Food Bank of the Southern Tier

Agency Advisory Board

Minutes

February 12, 2016

Present: Larry Sanford, Windsor Human Development; Mary Rich, New Beginnings Food Pantry; Jodylynn Mosher, Catholic Charities/Sam Center; Laurie Ellis, Catholic Charities/Tioga Outreach; Kathy Greene, Addison Food Pantry; Darlene Bachman, Penn Ave/Feed Elmira Walnut St.; Kristine Morseman, CC Schuyler County Outreach; Nancy Myers, Lansing Food Pantry; Ruth Williams, Tompkins Community Action; Mike Leahey, CHOW RDO; Kerm Bossard, TOI Spencer Van Etten Food Pantry; Tina Sauter, Christian Hope Center Food Pantry; Matt Griffin, FBST; Lyndsey Lyman, FBST; Missy, FBST; Vickie Steck, FBST

  1. Welcome& Opening Prayer

The meeting was called to order at 12:04 PM

  • Introductions-Welcome Michelle Benedict-Jones, Vice President of Development and Community Engagement; Dave Patterson, Director of Warehouse Operations, Nancy Jean Perkins, Volunteer Coordinator; Maureen Monroe, Marketing and Community Engagement Manager
  • Review approval of Octobermeetingminutes-Motion for approval Larry S; Mary R. seconded all in favor-Motion carried.
  1. Review & Updates
  • Warehouse
  • Missy handed out the updated TEFAP list to the AAB.
  • Dave Patterson introduced himself and asked the Board how things have been going with orders, deliveries, etc. Comments made were “The drivers are great.” “Orders have been packed nicely”.
  • Dave informed the Board of the new Bar Coding System that the warehouse has been using and how it’s much more accurate in ensuring that orders are correct. This new system also allows new product to go instantly onto the menu.
  • Dave also informed the board of snack totes and OTC’s are free. They are ranging from 300-350 lb. totes.
  • Dave-We just received 40,000 lbs. of watermelon totes. Agencies that have the capacity to take a tote (s) or more let us know. Agencies that can only handle half a tote, let us know that as well.
  • Advocacy & Education (Lyndsey)
  • Advocacy Update-The Food Bank of New York City recently did a study to determine how much funding would be required to cover the additional need that has developed in New York since the recession hit in 2008. They were able to determine that with $16.5 million additional in HPNAP funding, the gap would largely be covered across the state. On Wednesday, February 24, food banks representatives from across New York State, including three FBST staff members and one FBST partner agency rep, gathered in Albany to hold a press conference and ask their representatives in the NYS Assembly to sign a letter of support of the increase. Currently, the total HPNAP funding for the state is $34.5 million, meaning that the proposed increase would bring the total across the state to $51 million. The FBST estimates our region would receive an additional $600,000 in HPNAP funding should the increase be passed, which would translate to approximately 800,000 more meals provided to Southern Tier residents in need.
  • Agency Services
  • Update- The Celebration for agencies will be held on April 22, 2016 (Earth Day) at the Watkins Glen Seneca Harbor Hotel from 11:00 AM-3:00 PM Recognition of agencies. Pre and Post events are in the works. Save the dates will be going out within the next couple of weeks.
  • Matt updated the Board on the Staff changes in the Agency Services and Nutrition Department. Lyndsey Lyman is now the Agency Capacity & Engagement Coordinator and Vickie Steck is the Agency Services and Compliance Coordinator. We are in the process of looking for a new Agency Services Assistant.
  • HPNAP OS/CE trainings will begin at the March Coalition Meetings. A grants review date has been confirmed for June 15, 2016.
  • CountyHunger Coalition Meetings/County-Based Leadership/ Feedback to AAB-
  • Schuyler- (1) Would love to see more low sodium items. (2) Struggle with finding Toilet Paper and paper products. (3) They would like to serve samples on some hard to move products. Would like more of an insight on how this could happen.
  • Chemung- (1) The importance of networking. They have started up a network email to stay in better communication with each other. (2) They discussed how Finger Lakes Food may be an option if there isn’t produce available at the FBST. (3) Emergency Food-How to get it to clients in need. Should boxes be pre-made and available?
  • Tompkins- (1) Discussion-There will be an intern available to help with Community Outreach and used as a secret shopper.
  • Steuben- (1) Would like to see the MFP Calendar online updated more often.
  • Broome-No Report
  • Tioga-No Report
  1. Discussion & Decisions
  • Food Bank Partner Agency Communication/Support
  • Nancy Jean Perkins- Nancy discussed the way that the FBST can provide information to those that would like to volunteer here at the Food Bank or if they are unable to come here, where in their community they could volunteer. Nancy expressed that if volunteers are needed for your pantry to please give her a call. She is able to go to Coalition Meetings to spread the word of how she can help our Partner Agencies and getting them volunteers.
  • Maureen Monroe-Maureen shared how story sharing and agency spotlights are important for grant proposals, Community Outreach, Marketing and Media. Please get Maureen a story to share or something impressive with an agency. Maureen had handouts of the importance of story sharing, Media release form and Suggested questions for interviews.
  • Today’s Agency Spotlight- TOI-Spencer Van Etten Community Food Cupboard-Kerm Bossard. Sharing Best Practices. Discussions with diverse stakeholder’s. “The Cupboard had done things forever, hard to get over the hump of doing new things.” Spencer Van Etten Community Food Cupboard is 25 miles away from everything and covers 4 Counties and 10 Townships. They serve the families of the Spencer Van Etten School District, which the average family is at the 50% poverty level. They recently added a second pantry date for later in the afternoon for those families that unable to attend due to working. They are currently looking for a location change. A building that they found has a lot of renovations that are needed, however it is just down the road from their current location. Other new/noteworthy initiatives: Creating a new logo and brochure that can be sent home with the kids from the school. Offering food, clothing and helping with heating issues. A local TV Channel is helping with a commercial to improve outreach. Looking for other partners that will help with change.
  • Partner Agency Workshop-HPNAP 3 Day Package, My plate, Dietary Guidelines-Elisa discussed the HPNAP 3 day package and did a training on the dietary guidelines. She had handouts of my plate and the HPNAP Food Guide for a 3 day package. She then did an activity with the group.. Some challenges noted by AAB members: Hard to explain 3-Day Package to volunteers, there are items at food pantry which are not identified on the sheet. It would be helpful for FBST to explain the 3-Day Package Analysis during the site visit; Agencies can label different food group options on shelf. Agency coordinators can help with volunteer training.
  • Research with IC students-Lyndsey shared information about a research project the Food Bank is conducting this spring with the help of Ithaca College students in Dr. Alicia Swords’ Inquiry and Action for Social Change course. The project is a participatory action research project that aims to gather information on the relationship between clients and volunteers at pantries and to build upon some of the findings from the 2015 Agency Capacity Study conducted for the Food Bank by Horn Research and to help implement the FBST’s 2016-18 Strategic Plan. As part of the “participatory” piece, Lyndsey requested feedback from the Board on how best to communicate this information with pantries that are requested to participate and what additional questions they would like answered or suggestions. The students will begin conducting research at participating pantries in Tompkins County in March through both observation through volunteering and face-to-face interviews.
  1. Three Key Items to Share at Hunger Coalitions in March
  1. HPNAP 3 Day package workshops- Challenges, what works and implementation
  2. FBST Agency Volunteer Links-FBST can help agencies with volunteer needs; FBST also is a volunteer site that agencies can refer people to.
  3. Encourage agencies to share stories

Our next meeting is April 8, 2016

Handouts: December meeting minutes, February Agenda, Current TEFAP list, Media Release form, HPNAP Food Guide for a 3 Day Pantry Package, My Plate, The Importance of Story Sharing, Suggested questions for interviewing clients.