know it, the holidays will be here. Gift buying and planning company events can be overwhelming and stressful, but we are here to help! Consider the following unique ideas: Corporate TributesLooking for a way to say thank you to valued colleagues or clients? Make a gift to Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes in their honor. Host a Food and Fund DriveMake it a challenge to beat last years amount or create friendly competition between departments. Incorporate the drive into your holiday party. We can help you make a memorable activity for your employees or friends. Individual TributesHaving trouble finding that gift for that person who has everything? Make a donation to Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes in someones honor. We will provide an acknowledgement of your gift that can be mailed or given in person. Volunteer Would you like an activity to help build teamwork? Consider volunteering. We receive a large number of food donations near the holidays and always need help in the warehouse. A NOTE FROM JENNIFER Our brains are wired to visualize certain images when we hear or read words. When someone says summertime, thoughts of sunshine, barbeques, and beaches often come to mind. We read a novel and begin picturing the main characters. These images are shaped by not only our own experiences and memories, but also by societal norms and expectations. When you hear the word hunger, what images come to mind? What does hunger look like to you? Do you immediately think of an individual who is homeless or perhaps your mind goes to young children in third world nations? The truth is that hunger afects more people in our community than we will ever know and is often an invisible problem. There are over 37,000 individuals, including more than 10,000 children, in Kalamazoo County who are experiencing food insecurity and dont know where they will get their next meal. The faces of hunger remain ever-changing, and are often individuals that you would never suspect. The hard-working family on your street, the person in the cubicle next to you at work, the elderly woman at your church, the little boy in your childs class who is always getting in troublethe face of hunger may have even been your own at some point in your life. Unexpected situations occur daily to all of us. Even the most diligent, budget conscious person may fnd themselves with little left to buy groceries at certain times in their life. A medical emergency or necessary car repair can completely derail ones budget and leave nothing left to purchase food. With over 20 pantry sites throughout Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes remains dedicated to serving our hungry friends and neighbors when they need us most. Not only do we provide food to fll cupboards, but we also help preserve dignity, health, and family togetherness. During the 2013-2014 fscal year, we served nearly 2.8 million mealsa 10% increase from last year. We project that our service numbers will increase once again during the 2014-2015 fscal year, and we thank you in advance for supporting our eforts to work towards a hunger-free community. We truly cant do what we do without you. Your generosity and time make a tremendous diference. AUGUST 2014 FOOD IS FUEL August marks the final month to contribute to KLFs Food Is Fuel Summer Kids Campaign. For too many children in our community, the fun and sun of summer is coupled with uncertainty surrounding from where their next meal will come. Already this summer, Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes has experienced more than a 20% spike in meals served to children through its Grocery Pantry Program. Every dollar counts! Visit www.kzoolf.org to donate today. DOLLAR DRIVE THRU HELPS FEED THOUSANDS The third-annual Dollar Drive Thru event, developed by the passion and generosity of OnStaf USA and 107.7 FM WRKR, will once again help feed thousands of children in our area. More than 10,500 kids in Kalamazoo County struggle with hunger on a daily basis, and the money raised by our community on July 16 will go directly towards building a bright future for our talented youngsters. Generous individuals from all corners of the county drove through and made meaningful gifts ranging from spare change out of their cars cup holder to larger donations collected in the ofce throughout the day by coworkers. The Crossroads Mall, one of the events host sites, even donated all of the change from the bottom of their wishing fountain to help feed hungry children in our area. Not only is the event intended to raise funds, but also to create unity within Kalamazoo County. Every little bit counts, and donations ranging from a nickel to a $100 bill ofered the opportunity for everyone to Drive Thru and make a diference in our community. Thank you to OnStaf USA and WRKR 107.7 FM, our dedicated group of volunteers who collected donations in the unusually temperate July temperatures, and to all of you who helped fuel the future of Kalamazoo County with your generosity. The total amount raised was not yet known at the time of printing, but we hope to surpass last years total. If you were not able to participate on July 16, its not too late! You can still contribute to our Food Is Fuel Kids Campaign by visiting www.kzoolf.org. During its infancy in the early 1980s, KLF was led by an eccentric and community-minded man named Pat Rothi. On a sunny, cool fall day over three decades ago, Rothi was taking a casual stroll when he saw a local supermarket deposit a large quantity of day-old bread into its dumpster. Realizing the magnitude of local individuals this bread could feed, he dove in to salvage the carb- flled food resource with the intention of distributing it to those in need in our community. Within minutes, KLFs frst executive director found himself knee-deep in discarded food and was confronted by a confused store manager. After briefy explaining his intentions and the value of the soon-to-be wasted bakery products for so many in our neighborhoods, the once-skeptical grocer not only allowed Rothi to claim the bread, but also pledged to continue to donate excess food to Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes. More than 30 years later, the local store continues to donate food on a weekly basis, which KLF distributes to those in our community who need it the most. While dumpster diving is no longer a means of food procurement for Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes, the relationships built from our meager beginnings continue to be critical in our eforts to end hunger in our community. The contributions from our communitywhether from local businesses, groups, organizations, individuals or young philanthropistshelp us continue our eforts to fll the growing food gap in our area. As we enter our new fscal year, we want to say thank you to everyone that supports our missionevery dollar, every action is truly makes a meaningful diference. FROM MEAGER BEGINNINGS KLF is pleased to introduce Greta Faworski as its new Resource Development Director. Greta can be contacted at 269-488-2617 ext. 208 or greta@kzoolf.org. Mike and Stefani from The Rocker Morning Show collected donations all day at The Crossroads Mall. Join the Movement! Are you interested in helping make Kalamazoo a hunger-free community? Weve got a place for you! Attend a brief volunteer orientation to get started. Volunteer Orientation dates: Wednesday, August 20 Saturday, September 13 Wednesday, September 24 Sign up with Volunteer Coordinator Cherise Buchanan at 269-488-2617 ext. 209 or at cherise@kzoolf.org A Partnership With KLF: 1. Increases brand loyalty 2. Strengthens brand image 3. Builds deep community relationships 4. Highlights your commitment to Kalamazoo County 5. Helps create a sustainable future for your consumer base STRENGTHEN YOUR BUSINESS AND OUR COMMUNITY By partnering with Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes in our mission to feed hungry people and engage our community in the fght to end hunger, not only are you helping build a brighter future for thousands of Kalamazoo County residents, but you also helping create a strong, benefcial community infrastructure for your business .
93% of American consumers have a more positive brand image of a company that supports a cause. 90% of American consumers are more loyal to a company that supports a cause. 90% of American consumers are more likely to do business with a company that supports a cause. (According to a 2013 study by Cone Communications) To learn more about partnering with KLF, contact Resource Development Director Greta Faworski at 269-488-2617 ext. 208 or at greta@kzoolf.org. FOOD WISH LIST August: Whole grain pasta September: Canned meat Did you know that with just $1, KLF can feed an individual three meals for a day? Please consider making a fund donation as well. KLF August Giving Coupon AMOUNT $ ________________ August is a particularly tough month for local families because of the lack of free and reduced-price school lunches and federal childhood food assistance programs. Your support is more important now than ever before! Please send your contribution by August 23. AUGUST 2014 COUPON #131 KLF September Giving Coupon AMOUNT $ ________________ School is back in session! Your donation helps fuel the minds of area children as they return to the classroom. Please send your contribution by September 24. SEPTEMBER 2014 COUPON #132 Old National Bank has displayed its commitment to a hunger-free Kalamazoo County through donations and monthly volunteer eforts in our in-house Mary K. Melzer pantry. Old National Bank believes that community partnership isnt a one-time event. At Old National, it means an ongoing, dynamic commitment through a combination of Foundation grants, sponsorships and associate volunteer eforts. For more information, visit www.oldnational.com. 2.8 Million: KLF served nearly 2.8 million meals during the 2013-14 fscal yearmore than a 10% increase from the previous year. 1,000: KLF provides food to nearly 1,000 local residents per day. MACKENZIES STORY Mackenzie* is an honor student at a local college studying early childhood development. She also has a passion for food justice. While these two interests may not appear to lead one on the same career path, the 18-year old sophomore has based her career aspirations on the desire to give back. Im not going to lie, there were times growing up where I was hungry, she said. I dont mean hungry like my stomach was rumbling. Im talking about going to bed with an empty stomach on Tuesday night and going to school the next morning without eating. Those were long mornings. All I could think about was fnally waiting in line for a warm school lunch. It was really, really hard to focus. Fortunately for Mackenzie, her siblings and her father, there was help right around the corner. My dad worked two jobs, but it wasnt always enough, she said. Luckily for us, he is very resourceful. He heard about Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes at a community event, and from that point on, we used the pantries and the mobile food sites every once and a while when we needed just a little bit of food to make it to the next week. As she continues to delve deeper into her collegiate studies, learning more about the development of children and food security have given her a stronger appreciation for charitable food assistance programs and a passion for giving back. I feel very fortunate, she told KLF. When you learn about just how much hunger efects growing kids, I feel blessed to be where I am at today. Without the help that we received, I dont know that I would be here studying something that I am passionate about. I want every kid in every neighborhood to have the same opportunities that I have had. Despite a heavy course load during the school year and working multiple jobs in the summer, Mackenzie has found ways to help make a diference in her communityincluding through KLFs Social Media Ambassador volunteer program. I am in college, I am on Facebook and Twitter all the time, she smirked. By just taking a few seconds out of my day to share and retweet stuf from [Kalamazoo] Loaves & Fishes, I feel accomplished because I know that I am helping to raise awareness. If you are interested in becoming a Social Media Ambassador for KLF, contact Communications Coordinator Kevin Minor at kevin@kzoolf.org or by calling 269-488- 2617 ext. 218. *Name changed for anonymity SOARING SERVICE NUMBERS Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes prides itself on continuing to evolve to meet the demand for food assistance in Kalamazoo County. During the 2013-14 fscal year (July 1-June 30), our organization provided more food to local residents than ever before. In part due to a combination of legislative cuts to government nutritional programs, underemployment among many in the local workforce and our eforts to increase capacity in our pantry system, KLF distributed more than 2.8 million meals during its 32nd year of operation. When we talk about service numbers, the true impact of what our community provides to all of us can sometimes get overlooked in the statistics, said Services Director Art Cole. Our clients, our volunteers, our supporters, our staf members are all invaluable to us. We are talking about our family, our friends, our neighborsand that is why we work so hard to expand our services every year. KLF has always focused our strategic development on reaching as many hungry individuals as possible, and because of that, we built this facility, and one of our highest-trafc food pantries, in the Edison neighborhoodone of the highest areas of need in our community. In the future, our steadfast goal is to continue to enhance our service capabilities throughout Kalamazoo County. These eforts would not be possible without the support of our community. Thank you for your generosity and, together, we can work towards a hunger-free Kalamazoo County. Local businesses and companies provide valued support to KLF through the donations of food, funds, products or services. Employees rally together to collect food donations and business owners support our mission through their generous gifts. These are the businesses that supported Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes from 7/1/2013 to 6/30/2014. If you are interested in learning more about partnering with KLF, contact Resource Development Director Greta Faworski at 269-488-2617 ext. 208 or at greta@kzoolf.org. 359 Corporation A. M. Todd Company AAA Abraxas Worldwide Accountemps Advance America Advia Credit Union Agility Health Alamar Systems, Inc. Alamo Drafthouse Aldi All Seasons Marine, Inc. Alpha Xi Masters Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Alta Resources Ameriprise Financial Annual Giving Campaign Anderson Bros Steamatic Apple Bus Aunt Millies Bakery Awake & Aware Yoga Studios B.A.S.I.C. Bank of America United Way Campaign Beamer, Lauth, Steinley & Bond, LLP Bells Brewery, Inc. Big Lots Bingen & Associates, PLLC Blake, Cassels & Graydon, LLP Borgess Health Borgess Hospital Outpatient Borgess Medical Center Bread & Roses Child Care Center Bronson Internal Medicine Downtown Bronson Methodist Hospital Bronson Practice Management Case Management Soceity of America Centre Dental Association, PC Charles River Labs Child and Family Psychological Services Collision Management Group, LLC Comerica Bank Staf Comprehensive Care Services-PA, LLC Comstock Family Dentistry Construction Labor Services, Inc. Consumers Credit Union Consumers Energy Coopers Landing Apts Corey Lake Orchards Cottage Inn Pizza CRB Consulting Cummins Label, Inc. Curves For Women Denso Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. Dimplex Thermal Solutions Dr. Goodman, DDS Drake Road Orthodontics Drew Telecom Group, Inc. Earthly Delights Eaton Corporation Educational Community Credit Union Edwards Industrial Sales, Inc. Family Dollar Fitness Yoga, LLC Flegal & Melnik Flynn, Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C. Food Dance Cafe, Inc. Frank Arcangeli, DDS Fresh Food Fairy Frizkin Enterprises Gazelle Sports Grainger Industrial Supply Graphic Packaging International Greater Horizons Greater Kalamazoo Association of Realtors Gun Lake Casino Haworth College of Business Healing Heart Psychic Services Hearthside Hodgson Enterprises Hope Woods Senior Community Horizon Bank Husted Farm Hyland Machinery Sales J. Butler Enterprises, LLC J.C. Penney Company, Inc. JACS (Cekolas Pizza) Jansen Valk Thompson & Reahm, PC Java Joint Jef K. Ross Financial Services Kalamazoo 10 Kalamazoo County Farm Bureau Kalamazoo Gastroenterology Hepatology Kalamazoo Log Cabin Quilters Kalamazoo New Car Dealer Assoc. Kalamazoo Sportswear & Regalia Kalsec, Inc. Keith R. Konvalinka, DDS Kendall Electric Keystone Community Bank Klosterman Distributing Knappen Milling Company Kozar Construction, Inc. Kzoom Video & Social Media L & S Associates, Inc. L. D. Docsa Associates, Inc. Lam & Company Learning Solutions Group, Inc. Lewis Reed & Allen, PC Lindsey Dedicated Services, Inc. Loeks Theatres, Inc. Louies Trophy House Grill LPL Financial LVM Capital Management, Ltd. Maine Plastics Mangia Mangia Mann+Hummel USA, Inc. Maple Hill Auto Group Maurices MDOT Meijer, Inc. Millennium Restaurant Group MJ Raser & Associates Niles & Associates, Inc. Northwest Mutual Nutra Blend, LLC Oak Brook Estates Mobile Home Park Old National Bank Packer Sanitation Services, Inc. Panse Greenhouses Pepperidge Farms Pepsi Bottling Group of Kalamazoo Pfzer, Incorporated Pine Lake Farm Pinewood Glen Apartments Pipedream Glass Plazacorp Realty Advisors, Inc. PNC Bank PNC Customer Service Department Premier Freight Management Primerica Financial Services Promotion Concepts Prudential Preferred Realtors Quality Air Service Rajzer Farms, LLC Rapids Capital, Inc. Residence Inn River Street Flowerland Robinson Industries, Inc. Rollerworld Rural Acres Farm Russell Farm Greenhouse Rx Optical Sanitor Manufacturing Company Schupan & Sons, Inc. Shoemaker Inc. Heating & Cooling Siemers Inspection Service, Inc. SignArt, Inc. Sliders Smoke Hut Southwest Michigan Credit Union Southwest Michigan Imaging Center Spry, LLC State Farm Insurance Steeg & Glista, PC Strategic Solutions Stryker Instruments Studio 33, Ltd. Subway Super Book Teds Appliances The Ample Pantry The Canopeum, Inc. The Grainery The Old Dog Tavern The Sign Center Thermo Fisher Scientifc Trillium Stafng Solutions TSFR Apple Venture, LLC Two Men And A Truck United Bay Community Credit Union United Healthcare Services, Inc. Vans Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett Villas of Stonehenge Visser Construction, LLC Wal-Mart 5065 Walnut Manor Farms Wedels Nursery & Garden Center Weight Watchers Western Michigan International Trucks Westnedge Wellness Center Wiser Financial Group Workforce Strategies, Inc. (WSI ) THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS Our Mission Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes will feed hungry people and engage our community in the fght to end hunger. Our Values Respect Diversity & Inclusion Stewardship & Accountability Integrity Collaboration Urgency Service TRIBUTES 5/1/2014 6/30/2014 . Special thanks to those who honor friends and family through contributions to KLF. I IN HONOR OF Victor Beauchamp Larry Boelman Susan Caulfeld Brenda (Kean) Darling William Decker Sis DeWitt Nancy Diment Connie Douglas Dick Dunshee William Furstenau David Gillespie Harold Heikes Phyllis Hepp Richard Hutson Jennifer Johnson Anne Wend Lipsey Barbara & Brian Menlen Emily Pearson Colleen Prichard & William Rantz Zach & Kate Risley Jan Roadhouse Lynne Smith June Swanson The Voter Volunteer Ladies Tom & Jan Tiderington US Postal Workers who volunteered for the National Letter Carriers Food Drive Joan and Charles Van Zoeren Susan Atkinson & Rick Wilson IN MEMORY OF Derald Blake Marion Branch Len Bridge Richard R. Buck Karen Cernik Marcia Charkowski Patricia Coleman Johnny Collins Rose Marie Contos Colleen Copeland Tom Crooks Ethel Dejony Frank & Mark Deschaine Joseph Dillon Karen Elwell Richard Evans Jr. Mary Ellen Evans Jerald Finnegan Faith Flanagan John P. Flynn Carolly Gluek Bud Guidmond Doris Hamilton Shirley Hamming Eileen Holaday Joanie Hough Dennis Hutchins Marcia Jackson Sarah Jackson Robert Jones John Karnemaat Marguerite Kolb Audrey Kurka Lance Lambert Linda Mary Renauld Lutz William Manifold Kathy Mizeur Terry Moorlag William Moreland Walter Mullin Archie Murrish Marjorie Nendorf Ruth Nickel Leone Nielsen Dan Nimmer Brian Oman Jaimie Oorbeck Thomas Oorbeck Frank Ossif Jr. Rick Ostericher Doris Peekstok Jack Price Sr. & Virginia Price Jessica Renauld Oswald & Alvina Renauld Richard Evans Sr. Mary Roche Antonia H. Rostami Darrell Rostami Marion Rumble Abe Ryskamp James H. Schaap Marilyn Scheel Dr. Peter Schmitt Martin & Emma Schmitt Elmer Schmuhl Juanita Shelley Foster L Sherwood Jr Victor Siemers Joani Siwik Tom Sonday Doug & Marie Renauld Stone Robert Struble John & Margaret Sture June Tackaberry Richard Dick W. Tanner Babette Trader Roon Visser MaLinda Webster Franklin Weinberg Don, Ruth & Bob Wisser Donald Wolf Dave Hafer, Warehouse Coordinator 211 Phyllis Hepp, Organizational Development Director 210 Jennifer Johnson, Executive Director 208 Deb Josephson, Services Coordinator 214 Marvin King, Procurement Specialist 224 Ruth Matteson, Call Center Coordinator 201 Kevin Minor, Communications Coordinator 218 Sue Raskin, Finance Coordinator 222 Jackie Smith, Services Coordinator 221 Carolyn Tyler, Operations Coordinator 222 Laura Winther, Donor Database Coordinator 206 Staf / Business Ofce 269/488-2617 EXT. Joan Atwell, Call Center Coordinator 201 Cherise Buchanan, Volunteer Coordinator 209 Paul Bushek, Warehouse Assistant 211 Art Cole, Services Director 207 Joe Cook, Warehouse Assistant 211 Bob Dekker, Warehouse Assistant 211 Greta Faworski, Resource Development Directir 213 Joe Galaviz, Warehouse Assistant 211 Kathy Gernaat, Operations Director 212 Connect With Us: www.facebook.com/ KalamazooLoavesAndFishes www.twitter.com/ KzoLoavesFishes 901 PORTAGE STREET KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN 49001-3005 FOOD REQUEST LINE: 269/343-3663 P 269/488-2617 F 269/343-3669 WWW.KZOOLF.ORG NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID KALAMAZOO MI PERMIT NO. 1693