Tarrant Area Food Bank 2600 Cullen Street |
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TAFB Contacts
Lori Pope
Agency Capacity Manager
Micheline Hynes
Nutrition Services Manager
Ginger Cleveland
Food for Kids Manager
Vicky Martinez
SNAP Manager
Barbara Higbee
Community Kitchen Coordinator
Jeanette Scott
Agency Relations Coordinator
Romy Basil
Community Initiatives Coordinator
Robyn Morgan
Resource Coordinator
Kay Dillard
Director of Programs
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Dates
March 2
Breakfast with the Stars
March 6
Civil Rights training (TAFB)
March 28
Empty Bowls (Will Rogers Memorial Center)
March 29
SFSP applications priority deadline
April 6
Community Kitchen Graduation (TAFB)
April 21-27
Volunteer Appreciation Week
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Did you know that agencies who send their volunteers to help at Tarrant Area Food Bank can receive credit toward their shared maintenance fee? View the updated policy here and contact us to learn more!
Are you a member of DOVIA? Directors of Volunteers in Agencies is a professional group that supports volunteer managers of organizations that utilize volunteers. Idea-sharing, networking and trainings are just a taste of what you will gain from involvement with DOVIA of Tarrant County. Learn more about how you can become a member here. |
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Food For Kids
Leveraging Social Media to Eliminate Hunger
Food for Kids recently launched a Facebook page dedicated to helping fight childhood hunger in our communities. "Like" our page to connect with us and learn more about our programs, upcoming events, news on child hunger and about programs from which your clients may benefit.
We also want to know what you are doing to tackle childhood hunger! Share your stories, photos and news with us, and we'll feature your agency on our Facebook page.
How does Tarrant Area Food Bank work to help feed kids?
Summer Food Service Program - Last year we sponsored 10 sites to provide vended meals following the SFSP guidelines. This year we are looking to increase both the number of sites and the number of meals served at each site. If your agency is looking for ways to provide food to kids during the summer, visit this page to look at becoming a meal site http://www.tafb.org/Summer-Feeding-Kids.html. Priority deadline for submission is March 29.
School Pantry Express - this is an exciting new program that we launched this past fall to reach more families in Bosque County through a monthly pantry express style distribution which will continue through the summer.
In-school snack program - this program is currently in pilot phase with Communities in Schools and two alternative schools in Fort Worth. Each school picks up snacks and beverages as needed and offers them to students either in group settings or as individuals need them throughout the day.
Farmers Market Nutrition Program - This TDA program offered in Tarrant County helps provide fresh, local produce to low-income women and children during the summer months through the WIC program.
How are you helping to feed kids?
Feeding the family means feeding the kids - your pantry programs help ensure that children receive the nutrition they need to grow, learn and play. Don't forget to look for items on our grocery list like baby yogurt which does not need to be refrigerated, baby food and toddler meals and snacks on our grocery list to help serve your families.
Weekend food for kids - a handful of agencies and churches have created their own weekend food for kids. We would love to learn more about what you are doing so we can share best practices with each other. Help us by letting us know which schools you serve and how many students you reach each week. The more we know about what you are doing the more we can support your efforts!
How can we help you to feed kids?
We want to know what strategies you use to feed kids at your agency. Do you see children as an inconvenience at your pantry, or have you found ways to embrace them? The Grandview Food Pantry operates a total choice pantry and they put a sandbox area between their food pantry and clothing ministry. One of their volunteer duties is keep an eye on the kid's area while parents shop. We have a new agency that competes with the ice cream cart to hand out nutritious snacks outside of their building which just happens to be across the street from the school.
Please share your ideas and practices with us or if you are interested in helping us reach more children with a weekend program, an afterschool program or a summer program please contact us at foodforkids@tafb.org.
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Volunteer
Planning Your Volunteer Appreciation Event
National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 21-27, 2013) is fast approaching so don't get left behind while trying to figure out how to tell your volunteers how much you value and appreciate their commitment. Use or adapt these ideas to make your event extra-special:
- "Volunteers are Lifesavers" - beach decor, lifesavers candy
- Picnic - good idea for environment-related organizations/programs
- "Thanks a-latte" - coffee cups as gifts, gift cards to coffee shop
- Movie Star/Movie Set - create placards/awards such as "Best Volunteer in a Supporting Role," "Best Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer," etc.
Tips for making your event a smash hit:
- Your event doesn't have to be costly; in fact, most dollar stores carry a wide range of themed decorations.
- Use quotes to show appreciation! Check out a few here: http://www.quotegarden.com/volunteer-apprec.html
- www.Pinterest.com is a great source for ideas on budget-friendly parties and gifts.
- Vary your food-serving styles - family-style, buffet, served at table, etc.
- Use center pieces as door prizes.
- Have staff write thank you cards to volunteers who they feel have done an exceptional job.
- Host a Chili Cook-off in which staff prepares chili and volunteers get to taste and vote.
- www.EnergizeInc.com is always a great resource for all things related to volunteer engagement.
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Agency Corner
Client Choice saved us money
Submitted by Donna Horton, Executive Dir. Joseph's Locker Granbury, TX
It was always Joseph's Locker policy, as most other pantries, to pre-bag food for clients. We had noticed several clients examining the contents of the food bag and returning some items before leaving. They were returning the food due to food allergies and diet restrictions.
Four years ago when Joseph's Locker attended the TAFB conference, a pantry spoke on the implementation and success they had with Client Choice (allowing clients to select their food). The process was working well and they noticed a reduction in the food bill each month. We were a bit skeptical on the cost effectiveness but decided to give Client Choice a chance.
We noticed certain foods were staying on the shelf (hmmm!); we did not have to order them as often (savings!). After a few months of regulating food orders to fit the needs we noticed the reduction in food cost by approximately $400.00 a month.
Client choice may not work for everyone, but we encourage you to give it a try. You never know what you will discover along the way.
Assessing values for donated food
Do you need to determine the value of your in-kind donations of food and grocery products for your auditors? Would you like to share a market value with your donors? Generally accepted accounting practices call for an organization to record the receipt and distribution of all donated product as it occurs. We face special challenges when we deal with donated food - what is the value? Is it what it costs the manufacturer, the retail value, the wholesale value, a discounted value?
Food banks have generally recorded the receipt of inventory based on some type of wholesale level price. For several years, Feeding America and its affiliates, including TAFB, have commissioned an independent firm to determine the approximate average wholesale value of one pound of donated product at the national level annually.
The report is intended for Feeding America, its affiliated food banks, food rescue organizations, and subsidiary distribution organizations (our partner agencies). The most recent wholesale value of Feeding America product donations is estimated to be $1.66 per gross pound with 95% confidence.
A detailed report is available upon request by contacting Barbara Ewen at Tarrant Area Food Bank, 2600 Cullen Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76107.
Capacity Building
TAFB wants to acknowledge the capacity building efforts of our partner agencies. This is a multi-phase plan that will evaluate and designate each agency.
The first phase is to gather data from the partner agencies with pantries only. We will use the data to determine designations, agency benefits and to create new trainings. If your agency has a pantry, please use this link to complete the survey http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/pantrysurvey.
This is not the HIA (Hunger in America) survey that you completed through Feeding America last fall.
If you have any questions about the survey, please email Lori Pope at lori.pope@tafb.org.
Civil Rights Training
Tarrant Area Food Bank is offering two ways to take the annual Civil Rights Training for 2013. We will be holding training sessions in person or you can take online Civil Rights training. Click here for the online training.
Upon completion take the self assessment and print the certificate. Be sure to type in your name, and put your agency number in that spot so we will know which agency to credit for the training. Please email a copy of the certificate to Jeanette.scott@tafb.org.
The Civil Rights Trainings in person will be at Tarrant Area Food Bank in the HUB on March 6, June 11, and December 5, all at 10am. No registration is required. We will also offer Civil Rights Training at the Agency Conference in September.
Monthly Reports
Monthly reports are due between the 1st and the 10th of each month and we are no longer accepting reports by fax. All reports must be made through our online submission from the Partner Agency Center (PAC) on our website www.tafb.org (link to PAC).
If you have not registered for the PAC, click on Sign Up Now. Complete the required information. If someone else at your agency has signed up using your agency email, you will need to either get the password from that person or create a new account using a different email address. This information is never shared outside of TAFB.
Select Report Forms from the navigation pane on the left and then select Agency Client Documentation. Complete the information but before you click on submit at the bottom of the page, follow the direction to print the report for your records. After you click submit, you will get a screen that confirms your submission. You will not receive a confirmation email. |
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Community Initiatives
Senior Share Program Expansion
Senior Share has added Fellowship Corner and Diamond Hill Senior Centers. If any of your clients are over 60 years old and live within the 76104 or 76106 zip codes, they are eligible to sign up. The Senior Share program provides fresh produce items. They can sign up at the centers through the program director. Distribution at Fellowship Corner is the second Wednesday of the month and at Diamond Hill is the third Wednesday of the month. This is a collaborative effort between Tarrant Area Food Bank and Senior Citizens Services. If you have any questions about the program, email Romy Basil at romy.basil@tafb.org.
Newest Mobile Pantry
The Altamesa Mobile Pantry had its second official distribution Saturday Feb. 9 and served 375 families representing some 1300 individuals. This mobile at Hulen and Altamesa removes barriers by providing access to different cultures including a Bhutanese community. This mobile pantry is the result of collaborations of several volunteer groups and local churches. |
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Community Kitchen
CHEF WALTER SCHEIB, White House Executive Chef during the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, worked with the current Community Kitchen students giving them a taste of what goes into preparing a "Dinner at the White House." Following his directions, the students helped prepare the four-course meal which was served at a private event of the Fort Worth chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) February 21. The YPO sponsored Chef Scheib's visit, including his time with the food bank culinary students.
Please join us at the Food Bank Saturday, April 6 at 10 a.m. as we celebrate the graduation of Class 20!
Don't forget about the Community Kitchen nutritious one pound frozen meals that are on the shopping list. Because the students produced an unusually high number of meals in October and November, we have a large supply on hand so we are still discounting the meals at 21 cents. We hope you will take advantage of this offer! |
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Nutrition Services
Shopping MattersŪ Tours Available Now
Provided in partnership with Share Our Strength, Shopping Matters is a nationally recognized nutrition education program that teaches families to get the most out of a tight food budget. Presented as a grocery store tour, Shopping Matters is a great way to help your clients learn shopping skills that can reduce their need for emergency food assistance. During the tour, participants practice key food shopping skills like buying produce on a budget, comparing unit prices, reading food labels, and identifying whole grain foods. They also take the $10 Challenge, where they practice the skills learned and buy a healthy meal for 4 with a $10 gift card provided by the Food Bank.
Shopping MattersŪ Facts:
- Over 20 Shopping Matters tours were taught last year reaching approximately 250 families.
- 54% graduates practice comparing prices to find the best deal after taking a Shopping Matters tour.
- Following the tour 51% of graduates practice using food labels to make healthy choices.
Want to see how it works? Watch this short video on Shopping Matters and then email us to schedule a tour for your clients. |
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SNAP
In order to improve our ongoing SNAP outreach, we have implemented three new approaches.
- Clients who receive an application through our partners may send those back to us with our postage paid envelopes. When we receive the applications, our outreach specialists can then contact the applicant and arrange time for an interview. All application packets will now contain the postage paid return envelope.
- TAFB now has a toll free SNAP Hotline. This line is for clients who have questions about HHSC benefits like CHIP, SNAP, Medicaid etc. As well as apply or make changes to their SNAP benefits. Agencies can also use this line for questions or to order application. This number is 1-866-430-6143.
- Alva Santos is the new SNAP Specialist based in Denton County and will serve Cooke and Wise Counties as well, replacing Imelda Hernandez. Alva comes to us with over 10 years of outreach and marketing experience and a solid knowledge of these communities. If you are interested in having a SNAP specialist at your agency please feel free to give her a call at 682-465-5985 or send her an email at alva.santos@tafb.org.
Imelda who was serving Denton County will now take Palo Pinto and Johnson Counties as well as parts of Tarrant County. If your agency is interested in hearing about these benefits please call Imelda at 817-797-1268 she can also be reached by email at Imelda.hernandez@tafb.org.
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