News from FFCC!

April 11, 2012

FOOD PACKAGING EVENT UPDATES

THIS WEEKEND!

Volunteer times are still available for this weekend's 34th Food Packaging Event on April 15th! Click here to reserve your spot! The event's primary supporters include Grace Lutheran and Westminster Presbyterian. The location for the event is The Centre at Lexus Escondido, 1205 Auto Park Way, Escondido 92029.

When volunteering at an FFCC Food Packaging Event, don't forget to bring your donations. Remember, at 25 cents/meal, $20 provides 80 meals to hungry people here in North County and around the world! Click here to calculate how many meals your donation can provide!

UPCOMING EVENTS!

To preview other upcoming events or to find out the remaining 2012 dates that are still open should your organization like to sponsor their own event, please click here or contact Phil Harris (philffcc@san.rr.com) or Tina Socha (tina.socha@san.rr.com).

GRACE POINT EVENT REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

Click here to register for the Grace Point Food Packaging Event that will take place on April 29th!

HIGH SCHOOL CLUBS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Check out a recent video that the Do Something Del Norte KIN Club put together to share the experience of their recent Food Packaging Event that they sponsored and hosted on their school campus. The FFCC Fight Against Hunger clubs are doing an amazing job to set an example of service for the San Diego community! Way to go!

11-28-10 FPE2

AVIATION CITY, HAITI

Update & Call For Help

FFCC has been working with and assisting one of Haiti's largest "tent cities", called Aviation, located in Port Au Prince. Like all the tent cities in Haiti, they formed right after the 2010 earthquake. Aviation began with 30,000 people and it has grown to over 57,000 people.

The needs are immense and the conditions are indescribable! FFCC has provided water filters and a 1,000 gallon sim tank to make access to clean water possible. FFCC also provides SD Fight Against Hunger meals to help alleviate the food shortage problem. FFCC has worked with and trained doctors and nurses living in Aviation to provide a medical clinic with the equipment and meds provided by the San Diego community.

FFCC is currently working with the government of Haiti and IOM (International Organization for Migration) to help relocate the people of Aviation. The government will provide the land if FFCC can provide the building materials to build 14'x20' homes for those families interested in the program.

FFCC NEEDS YOUR HELP! If you have access to building materials or have contacts interested in this huge humanitarian effort please contact Phil Harris at philffcc@san.rr.com.

LOCAL NEIGHBOR NEEDS
Looking for a weekly or twice monthly morning volunteer
FFCC is now an official recipient of some generous weekly food donations from Albertsons that we distribute to local families in need. We need help with this collection in Rancho Penasquitos on Monday mornings around 8am to 9am. It would involve packing your own large car, SUV or truck and delivering the fresh food to 2 destinations. The total amount of time this task takes each Monday would be about 1.5 hours. Please contact Becky (bpalenske@san.rr.com) for more information, whether you can help weekly or even on an as needed basis.

Backyard Produce Project needs volunteers
Many families in our area north of San Diego are struggling to put food on the table. Fresh produce is often too expensive for these families to purchase; however, many families in the community have citrus trees and fruit/vegetable gardens that produce excess food. The Backyard Produce and Community Garden Projects offer community members an opportunity to share backyard produce with families in need. We have partnered with this project for over 2 years and it's a wonderful and bountiful source of food for local families in need. Amazingly, 44,000 lbs have already have been collected! FFCC volunteers are needed on week days to help the picking crew (1 or 2 hour shifts in neighbors' backyards) or to help pick up and deliver produce between Poway and Rancho PQ. Almost every day of the week we could find a task for you and sometimes young people can help along with their parents. If you're available please contact Becky at bpalenske@san.rr.com.

FFCC REACHES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

On March 11th, three FFCC volunteers flew to New Jersey to help coordinate and execute the town of Pompton Plains' first Food Packaging Event. Hundreds of homes were flooded from Hurricane Rita in 2011.

From that community, Will Michaels flew to San Diego in October of 2011 to witness the FFCC Food Packaging Event at The Centre at Lexus Escondido. He flew back home to New Jersey and began to rally his community to host their first event. He approached schools, churches, businesses and individuals and raised over $14,000 to purchase the bulk food ingredients of rice, soy, vegetables and vitamins that make up the 6 serving non-perishable meals.

FFCC coordinators ran logistics from San Diego to assist with the online registration, the coordinating and shipping of equipment and supplies, and marketing materials. A team of three FFCC volunteers flew to NJ to help execute the event.

Will contacted the local Food Bank of New Jersey and committed 50% of the meals to be delivered there and the other 50% will be shipped to Haiti and distributed through FFCC's food distribution team in that country. The event was held at a local middle school where over 600 community volunteers of all ages assisted. At the end of the 4-hour event, this community packaged 59,000 meals. It was an incredible day and effort. FFCC, your influence is growing!

In This Issue

Aviation City, Haiti

Local Neighbor Needs

FFCC Across the U.S.

You make a difference!
Thank you so much for your gifts of time, talent, and financial support!

Quick Links

FFCC Website!

email FFCC

Upcoming Events at a Glance

FFCC's 34th FPE (Escondido Event) Leader Volunteer Meeting April 12th 6:30pm

Location: Grace Lutheran Church - multipurpose room, 643 W. 13th Avenue, Escondido 92025

FFCC's 34th FPE (Escondido Event) Set Up April 14th 10:00am

Location: The Centre at Lexus Escondido, 1205 Auto Park Way, Escondido 92029

Tanzania Team Meeting - Trips #12 (FFCC) & #13 (Azusa Pacific) April 14th 1:00pm

Location: Round Table Pizza, 16761 Bernardo Center Dr., San Diego 92128

FFCC's 34th Food Packaging Event (Click here to register) April 15th

Sponsored by: Grace Lutheran & Westminster Presbyterian, Escondido;
Location: The Centre at Lexus Escondido, 1205 Auto Park Way, Escondido 92029

Haiti Trip #10 March/April 2012 Team Reunion April 22nd 5:00pm

Location: Cowart Home. Everyone is welcome to come hear our stories. Contact Tina for details.

FFCC Core Team Meeting April 23rd 6:30pm

Location: Olson Home. Contact Tina for details or Contact Bridget for directions.

FFCC Senior Outreach April 24th 9am-Noon

Location: Salvation Army, 825 7th Avenue, San Diego 92101

Haiti Trip #11 August 2012 Team Meeting April 24th 6:30pm

Contact Tina for more information

FFCC's 35th FPE (Grace Point Church Event) Leader Volunteer Meeting April 26th 6:30pm

Location: Grace Point Church 13340 Hayford Way, San Diego 92130

FFCC's 35th FPE (Grace Point Church Event) Set Up April 28th 8:00am

Location: Grace Point Church, 13340 Hayford Way, San Diego 92130

FFCC's 35th FPE - Grace Point Church Event (Click here to register) April 29th