.
Old Business
· Kroger Returns for cash -Sarah Celenza from Freestore Foodbank has been made aware of this and will address the issue.
· Silver Grove-Andy Brunsman has spoken to Erika Philhart regarding student’s needs. Silver Grove students are on a year round schedule. There are 200 children K-12 and over 100 families needing assistance with food. Andy will schedule a meeting with Erika and any interested SNA food committee is welcome to join. Andy will follow up with an email invite to SNA food committee members. Options for outreach will be discussed at the joint meeting. Several ideas were offered/presented at the meeting. These options will be discussed at the formal meeting with Erika.
New Business
· Postal Carriers Drive- Saturday, May 14th, 2016
o Andy Brunsman will send an email to plan a meeting
o Zalla may give free marketing on electronic billboards; Andy will ask.
o Andy is developing a formalized waiting list for agencies who wish to participate in receiving food from the drive. There are currently 2 slots open that need to be filled by SNA member agencies to receive food from the drive.
o Individual post offices handle pick up of collected items differently. Please contact the letter carrier union representative from your post office to plan for pick up.
· Hunger Walk 2016-Monday, May 30th, 2016-Sponserd by the Freestore Foodbank
o Sign up your group at http://cincinnatihungerwalk.org/2016/
o New this year- the walk will extend into Kentucky!
Attendance
1. Jenny Wiley - Brighton Center
2. Sarah Celenza-Freestore Foodbank
3. Becky Ewing-United Ministries
4. Madison Noble-UM Intern
5. Larry Mains-Action Ministries
6. Andrew Brunsman- Be Concerned
7. Karen Yates – Hosea House
8. John Eldridge- Master Provisions
9. Jill Brown- SNA VISTA
10. Penny Clark-Care Mission
11. Paul Gottbrath-Be Concerned
12. Dennis Daniel – St. Bernard Food Pantry
13. Wanda Quinn- St. Johns Outreach
14. Melissa Pilcher-Cooperative Extension
15. Mary Lark – St. Paul’s Food Pantry
16. Mary Kaiser-St. Bernard’s Food Pantry
Next Meeting:
May 11, 2016
Master Provisions
7725 Foundation Drive
Florence, Ky. 41042
Food Committee Goals and Objectives
1. Fill the gaps where there is food insecurity.
2. Start an outreach in Silver Grove, Ky.
3. Hydroponic Gardening as a new resource