December 2010
Inside This Issue
Round Up For Hunger 2
Folk Benefit Concert at The Strutt 2
Michigan Harvest Gathering
Still Collecting Food 2
Recent Corporate Contributions
Make a Difference 3
Holiday Food Drives 3
Volunteer Opportunities 3
Fast Facts:
So far in 2010, KLF has served
about 10% more people than in
2009.
Roughly 20% of KLF’s food
supply comes from community
donations.
Remember:
Your donation is eligible
for a Michigan Income
Tax Credit.
Go to www.kzoolf.org
for more information.
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
It’s Complicated
I am reminded regularly about how very complicated our lives are today. For many of us,
the challenges of daily life are manageable—most of the time. It is the occasional extra
meeting, car repair, or scheduling conflict that gets us down. For many people across
our community, the complexity of daily life is routine to the point of overwhelming.
Access to emergency food support can make a huge difference. We talked recently
with a woman whose life had been turned upside down by her husband’s medical
crisis, interrupted schooling, inability to find work in her field, and all with a daughter
to raise. She shared with us the power of our work together:
“I sold some old coins my dad had given me just to buy food. My husband was
getting disability so that helped us to squeak by. I still had to make up for the food
so I had a friend give me the number for Loaves & Fishes. I kept that phone number
and I finally broke down and went to a food pantry. I would just go once a month to
wherever was open when I needed it. I was really, really thankful for that.”
For others, caring for an aging parent, internal family disputes, homelessness and
more might bring them to Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes. In another instance, a woman
shared this: “You guys helped me when I was in need, when I was homeless. I was
living on the street. I found out about KLF through my boyfriend and I heard about
KLF at the drop-in center.”
These are examples of the power of simple assistance in a time of need. But that’s not
the end of the story. Kimberly Schoetzow, communications coordinator here at KLF,
spoke with each of these women recently. Their lives have since settled a bit and both
expressed real excitement at the opportunity to give back:
“Now I’m going to donate once a month so you can help feed other people who
need it.”
For one of these women, fresh vegetables opened that door to giving:
“I was really touched one time when I went downtown [to a pantry] and somebody
had donated fresh vegetables from their garden. I thought that was so sweet. This
spring my daughter’s school let us have a garden on their property. Whenever the
vegetables are ready, I give some of them to the food pantry. I was so excited to give
food to the pantry because I remember that day. I’ve donated things at other times and
places too, but this was just really special to me and my family.”
Life is complicated but there are many simple ways in which we can and do support
each other. Thank you for helping to make life a little simpler – one person at a time,
day after day.
- Anne Wend Lipsey
Potluck Pals Cookbooks For Sale
In partnership with the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Lori
Moore’s 2010 A Holiday Dish to Pass Cookbook will help support
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes and the Food Bank of South Central
Michigan. The theme is holidays throughout the year.
“I’m pleased that my cookbook will help to get food on the table of
thousands of Kalamazoo residents,” said Lori.
Holiday cookbook sales benefitting Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes
will be held on:
Dec. 15, 11 am – 1 pm, Harding’s Market, 8900 Gull Rd.
Dec. 16, 4 – 6 pm, Harding’s Market, 6300 S. Westnedge Ave.
Dec. 17, 11 am – 1 pm, Harding’s Market, 5161 W. Main St.
 Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes: FoodforThought–December 2010 Page 2

Round Up For Hunger:

Eat Out, Donate Change,
Make a Difference!
Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes is embarking on a new holiday initiative
aimed at raising funds and awareness about local hunger. From Dec. 10 –
12, dine out at participating restaurants – like Bravo Restaurant & Café,
Food Dance, Blue Dolphin, Mangia Mangia, and The Craftsman Chop
Co. – and ‘round up’ your bill to support our Grocery Pantry Program.
You can add on $1, $5, or whatever amount you choose to your bill,
with those proceeds benefitting this important program.
A full list of participating restaurants is still being developed. Stay tuned to www.kzoolf.org to find out where to eat Dec.
10-12 to help make a difference in our community.

Folk Benefit Concert at The Strutt

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes staff member and legendary folk musician, Ferron, will be performing
at The Strutt, 773 W. Michigan, on Sunday, Dec. 12 as the grand finale to our Round Up For
Hunger weekend.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. and the show will start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission,
$8 for students with a valid school ID, and $12 if purchased before Dec. 12. All tickets can be
purchased at The Strutt.
Hailing from Canada, Ferron has been described as the Johnny Cash or Bob Dylan of female folk
singers. She also has ties with the Indigo Girls and Ani DiFranco. She’s put out 14 albums since
1977. To learn more about Ferron, go to www.ferrononline.com.
For more information on Round Up For Hunger, visit www.kzoolf.org or call Jennifer Johnson at
488-2617 ext. 213. Go to www.thestrutt.com to view their dinner menu and drink specials. Ferron

Michigan Harvest
Gathering Still
Collecting Food
Thanks to the generosity and support of many local
organizations, this year’s Michigan Harvest Gathering
looks like another great success. (At the time of printing,
the event had not yet concluded).
Annual supporter, Bronson Hospital, collected over
15,000 pounds of food and over $13,000 to benefit our
Grocery Pantry Program.
Michigan Department of Transportation collected 54
pounds of food and $366 in donations. The Department
of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality
brought in nearly 130 pounds of food and $147.
Statewide, the $800,000 goal has almost been reached
and over 100,000 pounds of food has been collected. Bronson employees collect food and funds for KLF
Stay tuned to www.kzoolf.org for collection totals from all of our local participating organizations and throughout Michigan.

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

Page 3 Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes: FoodforThought–December 2010

Recent Corporate Contributions Make a Difference

Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes has a strong partnership with various local businesses and is grateful for their support.
The following corporate donors gave generously this year and these gifts will help Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes supply
emergency food for the winter months ahead.
Meijer, S. Westnedge, Simply Give Campaign - $3,360
Meijer, W. Main, Simply Give Campaign - $2,100
Promotion Concepts, Inc. - $1,780 and 330 lbs. of food
Summit Polymers - $7,002.78 and 206 lbs. of food

The KLF
Holiday Food Drives
Giving is so much easier during the holidays when there are food drop-off sites
Volunteer
almost everywhere you go. The following organizations are hosting food drives and Department
welcome community donations. Visit www.kzoolf.org for a complete list.
- AARP: Drop off food Dec. 13-17 at Portage Senior Center, Volunteer Center Interested in helping out in
of Greater Kalamazoo, Senior Services, Inc., and Westwood United Methodist the warehouse or at special
Church. Also drop off food Dec. 11 at Howard St. Harding’s Market. events? Help KLF spread
- DKRRA Weekend in the City: Dec. 1–8, donate food items for a chance to win the word by becoming a
cool downtown prizes. Search “Weekend in the City Kalamazoo” on Facebook.
knowledgeable volunteer.
- Gazelle Sports’ Run Through the Lights: Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m. Entry for the
5k run is a non-perishable food item or monetary donation. For more, go to Orientation dates are:
www.gazellesports.com/info/97-lights.
- Kalamazoo Central High School Stuff the Bus: Food donations accepted Wednesday, December 8
Dec. 11 at W. Main St. Harding’s Market.
- Kathy Mattea’s Holiday Concert: Dec. 17 at Miller Auditorium. Saturday, December 11
Saturday, January 8
KLF December Giving Coupon Wednesday, January 12
913 E. Alcott, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
December 2010 – Coupon #89 Sign up with Laura Winther by
Amount $ calling 488-2617 ext. 209 or
email at laura@kzoolf.org.
Colder months are here and the people we serve need hearty, protein-filled food
choices. Your donations help Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes secure those items.
Please send your contribution by December 27
As you are filling your shopping cart,
please consider shopping for and
donating these high demand items:

KLF January Giving Coupon December:

913 E. Alcott, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
January 2011 – Coupon #90 High-protein hearty soups
Amount $ January: Beef Stew
What’s your New Year’s resolution? Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes encourages you to
put community giving near the top of your list. Remember that fresh produce
donations are always accepted at the
Please send your contribution by January 24 KLF warehouse as well. Call 488-2617
for more information.

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

 FoodforThought–December 2010 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 VALUES:
l Compassion l Respect
l Justice l Integrity
l Advocacy

Special thanks to those who honor friends and family through your contributions to KLF.
The following gifts were received between September 1 and October 31.
If your gift was received after October 31, it will be included in the next newsletter.
Gifts in honor of:
Joe & Lynn Alberding’s 24th wedding anniversary * Rita Albertson * Sina Ballett’s 90th birthday * Paul Buckman’s birthday
Richard & Joanne Chamberlin’s 50th wedding anniversary * Rachell Colucci & Paula Juriga’s marriage * Sr M Cool * Ron & Karen Crandall
Virgil & Debra Crandall * Marshall & Joyce Draper’s 25th wedding anniversary * Aden & Merna Francis’ 56th wedding anniversary * Noah Gatz
Ken & Lois Gernaat * Kate Kirk Greenburg * Dolores Heidanus * Bill & Doris Inkster * Marvin King
Ralph & Betty Kirch’s 63rd wedding anniversary * Dan Kucich * Lisa Lutz * Alf & Ilenya Marrin * Donna McClurkan * Reagan Marie Mead
Dick & Pam Nivala * Carl & Gloria Osterling’s 58th wedding anniversary * Maija Petersons * Avery & Patty Playford’s 50th wedding anniversary
Rick & Becky Ramsey’s birthdays * Barbara Van Dalen * Warehouse workers * Tom & Nancy Wilson’s 25th anniversary
Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry
Gifts in memory of:
Beth Allen * Robert Amrhein * James Bauhof * Nancie Bigler * Andrew Garrett Blodgett * Donald G. Bloesch * Pansy Bowers
Richard Burlington * Maxine Bushouse * Robert W. Carper * Howard L. Case * Tom Crooks * Andy DeVolder * Gail Easter * Arlon Egan
Richard Eustice * Jeanne Maltby Fahrenbach * Anna Forrester * Mary Forrester * Josef Ghahramani, Sr. * Wilfred Godfrey * Patricia Haddock
Phillip A. Hatfield * Irene Hedger * Durwood & Mary Holmes * Loring Janes * Susan Kaiser * Helen G. Kelly * Marguerite Kolb * Robert Laity
Lance Lamber * Maxine Louden * Linda Renauld Lutz * Betty McGuire * Michael Messer * Kathy Mizeur * Bill Onderlinde * Jamie Oorbeck
Thomas Oorbeck * Frank Ossiff Jr. * Jean Overton * Chip Passavant * Gerald L. Pochyla * Sarah Rantz * Beverly Reddy * Jessica Renauld
Tom Rich * Carol Sakstrup * Marilyn Scheel * Dr. Peter Schmitt * Pat Searles * Eric Selner * Harry Selner * Joani Siwik * Alice Souden
Ann Stevens * Doug & Marie Renauld Stone * Donald Swanson * Evone Szyperski * Paul Taylor * Nannette Temple
Robert Van Dis * Sandy VanderBor * Roon Visser * Carole Walsh * Robert Wielenga

Board of Directors Staff/Business Office 269.488.2617ext.

Patricia Carlin Donna McClurkan Joan Atwell, Call Center Lead 201 Jennifer Johnson, Public Relations/Dev. Director 213
Robert Ezelle Harvey Myers Melissa Burel, Donor Database Coordinator 206 Deb Josephson, Services Coordinator 214
Bruce Gelbaugh Helen Norris Art Cole, Services Director 207 Marv King, Food Director 211
Alan Harbaugh Maija Petersons Ferron Foisy, Call Center Lead 201 Anne Wend Lipsey, Executive Director 208
Michael Henderson Stacey Randolph George Geissel, Bookkeeper 212 Kimberly Schoetzow, Comm. Coordinator 218
Lynn Jessel Martha Simpson Kathy Gernaat, Operations Director 212 Carolyn Tyler, Operations Coordinator 212
Cheryl Knapp Jan Tiderington Phyllis Hepp, Director of Organizational Development210 Laura Winther,Volunteer Coordinator 209
Elizabeth Makohn Mary Hutchins,Warehouse Assistant 211