October 2008
FoodforThought
Inside This Issue
Reality Doesn’t Change Itself 1
Promotion Concepts’ Support KLF 1
Peer Support Team 2 I spent 30 minutes in the Call
Independence From Hunger 2
World Food Day 2
Volunteer Corner 3
You Can Help 3
Celebrations 4
Fast Facts:
l Facts Sheet: Just the Facts
Interested in learning more about
hunger in our community? Email
Jennifer@kzoolf.org for an electronic
copy of our latest Facts Sheet.
l KLF Opens 2nd Saturdays
On Saturdays, October 11 and Nov-
ember 8, the KLF warehouse will be
open from 9 a.m.–noon to accept food
donations and schedule volunteer
opportunities outside normal business
hours. If you would like to learn more
about how you can help or where we’re
located, please call 488.2617, ext. 210.
l Newsletter by Email
More and more people are asking to
receive this newsletter by email to
save time, money, and trees. If you
would like to be added to our ‘prefer
email’ list, please send a message to
Jennifer letting her know if you’d like
just the newsletter, or all correspon-
dence from KLF, via email. Email:
Jennifer@kzoolf.org.
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes
913 E Alcott Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Business: 269.488.2617 / Fax: 269.343.3669
Food: 269.343-3663 / Email: info@kzoolf.org
Website: kzoolf.org
Reality Doesn’t Change Itself
O
n a recent Monday morning
Center. Just 30 minutes. I
experienced, first hand, the enormous
increase in demand for KLF’s Grocery
Pantry Program (GPP). And, I caught
a glimpse of the changing reality of
hunger in our community.
During that 30 minutes I talked with
more than 20 people, all of them look-
ing for emergency food support. A
number of the callers had utilized the
Grocery Pantry Program before, but
I was startled by the number of new
folks, people who hadn’t used our ser-
vice in more than a year, and some for
whom this was a first time experience.
Who was calling that morning? There
were single-parents with kids; house-
holds made up of several generations;
families with little kids and ones with
teens; couples, singles, seniors, and
young adults. For each, the challenge
of ensuring their household’s food was
immediate and, in some cases, heart
wrenching. Many related their efforts
to stretch limited dollars in the face of
rising food and energy costs—$4 for
a gallon gasoline or milk?
A few real life stories from that
30 minutes one morning:
l A working mother of two who uti-
lized KLF services in the early 90s, told
me she had to start seeking emergency
food again this past year. Increased
gas and food prices mean she “does
not have enough to make ends meet.”
She’s learned to cook differently, too—
understanding that “stretching food
items to last longer” still needs to mean
good food for her growing teenagers.
l Another woman experienced a
divorce and the loss of her home this
year. In the past she has been a donor—
giving what she could to help others.
Now, she’s on the receiving end—
needing emergency food assistance to
make it through the month.
l Then, there’s the woman whose son
and daughter-in-law moved in with
their new baby due to pressing finan-
cial issues. This working grandmother
is now utilizing KLF’s Grocery Pantry
Program with its “lack of bureaucracy”
to make ends meet. Feeling the need to
offset the service she has received these
past months, she is now a regular pantry
volunteer—serving others in need.
Margaret Wheatley, in her book,
turning to one another, says “Reality
doesn’t change itself. We need to act.”
As food security becomes a pressing
reality for more of us, KLF acts…with
your help. Our expanded Grocery Pantry
Program allowed me to schedule grocery
pick up for a good number of house-
holds in that 30 minutes—more than
we would usually be able to serve.
Together, the KLF network scheduled
access to emergency food assistance for
more than 160 households that day and,
indeed, each day that week. Faced with
steady, enormous increases in requests
and the costs of providing service, we
simply couldn’t do it without you.
KLF is able to act—to get food to hun-
gry people through volunteer and staff
efforts, partnerships with groups across
the community, help of donations of
food and dollars—to make food security
a non-issue—at least for today.
—Anne Wend Lipsey
 Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes: FoodforThought–October 2008
Michigan Harvest
Gathering Support’s
Food Providers and
the Hungry People
They Serve
I
t’s harvest time across Michigan and,
as we say at KLF, “it’s all about food.”
Fresh produce galore, canning or
freezing, making jam, and baking with
zucchini. While most of us find fall a
time of bountiful food, more and more
people in our community are hungry—
regularly. And, more and more emer-
gency food providers across Michigan,
like KLF, are significantly challenged to
keep up with requests.
When the Food Bank Council of Michi-
gan (FBC) started Michigan Harvest
Gathering (MHG) in 1991to raise food
and funds for the regional food banks/
providers, it couldn’t have anticipated the
number of people facing hunger and eco-
nomic crises in Michigan we see today.
Unfortunately, we’re all touched by cur-
rent economic conditions. Fortunately,
many of us are able to help assure people
facing harder times have enough to eat.
Locally, many food/funds drives dur-
ing September, October, and November
will celebrate MHG while helping fill
the KLF warehouse with non-perishable
foods. Dollars raised will help purchase
hard-to-obtain food items and cover
transportation costs of collecting and
distributing food to our Grocery Pantries
and other community partners. All the
food and money collected stays in Kala-
mazoo County.
This year, we’re requesting foods we never
have enough of and which cost us the
most to purchase: peanut butter, canned
meats, open-heat-eat meals, fruits, and
vegetables. We’re requesting funds to help
purchase foods needed to assure balanced,
nutritional offerings.
If you would like to start a food/funds
drive at your workplace, congregation,
or neighborhood, we’d like to help.
Please contact Jennifer for training, tips,
and boxes at 488-2617, ext. 213.
913 E Alcott, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001 / P: 269.488.2617 / F: 269.343.3669 / E: info@kzoolf.org / W: kzoolf.org
Food Drive Basics:
It’s Easy, Fun, &
Everyone Can Do It!
Considering a food drive in honor of
Michigan Harvest Gathering or the
upcoming holidays? Here are five easy
steps to success.
l Call KLF (for help, boxes, etc.)
l Organize (place, date, theme)
l Promote (let everyone know)
l Deliver (to the KLF warehouse)
l Thank (celebrate your success!)
Above: Members of Lord of Life Lutheran Church
dropped off 701 lbs of food on September 8, 2008,
from their recent food collection drive.
Below: Students at Kalamazoo Christian West
Elementary School bring their food to the gym
during their Thanksgiving food drive last year.
It is the generous
giving of ourselves
that produces the
generous harvest.
—Orison Swett Marden
Page 2
Grocery Pantry
Network Update
A
s we reported in the August news
letter, KLF has seen a huge
increase in the number of days
of food provided to hungry people in
Kalamazoo County since January of
2008. In fact, through our Grocery Pan-
try sites, by the end of August we had
already distributed more food than in all
of 2006. Increasing the number of pantry
sites is a key component to meeting our
long term goal of expanding the service
area in Kalamazoo County.
The most recent addition to the Grocery
Pantry Network is Calvary Bible Church,
on the city’s west side. Calvary’s pantry,
led by Pantry Coordinator Norm Cope-
land and 16 very committed volunteers,
has provided a much needed service to
that region of the city during the two
busiest weeks of the month. “The key
thing so far is the convenience of having
a pantry on the west side,” says Copeland.
“The response has been great because we are
close to where the need is,” he continued.
Welcome, and thank you, Calvary Bible
Church for joining KLF and helping
increase our capacity to deliver more
food to more people.
Income Tax Credits
and Deductions
Offer Win-Win
The Michigan Income Tax Credit and
a federal tax deduction are available to
individuals and businesses making mon-
etary donations to KLF. Limits include:
Individuals—50% of contributions up to
$200; Couples—50% of contributions
up to $400; Businesses—50% of contri-
butions up to $10,000.
Talk with your tax professional for more
details on how you can decrease your
taxes while helping feed hungry people.
Win-Win!
Page 3 Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes: FoodforThought–October 2008

Increasing Access to You Can Make A Difference

Emergency Food For more information, please contact Jennifer at 269.488.2617, ext. 213

Food Talk of food is everywhere these
days. We all talk about it: Cost increases,
changing uses of food crops, weather, distri-
bution and safety issues are hitting world sup-
plies hard. Speculations abound about why
this crisis has developed; who knows who’s
right or how it all fits together...or if explana-
tions really matter to people facing another
hungry day.
Hunger In the KLF network, we
are all painfully aware that lack of access to
adequate, nutritious food is a crisis for more
people across our community than ever
before. In many homes food is the dominant
focus in their lives. Getting food to hungry
people so they can carry on with their lives is
the goal of every emergency food distribution
organization. That food system is complex,
so we want to share with you how KLF fit’s
into it.
l Buy: With a chill in the air comes l Volunteer Your Time
the need for “stick to your ribs” and Talents:
foods. Donate “open and eat” chili
or stews in the cool months ahead Open Orientation
October: Mac & Cheese Upcoming Open Orientations are
October 14, November 11, and
November: Hardy Soups, Chili
December 9 at 11 a.m. at KLF.
l Save: The date—October 16 – Learning more about KLF’s mission
World Food Day! Hold a food drive and how you can contribute your time
and educate friends and neighbors and talents to helping fulfill it.
about increasing hunger in our
community—and how you can make
Call Center
Take calls from people requesting
a difference. Ideas at: www.kzoolf.org
emergency food assistance and direct
l Do: At your work place, organize them to a pantry to receive service.
and encourage a “Skip Lunch for Receptionist
Hunger Day.” Donate the money
Greet visitors, direct phone calls.
you would spend on lunch to KLF
to help feed hungry people in Second Saturdays

KLF: A Food Bank PLUS+

Kalamazoo County. KLF will be open the second Saturdays
l Leave a Lasting Legacy of October and November for food
l Most Food Banks serve as the wholesale Call Anne at 269.488.2617, ext. 208, donation drop-offs and special projects
arm of emgerency food servies. They
to explore ways you can include for volunteers who can’t schedule time
“gather donated and rescued food during week day office hours.
resources for distribution to organiza- KLF in your will or estate plans.
tions that serve hungry people.”
l KLF is a Food Bank PLUS+. We gather
donated and rescued food—and pur-
chase large amounts of food to provide KLF October Giving Coupon
balanced, nutritious food. 913 E. Alcott, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
October 2008 – Coupon #64
l KLF accepts cash donations that are put
to work buying and transporting food,
Amount $__________
and supporting the infrastructure that
continues to build capacities and provide “Michigan Harvest Gathering” is an annual event (September-November)
more service. during which food and funds are raised to support local food banks.
This month make a donation in honor of this annual celebration.
l And, through our extensive network
of Grocery Pantries, meal sites, and Please send your contribution by October 27.
other partners—the efforts of over 400
volunteers and 17 ft/pt staff—KLF
directly serves hungry people.
l Therefore, KLF includes both the KLF November Giving Coupon
913 E. Alcott, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
‘wholesale’ and ‘retail’ sides of the
emergency food systems. November 2008 – Coupon #65
KLF is a unique, mission-driven network. Amount $__________
By building capacity and operating with the
greatest possible efficiencies, we continue to Celebrate Thanksgiving by “giving thanks” with a monetary contribution
respond to unprecedented requests, volumes to Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes.
of food, and costs. Our Food Bank PLUS+ Thank you for helping hungry people in Kalamazoo County.
is getting more food to more hungry people
Please send your contribution by November 24.
in Kalamazoo County than ever before.

913 E Alcott, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001 / P: 269.488.2617 / F: 269.343.3669 / E: info@kzoolf.org / W: kzoolf.org

 FoodforThought–October 2008 Page 4

Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Kalamazoo, MI
Permit No. 1693
913 E Alcott
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49001

Business Phone: 269.488.2617

Food Request Line: 269.343.3663
Fax: 269.343.3669
Email: info@kzoolf.org
Website: kzoolf.org

OUR MISSION:
To expand the availability of
emergency food resources and
promote the ability of hungry
people to feed themselves.
OUR GOAL:
Food Security—Access by all
people to enough food for an
active, healthy life—every day.
OUR VALUES:
lCompassion lRespect
lJustice lIntegrity lAdvocacy

Celebrations Thank you to all who honored loved ones with gifts to KLF. The following gifts were received between July 12 and August 5, 2008.
If your gift arrived after August 5, it will appear in the next newsletter.

Gifts in memory of:

Robert Amrhein . Barbara Bowers . George Bruda . Marge Brundage . Bruce L. Burrows . Dr. Allen Buskirk . Edward H. Camisa . John Chandler .
Erwin Charlesworth . George Commissaris . Lois Jean Darst . Robert Eager, Sr. . Alberta Ellis . Helen Estree . Sophie Fisher . Gene & Dot Fontaine .
Carl A. Fry, Sr. . Mrs. Helen Graham . Evonne Gustas . Louise Horner . Leonard Klok . Marguerite Kolb . Brad Lindsey . Frances N. Malotte .
Victor Marcon . Bill Martin . Louis Marvin . Michael J. McKinley . Al Moldavon . Suzanne Newnum . Thomas Oorbeck . Dr. Joseph Phillips .
Jessica Renauld . Margery Sadler . James H. Schaap . Dr. Peter Schmitt . Bill Selles . Joani Siwik . Georgiana Smith . Raymond Smith . Ralph Starz .
Dora A. Sulka . Etta Teachout . The Holysko Family . David Thomas . Margaret Timm . Carl Trimble, Jr. . Wanda Nadine Vanderberg .
Roon Visser . Jane Wend . Bret Wilmarth . James D. Wrinkle . Curtis Yaul                       

Gifts in honor of:

Frederick & Jean Baggeman’s 66 wedding anniversary . Jean Dobbin’s 60th birthday . Kate Ferraro’s birthday .
th

Stephanie Frez & Ash Norton’s marriage . Lois Gay . Linda Grdina’s birthday . The birthday of Jim Hess .
Grant & Evelyn Hogart’s 60th wedding anniversary . Eileen Holaday . Ed & Jeannne Kozerski’s 40th wedding anniversary .
Patricia & Gerald Kroehn’s 50th wedding anniversary . Anne Wend Lipsey . Madison & Joseph Loomis’s 12th birthday .
Cal & Alice Mastin’s 50th wedding anniversary . Robert & Kathleen Re’s wedding anniversary . Jim & Tootie Ritchie’s 50th wedding anniversary .
Emma Robbins . Mr. & Mrs. Roh’s 50th wedding anniversary . Katherine & Harvey Seilheimer’s 62nd wedding anniversary .
Judy Sivak’s birthday . Dick & Dora Standish’s 50th wedding anniversary

Board of Directors Staff/Business Office 269.488.2617 ext. .

Jan Brown Chris Kenney Dick Anson, Warehouse Assistant 211 Jennifer Johnson, Volunteer/Com Coordinator 213
Leatta Byrd Cheryl Knapp Art Cole, Services Director 207 Deb Josephson, Services Coordinator 214
Patricia Carlin Sam Lealofi Linda Fitzgerald, Administrative Assistant 206 Marv King, Food Director 211
George Erickcek Donna McClurkan George Geissel, Bookkeeper 206 Anne Wend Lipsey, Executive Director 208
Robert Ezelle Harvey Myers Kathy Gernaat, Operations Director 212 Bobbe A. Luce, Com/Dev Director 213
Bruce Gelbaugh Helen Norris Phyllis Hepp, Project Planner 210 Shelley Markle, Warehouse Assistant 211
Martin Glista Maija Petersons Lou Hoekstra, Warehouse Assistant 211 Sue VanderMeer, Services Coordinator 209
Lynn Jessel Martha Simpson