The pantry is a nonprofit organization that was incorporated in 1989.   We are regulated by the Food Bank of the Albemarle, which is part of Feeding America.  The Food Bank of the Albemarle administers the State Nutritional Aid Program (SNAP).  Through this program the pantry receives 36 cases of food per month.  There is no charge for this food. The remainder of the food given out at the pantry is either the result of food drives, is donated to us by Food Lion or is purchased by the Beach Food Pantry.   The Homebuilders Association, the Girl and Boy Scouts, Kitty Hawk, First Flight and Nags Head Schools, as well as many other organizations conduct food drives every year to benefit the pantry. Many churches, organizations and businesses support us financially as well.   However, a large amount of the food given out at the pantry is purchased and this figure has risen dramatically over the years. 

In 2006, we spent just over $11,000 for product.  In the years 2008 and 2009, we spent approximately $35,000 per year.  In 2010, we passed this $35,000 mark at the end of June, with another six months to serve the community.   This amount is in addition to the amount we pay for rent, electric, phone and insurance.   We are hopeful that the County will meet the challenge in the next budget.  We are asking the Board of Commissioners to help us continue to aid the community by increasing their support to cover the cost of our facility expenses.

• All Saints Episcopal Church
  
• Colington United Methodists Church 
• Duck United Methodist Church
  
• First Baptist Church of Kitty Hawk
  
• Grace Lutheran Church by the Sea 
• Holy Redeemer by the Sea Catholic Parish
• Jewish Community of the Outer Banks
• Kitty Hawk United Methodist Church
• Liberty Christian Fellowship
• Mighty Wind United Methodist Church
• Outer Banks Presbyterian Church
• Saint Andrews by the Sea Episcopal Church 
• Stillwaters Baptist Church
• Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Outer Banks
  

Feeding America seeks not only to immediately alleviate hunger through distribution of food and grocery products to people in need, but also to address the problem of hunger in the long-term by increasing awareness among the public, connecting clients seeking emergency food assistance with federal benefits, and advocating for changes to programs and policies that support low-income Americans and ultimately end hunger.   Feeding America has conducted the survey on hunger quadrennially since 1993. Through more than 61,000 face-to-face client interviews and more than 37,000 surveys of local charitable agencies, Hunger in America 2010 captures detailed information about who is in need of emergency food assistance and their circumstances, which, in turn, helps charitable feeding organizations develop programs that best support hungry Americans. The results also better inform the public policy discourse so that federal nutrition programs can better serve those in need.

Over � of those who received emergency food assistance have incomes below the Federal poverty level. About 43% are receiving help through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps). Almost 70% report their children are participating the school breakfast and/or lunch programs. Almost 20% of the households receive assistance from the summer feeding program. Over 40% of the households have at least one employed adult. Almost one out of every five households reports they have very low food security. Almost 30% have a family member in poor health.   

The hunger study helped us understand more about the estimated 51,000 different people  FBA and the agencies serve each year and their needs. One in three of the individuals is a child under 18. Tragically, 8% are children five or under. About one in six is elderly. The respondents at the agencies, considering race, are almost 80% non-Hispanic black, 17% non-Hispanic white, and 3% "other". Sixty percent of the individuals helped are female. The individuals live in households that are forced to make difficult choices periodically. Almost half choose between buying food or paying for utilities. About a third make the same difficult choice betweeen food and rent or mortgage, or medicine and medical care, or transportation. In fact 1 in 8 reported no income the month before the interview. There are other individuals who are greatly involved in Hunger in America 2010. These are the workers and volunteers at agencies and mobile sponsors who counsel clients, search for and gather food, and stretch scarce dollars. Virtually all of the agencies rely on volunteers and many, over 80%, are operated entirely by volunteers.

The efforts broadened considerably this past year. The mobile food pantry initiative grew primarily with volunteers and financial support from United Methodist Church congregations, and sponsorship by the Duke Endowment and the Outer Banks Hospital Development Council/ University Health Systems Foundation.

On September 21st, the Outer Banks Peace and Justice Interfaith Coalition will begin its 2010 - 2011 Season with the showing of the Hunger Season. The film documents the massive food crisis unfolding. Climate Change, increasing consumption in China and India, the dash for Biofuels are causing hitherto unimagined food shortages and rocketing prices.  This has already provoked unrest and violence from the Middle East to South America and there is no end in sight in the coming months. The people who are going to be most sorely affected are those already living on the razors edge of poverty, those dependent on food aid for their very survival. As commodity prices have risen by 50%, the UN Agencies have barely half the budget they need to meet the needs of 73 million hungry people they are currently feeding.  We could be facing one of the greatest humanitarian catastrophes of all time if governments do not commit more resources. It is time to examine the system of food aid and question the extent of our commitment to ending hunger.

The Dare Literacy Council is in need of volunteers to tutor and help in other ways. Aside from tutoring, volunteers are needed to help with fundraising (book sales and special events), administrative work (phone calls, letter writing, data entry, copying), tutor support (tutor newsletter, assist tutor coordinators), training team (work as a trainer, help with training logistics, help with follow-up seminars), student support (help with the assessment team to perform periodic testing, research literacy resources), translating (assist with Spanish-speaking students) and publicity (website, write press releases, photograph events).

Tutors are trained to teach adults to learn to read, to improve their reading or math skills, to learn English as a Second Language or to prepare for their GED (high school equivalency). No teaching experience or second language skills are necessary. If you are interested in learning to become a tutor, you are required to attend one brief tutor orientation prior to the tutor training workshop. The purpose of the orientation is to explain what is required of literacy tutors, to highlight other ways you can assist the DLC and to help you decide if tutoring is the right volunteer activity for you.

Select one date for the FREE Tutor Orientation you wish to attend. Dates available are:

Please register as soon as possible by calling 216-7773 or sending an email todareliteracy@gmail.com. The Tutor Training Workshop will take place on Saturday, October 2 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Nags Head. There is a $25 fee which covers the cost of your workbook and lunch is provided. Contact the Dare Literacy Council by September 20 to register for the Tutor Training Workshop.

 "Caring Effectively", offered from 7-8:45PM on Tuesdays at ALL Saints Episcopal Church. This training is presented in two (2) hour sessions over Six weeks.  The program was developed by Gail Sonnesso, MS,  Susan Firman retired nurse educator; and Lynda Hester family caregiver and retired trainer for the US Coast Guard. The DVD was created by the Eastern Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Class is limited to 10 people. Caregiving for family member may be provided if necessary. To register please contact Gail Sonnesso, MS @ 252-480-3354 or her cell 207-2083
1. *There is a fee ($15.00) for each participant that will cover the cost of the notebook and materials
2. A certificate that certifies that you have successfully completed the course of "Providing the BEST CARE for people with dementia" is available from ALZNC for a fee of $10.00
3. If you would like to observe effective caregiving a practicum is offered at the GEM Center in conjunction with this course.
4. Guest speakers will offer insights into the role of family and professional caregiving.

An estimated 5.3 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease. An estimated 5.3 million Americans have not yet been diagnosed.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is linked to the cause of degenerative memory and thinking disorder.

Join us for our Second Annual Walk for the Mind on September 11th, 2010 at 9am, held at Roanoke Island Festival Park, as we help to  support our local caregivers and community members suffering from dementia. With the money raised, GEM  will provide scholarships & community  workshops  for  local Veterans and all Dare County families that will  benefit from  the program.

We will have several addresses, one on being a caregiver for someone with dementia.  Other speakers will speak on behalf of the local support group for the Wounded Warrior Project. The mission of Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors.  Its purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women;  To help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and
To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members  For more information or to sign up, please call or email  Emily Karr: ekarr@darenc.com(475-5638)or Gail Sonnesso: gsonnesso@gmail.com(480-3354)  All donations are tax deductable. Registration is FREE.

 

The Outer Bank Hospital Development Council has declared that it is unacceptable that that breast  cancer is undiagnosed in Dare County because a patient cannot afford detection and treatment. The campaign is called GET PINKED!  "We are encouraging businesses and individuals to commit to raising a $1,000, either through employee campaigns, such as a "blue jeans" Friday or from their customers," said Carl Curnutte, Co-Chairman. "The Get Pinked! committee has pledged that every $1,000 raised by our Get Pinked! Partners will go toward the detection and treatment of breast cancer in Dare County."

The partners will be recognized at a "pinking" ceremony, where committee members will bestow a large pink ribbon on the establishment. "The pink ribbon is a visual sign that our partner has fulfilled their pledge," added Linda Willey, Co-Chairman. "Additionally, it is an opportunity for us to thank them and recognize their participation."  For more information about the GET PINKED! Campaign and how to become a GET PINKED! Partner, call The Outer Banks Hospital's Development Office at 449-9183 or email jebert@theobh.com. The campaign will run to October 15th.