|
|
|
The Lacey Food Bank Program
|
 |
|
|
|
"Sympathy sees and says 'I'm sorry.'
Compassion sees and says 'I'll help.'
When we learn the difference,
We can make a difference."
Author Unknown
Not everyone wants to get involved in
the same way. This page offers suggestions on how you might participate.
*
HOW CREATIVE WAS THIS?
While we were trying to round up enough gifts for
the Christmas holiday distribution, along came the entire staff and residents from Tallwoods Care Center in Bayville to save
the day.From warm hand knitted hats,scarves & mittens to pajamas, toys,games and food they came across for us in
a big, big way. Their approach was themed and we were the lucky recipients. Pajama Day , sweat shirt day, toy & game day,
hat day and coat day - which resulted in a truckload of goodies, along with a barrel of food donations. They are true friends
of the food bank (FOFB) and we thank each and every one of these
fine folks.
Now aren't you inspired to do the same?
YOUTH GROUPS & SERVICE PROJECTS
For youths looking to complete service project hours, any of the following could be
organized and carried out individually or by signing up volunteers to do the work with you.
We will sign off on any service requirements that have involved the student
in more than sorting food for 3 hours on a weekend morning. (which requires an adult volunteer to come in to supervise
you) If you look through the newsletter you will see all the projects tha have involved the Lacey Food Bank Teen volunteers
throughout the year.
We suggest that you call us or email to sign up with the Teen volunteers and
make an effort to become sincerely engaged, as they are. Then we will be happy to sign off on your efforts
or to provide you with a letter for you college entrance resume.
The food bank needs funds and food. For the former we suggest any typical fund raising
event from car washes and bake sales to piggy bank penny collections.
Organize a food walk targeting one food item
to be pledged per mile. One problem we have is collecting enough of one item to give to each client because it takes over
100 of an item to do this. We always need cereal, tuna or jelly.
Build a pyramid of one type of food, and challenge
other classes or groups to beat them.(The Great Peanut Butter Pyramid Challenge?) The picture opportunities for this would
be very effective. SuperBowl time ties in with a "souper bowl" collection project as done by the Ocean Acres Elementary School
this past month. Get permission to hold a schoolwide competition with the winning classroom given a pizza party as the prize.
(Foodbank to supply all pizzas) For sheer fun, sell lengths of masking tape to "nail" a favorite teacher to a wall. The Lacey
H.S. cheerleaders run the popular Mr. Touchdown contest, campaigning for their chosen player by selling $1.00 votes. This
fun project has raised nearly two thousand dollars for the food bank in the last two years.
In February, the volunteers
provide candy kisses as a treat for the clients as they signed in. They also decorated with red valentine hearts. This created
a little festivity for an otherwise drab day. This could become a class or troop project with the children adopting a month
or holiday, decorating and providing an appropriately decorated cookie, cupcake, or greeting card.
If you are artistic,
we need some artwork done - a banner, poster of welcome at the food bank, a mural to brighten our new space?
Perhaps
your school would like to sponsor a poster contest and ask the library to display the entries from the children. This could
be done at all grade levels. The focus of the posters should be on food,the big blue cans, & sharing and caring. We can
give ribbons out to the winners in each grade category.The value in promoting public awareness of the plight of the hungry
would be significant.
In addition to the above suggestions, advisors might want to look at the ideas offered to clubs
and organizations.
We ask that public contact with recipients be limited. Many of them are elderly and proud, not
accustomed to accepting charity and public scrutiny would mortify them. parents of needy children don't want them to be embarrassed
in front of their school mates. Also, physical space is very limited.
We can and will schedule "giftings" to the food
bank and take pictures for distribution to the newspapers. We will also publish them on our website newsletter.
Feel
free to call the chairman, Guy , at 693-8703 to discuss your plans.
TO MAKE THE XMAS DISTRIBUTION MORE FESTIVE FOR FOOD BANK FAMILIES, FOOD BANK VOLUNTEEERS
SOLICITED BUSINESSES IN TOWN FOR DONATIONS OF FOOD CERTIFICATES SO THAT WE COULD HOLD A DRAWING. GIFTS RANGE FROM PIZZAS AND
BAKERY GOODS TO DINNER FOR TWO. NON FOOD ORIENTATED BUSINESSES DONATED SHOP RITE FOOD CERTIFICATES.
HEARING ABOUT
THIS, GIRL SCOUT TROOP # 476 SNEAKED IN AND PRESENTED US WITH TWO GIANT GIFT BASKETS FOR THE XMAS DRAWING, CHOCK FILLED WITH
EDIBLE GOODIES OF ALL KIND AND TOPPED OFF BY SHOP RITE GIFT CERTIFICATES.
THEY CERTAINLY EARNED A GOOD DEEDS BADGE
FOR THIS GIFT.
|
|
|
INDIVIDUALS
We are looking forward to working with you on any level. There are so many possibilities, depending on how much tiime you
can give - as you can see below, even once a month can help us .
Are you a take charge organized person? We need a Volunteer coordinator for the food bank . ...More helpers are needed
to staff the food bank table at public information days at ShopRite oron Lacey Day - a good role for someone who cannot
commit to weekly schedules. You could deliver food to those who cannot attend distribution day , canvas local businesses
to find more sponsors or solicit gifts for the clients Xmas drawing in December (gift certificates for pizzas, lunches, bakery
goods etc.)
"Guy" volunteers are always needed to collect food weekly from the barrels at ShopRite, and to help move the
food each month. And if you are in good sound health are hearty and able to do more, sign up to help Sal, the Food Bank Handyman,
by doing small fix- it jobs, raking , mowing and shovelling for the elderly and handicapped clients.
The pay is lousy ( okay, non-existent) but the rewards are high. And you get the chance to rub elbows with elite of Lacey
Township, that great bunch of food bank volunteers who welcome all with open arms.
Just call the chairman, Guy, at 693-8703 to discuss your possible involvement and get on our volunteer contact list. Or
e-mail him at
LACEYFOODBANK@AOL.COM
STILL NOT CONVINCED? AS AN INCENTIVE WE OFFER YOU .....
| VOLUNTEERS GET THEIR OWN |
|
| SANTA HAT! |
|
| DROP IN & SAY HELLO |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clubs & Organizations
#1. Gift an annual pledge of $250 to support one client.This enables us to buy a year's worth of food coupons from ShopRite
and supplemental food not generally given in quantity during food drives.
#2. Assemble a special one time gift for our clients. Fruit baskets at the holidays comes to mind.Or canned hams at Christmas
and Easter. But it could be anything that we can not provide because of limitations in storing fresh or frozen food and given
at any time of the year.
#3. Organize a coupon " clipping & shopping "club with friends, neighbors or members of your organization-
Dick Sansone, the "stores master", has assembled some astounding double\triple coupon examples with a variety of
food gotten free or almost free and will be happy to share them with you.
Members of the club also benefit by getting non food coupons for personal use by combining and swapping as well as the
sociability factor. The cost is insignificant - what you spend you end up saving! The food bank will benefit from all the
addtional food, and you will feel good about yourself at the same time.
#4. Hold a one item campaign - assembling a large amount of one item - cereal, juice, canned meats. Perhaps members could
be charged "admission" to meetings for the year or during the period of the campaign. The Lacey Woman's Club collects
over a 100 cans of tuna at their monthly meetings. The stores master will be happy to tell you what he needs. Call him at
693-6357.
#5. Run a walkathon, a card party, cake sale or car wash. Any type of fundraiser with the proceeds going to the food bank.
#6. Garden Club? A gift of your fresh produce in growing season, or from an organized group gleaning in nearby farm fields
would be a welcome change from canned vegetables for our clients. Select a member of your organization to be a liason with
the food bank as a way of keeping in touch with our needs.
And always, be attuned and sensitive to those who might need help and encourage them to sign up for the program.
|
|
|
|
|
|
