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4th QUARTER 2009
LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS:
- Ronald McDonald House Charities: $6,000 grant for theBackPack Program
- Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Great Plains Associates: $10,000 for Northwest Iowa Agencies
- Panera Bread "Dough-nation" Program
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
What can be said about our board member, Joe Twidwell, that fully sums up in one short paragraph all of the many ways he helps around the Food Bank of Siouxland? He’s simply amazing! Joe is a member of numerous boards around Siouxland, is deeply involved as a deacon for his parish, and still finds time to help in countless ways at the Food Bank. Joe volunteers to help supervise BackPack groups two to four (plus!) times a month, has logged countless hours helping with our office renovation (which, on a “baby nonprofit budget,” could only be accomplished through numerous volunteer hours and at minimal cost to the Food Bank), and has brought the Food Bank so much through his connections with Security National Bank and the community. Thank you, Joe, for the many ways, especially those unmentioned, but not forgotten, that you help the needy!
News
FUNDING THE BACKPACK PROGRAM
The Food Bank of Siouxland is excited to share that more grants have been awarded to help fund the BackPack Program! A partner with us since the beginning of the BackPack Program in 2006, the Kind World Foundation notified the Food Bank in December that another check will soon help with the purchasing of more food for this important program. Our thanks to them!
However, with the cost of this program experiencing significant increases, more help will be needed to complete the school year. Your support is most appreciated!
Press
Hungry to help
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) - Linda Scheid is the executive director at the Food Bank of Siouxland. As job loss has climbed, so has the amount of product she's doled out to area agencies this year. The economy has forced Scheid to dig deeper.
"When I look, statistically, at the food we've distributed from the food bank of Siouxland in our whole history and I compared it to 2009, it was quite shocking," said Scheid.
Every year, the food Bank of Siouxland distributes about 1.1 million pounds of food throughout the area. This year, they're on target to give away 1.3 million pounds. When Scheid compared statistics month to month, she was even more surprised.
"Of the top ten, four of them have come from 2009," said Scheid.
She explains that people's needs have changed, while their income level has stayed the same. And Scheid believes that without the donations of cereal, peanut butter, and even fresh vegetables, the food bank wouldn't be able to provide like it has.
"The food bank of Siouxland has held its own. We are letting people know we're here, letting people know the need is up and that we have an increase in demand to meet," said Scheid.
To get an idea of how much more people are depending on the food bank, in past years they've seen no more than a one percent increase is distribute. This year, it's ten percent.
"There are a lot of organizations out there ready, willing and able to help these people that need assistance. We have organizations that are ordering more product from us so they are ready to take care of the people that walk through the door, and thats why our distribution is up, because their distribution is up," said Scheid.
Scheid says no matter the numbers, with help, the food bank will work to make sure that Siouxland doesn't go hungry.eporter Michael Klos