Spirit Award Entries Due by Tuesday (August 7)
This year, Operation Feed is introducing a brand new award category: Spirit. This will be presented to an outstanding campaign that has utilized many of our best practices as listed on our Step-by-Step Campaign Checklist. In order to qualify for this award, you will need to submit a one paragraph summary to operationfeed@midohiofoodbank.org explaining why your campaign should be considered, including the best practices that you have implemented this year. Entries are due by end of business on Tuesday, August 7. While each campaign certainly has "spirit" - we are anxious to see who stands out in the crowd! Thank you for a great 2012 season, and we look forward to receiving your entry for the debut of the Spirit Award! |
Photo Contest: Encourage Your Associates to Vote!
Nearly 40 different groups have stepped-up this year to show how they "Rally to Tally" meals in the fight against hunger. They've captured images from a variety campaign planning & meal-raising activities for Operation Feed's second annual Photo Contest, and now it's time to vote for our favorites! Between now and August 17, everyone (your associates included, of course!) will have the opportunity to visit Mid-Ohio Foodbank's Facebook page to "like" their favorites, and photos with the most "likes" will be chosen as finalists. The winner will be determined by applause-o-meter at our Campaign Finale event and will be used in Operation Feed 2013 marketing & materials. Please lend a hand by sharing the Photo Contest album with your associates, and encouraging them to start voting now. Thanks for your help, and may the best photo win! |
Campaign Finale Set for August 23 at the Nationwide Arena Founders Club
 Mark your calendar! This year's finale event will be held Thursday, August 23, at the Founders Club at Nationwide Arena. Those involved with Operation Feed will come together for an announcement of total meals raised, selection of the photo contest winner, and recognition of outstanding campaigns. We hope you'll join us to celebrate another successful community-wide hunger-fighting effort.
Invitations are being mailed to representatives from all participating organizations very soon. This is a wonderful way to engage the leadership of your organization, so please encourage them to attend. RSVP is requested by August 15. Hope to see you there! |
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS: Towlift, Inc.
 Long time friend of the Foodbank, Towlift, Inc., has really upped its game this year. Gearing up for their Operation Feed finale picnic on July 22, employees already had increased their campaign by nearly 50% over last year. Towlift's Operation Feed goal was 11,570 meals, but they decided to reach even higher by setting an internal goal of 12,570 meals. If this goal was reached, Branch Manager, Doug Riddle agreed to allow his colleagues to shave his head into a Mohawk at the picnic! By the end of the campaign, employees had smashed even the internal goal, raising 15,806 meals.
How can a campaign increase by 50% in just one year? Well, in addition to internal activities-including a kick-off breakfast, peanut butter wars and a hula hoop contest-the Towlift Operation Feed committee also reached out to customers, vendors and suppliers, as well as family and friends. Tapping into these external sources is what coordinator, Jessica Albright, claims was their key to success. Towlift also utilized the Virtual Food Drive for the first time this year, which greatly facilitated this process.
But this company's dedication to feeding their hungry neighbors goes even beyond their Operation Feed campaign. Many probably do not know that Towlift has generously donated a new stand up lift truck (a $40,000 piece of operational equipment) to the Foodbank's warehouse each year since moving to the Brookham Drive facility! And Towlift provides Mid-Ohio Foodbank staff with a cook-out lunch each summer, too. Through and through, this company demonstrates that it is serious about its support and commitment to fighting hunger. Thank you for all you do, Towlift - it makes a huge impact in our community!
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Share Your Feedback, Help Strengthen Operation Feed
Your partnership with Mid-Ohio Foodbank is the essential component of Operation Feed's ability to provide food for thousands of local families in need. As the 2012 drive winds down, your input is requested. We value your campaign expertise, and your feedback will help us provide tools and support to make coordination efforts as convenient and effective as possible.
Please take a few minutes to tell us about your experience. Just visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/EvaluateOpFeed to access an online evaluation. Responses are anonymous and should require approximately 10 minutes to submit. Thanks in advance for your comments.
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Awards for Outstanding Campaigns -- Descriptions and Criteria
Each year, Operation Feed recognizes the accomplishments of a select group of outstanding campaigns across several categories, including: - MOST MEALS RAISED PER CAPITA For organizations with a current employee or member count on file, this award is presented to an organization with 1 - 249 associates, another organization with 250 - 999 associates, and a third organization with 1000+ associates.
- LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASE For returning organizations, this award also goes to three differently-sized organizations: 1 - 249 associates, 250 - 999 associates, and 1000+ associates.
- AWARD OF EXCELLENCE This award is presented to a company that meets two of three criteria: a 40% increase over the previous year, a 25,000 meal increase, and at least 50 meals per capita.
- SPIRIT AWARD This award recognizes best practices and campaign engagement. Organizations earn points from the Operation Feed "Step-by-Step Campaign Checklist" to be eligible for this award.
- OUTSTANDING NEW CAMPAIGN With a special focus on recruiting new organizations to participate in Operation Feed, this award recognizes a campaign showing great ingenuity, creativity, and effectiveness in implementing its first-year meal raising strategies.
- OUTSTANDING ONLINE FUNDRAISING DRIVE This award recognizes the organization that makes best use of the Virtual Food Drive and/or Friends & Family Fundraising tool in raising meals for Operation Feed.
- COMMUNITY PARTNER AWARD Community partnerships are critical to the success of Operation Feed and each year one outstanding partnership will be recognized.
- DIRECTOR'S CHOICE AWARD This award is selected by Operation Feed staff and is used to recognize exceptional campaign achievements.
- BENCHMARK CAMPAIGN DESIGNATION Benchmark level contributors are recognized for successfully reaching goals suggested by Program staff, based on average Operation Feed campaign meals raised per capita.
All groups that submitted results by July 31 will be eligible for this year's awards. We look forward to announcing 2012 outstanding campaigns at the campaign finale. Learn more about the organizations recognized in 2011 by visiting www.midohiofoodbank.org/act/operation-feed/2011. |
Campaign Wrap-UpTools
While the cutoff for awards consideration was July 31, contributions will still be credited to Operation Feed 2012 through September 30. It's not too late to submit any remaining donations and share your results online using our Final Reporting Form. Visit the Campaign Coordinator Resources page for resources 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 Summer
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
- Spirit Award Application Deadline - Tuesday, August 7
- Photo Contest Voting Cutoff - Friday, August 17
- Campaign Finale - Thursday, August 23, at the Nationwide Arena Founders Club
- Contribution Deadline for Operation Feed 2012 - September 30
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Next Steps
- Apply for Operation Feed's new Spirit Award.
- Share the Photo Contest voting link with your associates.
- RSVP for the Campaign Finale event.
- Submit any remaining donations, and share campaign results with Operation Feed.
- Complete the coordinator evaluation form.
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