Cedar Valley United Way
Progress Report 2012/2013
Target Issue: Income-Achieving Greater Financial Stability
Northeast Iowa Food Bank 2012/2013 Request: $60,000
Cedar Valley Food Pantry 2013/2014 Award: $50,113
Number of anticipated participants to be directly served by the program annually: 3,000 HH
· Changes to the number of anticipated participants based on current conditions: Total unduplicated 3,885 HH. The increase has been due to a few reasons, cut in Food Stamp Assistance, moving into our new building and providing the client the choice of food they receive. This is a 65% increase from same time period in 2012.
· Total number of actual participants: Phase 1: 3,885 HH, 9,422 Individuals
Phase 2: 1,574 HH, 3,346 Individuals
Total for both phases: 5,459 HH; 13,237 Individuals
Phase 1* Phase 2* Cumulative Totals
# of participants who achieved at least one financial goal in their plan / Surveys to be conducted in Feb/March 2014Of the clients surveyed in the Spring of 2013, 282 or 69% stated that they were able to achieve at least one financial goal with the help of the Food Bank. / Of the clients surveyed in the Spring of 2014, 296, or 69% stated that they were able to achieve at least one financial goal with the help of the Food Bank. / Of the clients surveyed in the Spring of 2014, 578, or 69% stated that they were able to achieve at least one financial goal with the help of the Food Bank.
List the types of financial goals achieved by participants / Employment and/or paying other necessary financial obligations such as mortgage, rent, medicine, utilities, etc / Employment and/or paying other necessary financial obligations such as mortgage, rent, medicine, utilities, etc
# of participants that are on track to successfully exit this program / The intent of the program is to allow for participants to remain on the program which will enable them to pay other necessary obligations, such as rent, utilities, medication to ultimately help our clients to become self-sustainable financially. In the last 5 years over 1,200 HH are no longer using our services. / The intent of the program is to allow for participants to remain on the program which will enable them to pay other necessary obligations, such as rent, utilities, medication to ultimately help our clients to become self-sustainable financially. In the last 5 years over 1,200 HH are no longer using our services. / In the last 5 years over 1,200 HH are no longer using our services.
Your choice as it relates to achieving greater financial stability: / We conduct surveys to establish the client’s financial situation. Questions include: 1. Are you more, equal, or less financially stable than you were a month ago? 2. Are you now able to pay other necessary financial obligations (mortgage, rent, medicine, utilities, etc. with the assistance from the Food Bank? / We conduct surveys to establish the client’s financial situation. Questions include: 1. Are you more, equal, or less financially stable than you were a month ago? 2. Are you now able to pay other necessary financial obligations (mortgage, rent, medicine, utilities, etc. with the assistance from the Food Bank?
*Report only unduplicated numbers
Based on the above information, what changes, challenges or improvements are being implemented or experienced to impact the effectiveness of the program?
· Phase 1: Of the clients surveyed in the spring of 2013, 282 or 69% stated that they were able to achieve at least one financial goal with the help of the Food Bank.
· Phase 2: Of the clients surveyed in the spring of 2014, 296 or 69% stated that they were able to achieve at least one financial goal with the help of the Food Bank.
Share at least one of the “success stories” or accomplishments that a participant has experienced during each reporting period. This must be participant focused and aligned with the intent of this award.
Phase 1: This month in the pantry we helped a family that has not had any income for the past 6 weeks. They moved to the area a few months ago and have not had much luck finding work. The father had been doing some odd jobs here and there to get them by. About 6 weeks ago he endured an eye injury and has not been able to do any work since. The mother of the family came in the pantry and was very hesitant to ask for help. After she unloaded her groceries in her vehicle, she came back into the office with tears in her eyes and said “Thank you so much, this is more than we ever expected. You’ve saved our family.
Recently in the pantry, we helped a mother and her 17 year old daughter. The daughter was recently diagnosed with cancer. Since the diagnosis, the mother has not been able to work very many hours as they are trying to keep up with doctor’s appointments and everything else. They were very grateful for our service during this difficult time.
· Phase 2:
With the recent storms; we had a family visit the pantry that lost power. Due to the power outage they lost everything in their refrigerator and freezer and they also had some flooding in their basement. With the help they received from the pantry, they will be able to replace some of the groceries they lost and hopefully use the money they would have spent on food to clean up their basement.
For the last few months, we have been helping a gentleman that lives on Social Security. This past month he received a letter in the mail stating that they were going to start deducting $120 per month from his check for Medicare. This was unexpected because he is within the income guidelines for Medicaid and should not need to pay for Medicare. He is hoping the money will be refunded to him once everything gets sorted out, but in the meantime he is very thankful for our services.
A lady came in yesterday who was recently laid off from her job. Her husband is still working but his paycheck only covers the bills and they do not have much left to buy groceries. By being able to help them in the pantry, they are able to use that money on other bills and expenses.
I helped a lady the other day who had adopted her niece and nephew and she already had two children of her own. She said she tries not to use the food pantry often, but it definitely helps them during the summer when all of the children are home from school.
Phase 1= July 1, 2012-December 31, 2012 Report Due: January 15, 2013
Phase 2=January 1, 2013-June 30, 2013 Report Due: July 15, 2013