On the Way to 300 Participating Organizations!
Operation Feed 2012 is off to a great start! As momentum continues to amp up, we're well on our way to having 300 organizations working together to fight hunger this spring. A special thank you to all the groups who have pledged to help!
Since the campaign runs through June, there's still plenty of time for any school, civic group, church, club, family or neighborhood to get involved. If you know if a good candidate--perhaps a peer company, vendor or neighbor organization--encourage them to sign up today to help the hunger-fighting effort. Completing a brief online registration form is all it takes to get started.
With everyone's help, we can reach our goal of raising 7.5 million meals for those in need. When everyone does a little, the Foodbank can do a lot! |
Virtual Food Drive Challenge Week--Join the Fun
Operation Feed's "Friends & Family Fundraising" tool (a.k.a. the Virtual Food Drive) is back and ready to raise more meals than ever for Operation Feed. To generate enthusiasm and community support for the cause, the Kitchen Cabinet's Marketing Committee is presenting the first ever "Virtual Food Drive Challenge Week." - In late May, a variety of groups (Operation Feed organizations and others) are invited to join in on a concentrated, lively online effort to raise meals and hunger awareness.
- This quick & easy way to raise funds is the perfect opportunity to extend your drive's outreach, and it's a great way to involve friends & family in the fight against hunger.
- The credit card donation website is secure and all meals raised will count toward your campaign effort. Each dollar raised = three meals.
- To get started, all you need to do is designate a team captain. We'll create a page for your group and email you with a link.
- Then, you promote it--emailing it to associates, posting it on your web site, and sharing it through your organization's Facebook & Twitter. Anyone can make a one-time donation or take it a step further by creating their own page to raise even more meals for your effort.
- Top performers will be recognized publicly on the promotional web site for FOODFIGHT "eat out to fight hunger" day on June 20th. This site lists restaurant participants and receives thousands of hits leading up to the event.
Your "Virtual Food Drive" can easily go viral! Everyone can see real-time results and how the effort is progressing. Just email amurphy@midohiofoodbank.org with your team captain's name and email address to participate in the Challenge Week. We hope you'll join us! |
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: Fahlgren Mortine (Easy as Pie!)
For their very first Operation Feed campaign, Fahlgren Mortine Columbus office employees hosted an Operation Feed Week to help in the fight against hunger. With different activities each day, the 100-person office exceeded its goal of 3,000 meals, raising 3,869.78 meals to be exact.
To associate the campaign with food, the week began with a breakfast kick off. Stickers with Operation Feed facts and stats were put on paper plates, which many hung in their cubicle as a reminder of the need in the community. Tuesday was volunteer day, where 11 people signed up to volunteer at Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Wednesday featured a bake sale, which was so popular that it was extended and ultimately raised more than $200 in just one day.
Thursday's trivia night -- with fun facts about food and the Foodbank -- included a raffle where associates could win a half-day vacation or an Easton gift card. Friday was the big finale, and it ended the week with a bang! A penny war running throughout the week promised the winning Fahlgren executive a chance to throw a pie in the face of the last-place finisher. With the winner out of the office, the pie-throwing chance went up for auction, raising additional funds for the cause. They even captured the big moment on video!
The agency agreed to a meal-for-meal match to employee donations, and we're thrilled to announce that Fahlgren will be contributing more than 7,000 meals! Special thanks to campaign coordinator, Katie Riehl (Kitchen Cabinet marketing committee member & former Operation Feed writing intern), for championing the effort, and congratulations to the entire Fahlgren team on a great campaign! |
Speakers Bureau Is New Addition for Mid-Ohio Foodbank
Operation Feed is proud to offer our coordinators the great resource of our Speakers Bureau, a group of several dozen hand-selected volunteers with a love for, and knowledge of, our organization. This special group is ready and able to represent Mid-Ohio Foodbank and assist at events where a Foodbank presence is requested. What a great way to put a face to the cause and communicate the Foodbank message at a fair or drive. We're excited about this resource and hope you are excited to welcome us in! Please contact any member of the Operation Feed team for more information about utilizing the Speakers Bureau.
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SHELF LIFE: Community Kitchen, Inc.
 The Community Kitchen began in 1979 as the first soup kitchen in Columbus and a source of support for indigent men. Spearheaded through efforts with St. John Catholic Church, the kitchen became a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in 1985 and has since grown to become a critical resource for the community, serving more than 86,000 meals last year.
The Community Kitchen operates on a "no questions asked" policy, as it is their goal to serve without regard to religion, race, age, nationality or gender. The organization believes that all people deserve life's necessities. In addition to serving breakfast and lunch six days a week, the kitchen also provides other services that tend to clients' medical needs, children's needs and more, in order to further promote the dignity and self-worth of its clients.
Hunger is not just an issue that occurs in specific areas, but it is an issue across the city, says Marilyn Oberting, Director of Operations. This is the crux of the kitchen's daily operations, and a significant volunteer base is required for all to operate effectively with just six staff members. The organization is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
To learn more about The Community Kitchen, Inc., please contact Marilyn Oberting at (614) 252-6428, ext. 238, or visit www.communitykitchencolumbus.org.
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The Business of Hunger: A Corporate Decision Makers' Forum
On April 25, Operation Feed welcomed 46 corporate leaders from local organizations and companies for a special CEO breakfast. On the agenda were the impact of hunger on people in our community and our support systems. Mid-Ohio Foodbank President & CEO Matt Habash spoke at the event, focusing on neighborhood poverty, its affects in the workplace and the changing face of hunger. Nick Akins, President and CEO of AEP, and Chad Jester, President of the Nationwide Insurance Foundation, shared thoughts and personal stories about their relationship with the fight against hunger. Participants had great ideas about what businesses and business leaders can do to address the problem. A huge thank you to all the organizations that attended and made the event so inspiring!
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Support Mid-Ohio Foodbank This Spring
Madewell's Spring Flea Pre-Party (Thursday, May 3)
With Spring FLEA just days away, get your '"flea" on early and support Operation Feed with a pre-party hosted by Madewell at Easton Town Center. Dance, dine & shop from a custom-curated selection of goods from the upcoming Spring FLEA on Sunday. The pre-party is TONIGHT 6 - 8 p.m., and a portion of the evening's proceeds will go to Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Featured attractions from Diana Peters STMP.D, Ron House's Moses Carryout Records, Josh Harden's Ghetto and more! Adult beverages and Latin-leaning cuisine provided, with tunes by Tony Envelope, DJ for the evening. Madewell is located at 4215 The Strand at Easton. RSVP to store.244@madewell.com, and don't forget to invite your friends. Spring FLEA (Sunday, May 6)  With warm weather comes the FLEA season, and Columbus FLEA is again springing into action to fight hunger through Operation Feed. This year's first open air-market features a variety of local goods such as jewelry, antiques, clothing, artwork, records, crafts ... and much more! Join the fun on Sunday, May 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Fireproof Storage parking lot, located at 1024 N. High St. in the Short North. Event proceeds benefit Operation Feed. For more information, visit Columbus Flea on Facebook.
"Stamp Out Hunger" (Saturday, May 12)
Mark your calendar for the 20th anniversary of the "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive on Saturday, May 12. Residents can place bags of non-perishable food items near their mailboxes; letter carriers then pick up the food contributions and deliver them to local food banks. Hosted by the National Association Letter Carriers, it is the largest one-day food drive in the nation and has raised over 1 billion lbs. of food nationally since its inception in 1991. Click here for more information. Zombiewalk Columbus (Saturday, May 12)
Did you ever think you'd see the day the dead would feed the living? It's actually been happening for years! Join us for the 5th annual Zombiewalk Columbus on Saturday, May 12. The two-mile walk around the city kicks off from Goodale Park at 4 p.m. Participants bring food items to benefit Operation Feed! Learn more here. Kid's Company Annual Spring Show (Friday, May 18)  Kid's Company Performing Group, Ltd. presents its annual Spring Show to benefit Operation Feed. Join Kid's Company performers as they sing and dance through the decades, performing songs from Elvis, The Beach Boys, Olivia Newton-John, Adelle, Nicki Minaj, LMFAO, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, and More! The show is scheduled for Friday, May 18, 7 p.m. (doors, 6:30 p.m.) at Hilliard Bradley High School Auditorium (2800 Walker Rd., 43026). Tickets are $5-8, and all proceeds benefit Operation Feed. Click here for more information.
BusTown Music Benefit Concert (Tuesday, May 29)
 Don't forget to mark your calendars for May 29, when a fierce display of Columbus' music scene partners with The Hot 17 to fight hunger when it hosts Operation: FEED - a benefit concert at the Ohio State University's Mirror Lake (Browning Amphitheater). The party is 6 - 10 p.m. and in addition to music will feature jugglers, dancers, food from local vendors such as Jeni's Ice Cream and more. This is sure to be one of the biggest music events of the year with a complete local lineup of bands, including LES Crew, Jared Mahone, The Smoking Guns and many more! Click here to learn more. Additional Events and Promotions To learn about upcoming events and promotions, you can always visit the Foodbank's Events page at www.midohiofoodbank.org/news-events/events. |
Key Campaign Dates
- Ongoing Workplace/Organizational Campaigns - March-June
- Letter Carriers' "Stamp Out Hunger" Drive - Saturday, May 12
- FOODFIGHT "Eat Out To Fight Hunger" - Wednesday, June 20
- Official End of Campaign - Thursday, June 30
- Deadline to Submit Contributions for Awards Consideration - Tuesday, July 31
- Campaign Finale - Thursday, August 23
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Next Steps
- Form a planning committee, and schedule time to discuss campaign plans with your leadership.
- Confirm your campaign time frame with the Operation Feed team.
- Keep the Speakers Bureau in mind for your upcoming fair or event.
- Make your "Virtual Food Drive Challenge" plans.
- Document your activities by snapping pictures for the photo contest.
- Talk about Operation Feed with your friends, colleagues, neighbors ... and encourage them to get involved.
- Rally your associates for an outstanding 2012 Campaign!
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