Operation Feed Rolls Out New "Point of Purchase" Program
Operation Feed is bringing the fight against hunger to a store near you with the new Point of Purchase project. Starting in June, partnering grocery stores and retail outlets can display placards at the checkout, allowing customers to add donations (for either $1, $5 or $10) to their total purchase at checkout. It's a quick & easy way to help put food on the tables of our neighbors. Remember: $1 equals 3 meals! We hope you'll spread the word and join in on this great opportunity to fight hunger beyond the workplace and into the community! Stay tuned for a list of participating locations.
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Join the Virtual Food Drive Challenge (May 21-25)
The Operation Feed "Virtual Food Drive Challenge" is gaining momentum. So far, several community groups have come on board, including Columbus Clippers, The Other Paper, WBNS-10TV, and Yelp. We're looking for existing campaign organizations (like yours!) to join the fun, too. Here's how it works:- May 21-25, a variety of groups (Operation Feed organizations & others) are invited to join in on a concentrated, lively online effort to raise meals and build hunger awareness.
- This quick & easy way to raise funds is the perfect opportunity to extend your Operation Feed campaign's reach, and it's a great way to involve your associates, your organization's social media following--even 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 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.
Your "Virtual Food Drive" can easily go viral! Everyone can see real-time results and how the effort is progressing. Even if you're already using one of the online donation tools, we'll create a special page for you, just for the week, and roll those funds into your total campaign donation. 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: Marion ACT
In their fourth year of a community-wide food drive, Marion ACT hit the ball out of the park, collecting 28,000 lbs of food and almost $15,000 in their campaign that ran April 13-22.
Marion ACT is an organization that strives to make a difference one neighbor at a time, regardless of differences in politics, religions, race, age, income and gender. They also work throughout the year with individual businesses and organizations that host food drives, and match them up with local food pantries.
In the organization's annual drive, they partnered with many community groups, businesses and members to benefit Operation Feed, doubling their efforts from the 2011 campaign. The results are truly proof of a great community support system, as everyone from churches and schools, to Kroger and Big Lots, contributed and helped in the fight against hunger. After all, that's what Marion ACT is all about - "A Community Together"!
Congratulations, Marion ACT, on a great campaign, and thanks so much for your support!
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Coordinator Training Brings Bountiful Harvest of Ideas
As this spring's Operation Feed campaign gets into high gear, our coordinator training series has wrapped up and we're overflowing with fabulous fundraising ideas...those of you & your peers!
Training ended on May 1 and, in the last few months, the Operation Feed team has seen more than 150 individuals committed to learning more about how their business or organization can make an impact. Special thanks to everyone who came out and contributed to the discussion. Now it's time to put all those great ideas into action!
The "Harvest of Ideas" collected throughout all five training sessions revealed many creative "out-of-the-box" ideas, in addition to tried and true techniques that always work well to boost meals raised and generate enthusiastic participation, including ... - Offering incentives and rewards (like raffles, casual dress day, or massages),
- Leveraging competition to create a stir (compete with others in the office, talent shows or Wii tournaments),
- Getting leadership involved (pie an executive in the face, Cut the CEO's Tie Day, or a "celebrity" dinner with leadership).
It also recognizes the importance of educating associates; getting board members, vendors or visitors involved; utilizing Operation Feed resources and--most importantly...having fun! A diverse group of individuals pitching in to do something positive for the community is what Operation Feed is all about. When everyone does a little, the Foodbank can do a lot! |
SHELF LIFE: Kroger Community Pantry at Mid-Ohio Foodbank
 Mid-Ohio Foodbank is proud to announce that its very own Kroger Community Pantry served its 4,000th family just last week. Functioning as a "learning lab" for the Foodbank's work with its other 550 partner agencies, the Kroger pantry opened in January expecting to serve about 30 families a day. Unexpectedly, that number dwarfs reality, as the pantry is now serving around 90 families per day.
Volunteers are the heart of the pantry with about 90 individuals helping each week--stocking shelves, helping families shop, and assisting with general pantry operations. Many are families volunteering together or recipients of the pantry's services wanting to give back. The Kroger pantry also provides assistance for families on making healthy food choices and cooking tips, in addition to helping with registration for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits - formerly known as "food stamps." The pantry also offers cooking classes, miscellaneous home items, toys, and it distributes donated books for children.
Serving families in Franklin and surrounding counties, the pantry operates according to the State of Ohio guidelines for qualifying families--that is, households must have an income below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty level and be Ohio residents. It operates as a choice pantry (where clients "shop" as they would in a grocery store), and families returning multiple times in a month are able to receive as much fresh produce and bread as they would like. Mark Mollenkopf, Pantry Coordinator, says the best surprise to come out of the pantry is the demand for fresh produce. This is something the Foodbank plans to encourage when working with other feeding agencies in the central Ohio area.
To accommodate working individuals, the Kroger Community Pantry is open Tuesdays and Fridays, from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A visit to this great new facility is included on Foodbank tours, or come during its operation hours to see it in full swing! For more information, or to inquire about donations or volunteering, contact Mark Mollenkopf at mmollenkopf@midohiofoodbank.org or (614) 317-9482.
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FOODFIGHT Is Back on Wednesday, June 20!
Mark your calendars--the annual FOODFIGHT "eat out to fight hunger" is coming up on June 20!
 | | Click the poster for a printable version. |
For the fourth year, a great collection of restaurants is generously volunteering to dedicate a portion of one day's sales to feeding people in need. Guests choose a participating restaurant to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner (coffee breaks, happy hours, & late night eats count, too!), knowing that 5 percent of the check will benefit Operation Feed. Restaurants on board include Betty's, Barcelona, Bob Evans, Katzinger's, Refectory & more. Visit www.FoodFightHunger.org for a complete, up-to-date list.
Last year's FOODFIGHT was a wild success, raising nearly 51,000 meals in just one day. To make FOODFIGHT 2012 even bigger, we need your help! Please spread the word inside your organization, and round up a group for an "eat out to fight hunger" excursion on June 20--a business breakfast, lunch with coworkers, happy hour with friends, dinner with family, or any other winning combination. Exciting developments are popping up every day, so stay tuned for updates!
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Campaign Wrap-Up: Share Your Results
It's more than two months into Operation Feed, and we'd love to know how your campaign activities are going! As you wrap up your drives and events, share your results online using our Final Reporting Form. The Meals Tracking Log will help you record food & funds, and be sure that a Food Drive Contribution Form or Monetary Contribution Form accompanies each donation submitted. This helps ensure that all donations are properly credited back to your organization.
Please mail checks and money orders directly to the Operation Feed lockbox for processing rather than bringing them to the Foodbank. Cash and Coin Processing Resources can convert monies collected, free of charge. Visit the Campaign Coordinator Resources page for these and additional resources you might need to help finish your drive. You can also check out Wrapping Up - 4 Easy Steps, or contact any Operation Feed team member with any further questions. Thanks for your support!
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Support Mid-Ohio Foodbank This Spring
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, Adele, 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
- 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
- Consider joining next week's Virtual Food Drive Challenge.
- Review great ideas collected from peer campaigns at 2012 training sessions.
- Display a FOODFIGHT poster in your office, and organize a group to "eat out to fight hunger" on June 20.
- Share your campaign results with Operation Feed.
- Document your activities by snapping pictures for the photo contest, and vote for your favorite entries.
- 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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