Comments on: Message for Food Banks and Other Local Hunger Groups

By: Nicole

Nicole — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:45:24 +0000

I agree with Terra Keller. I think it’s important to recognize the foodbanks that dedicated resources to promoting the WeCanEndThis Campaign. Calling on the foodbanks to send an email with the time and resources dedicated to promotion seems to be the fairest way to determine which foodbank receives the donation.

I’d like to extend a big thanks to all the sponsors of this event! Even if our state doesn’t win, we built awareness. One of our donors posted it to an online bulletin board; encouraging her whole company (300+ people) to vote! Even if her coworkers didn’t take the time to do it, it increased our visibility.

By: wecanendthis

wecanendthis — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:19:09 +0000

Thank you, all, for offering up your ideas and thoughts. You’re helping us out very much.

By: Elianna Bootzin

Elianna Bootzin — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:20:32 +0000

Michigan, too, has a state-wide association, but that’s not why I’m writing. Although Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank is just getting started in social media (@feedingwestmich just got its first local follower this week!), we have a much longer history of innovative programming. I don’t know how far along planning has gone for the e-book series, Hunger Shift, but if it’s not too late, somebody should talk to our executive director (I’d be happy to forward your inquiries). Several of his as-yet unimplemented ideas are about to be piloted by one of our newest agencies (basically a research and development non-profit) – you can find project summaries at Nonprofit Innovations Inc.

By: Shelly Hahne

Shelly Hahne — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:50:09 +0000

The Hand Up Youth Food Pantry at JFS (www.jfssd.org/handup) is not a food bank, but a pantry that has the capacity to receive a truckload of food and will put it directly into the hands of San Diegans in need.

Currently, California has 76 cans (11th place). My personal goal is to spread the word to 3000 additional cans for Califonia in the next 8 days. If that happens (3,076 cans for CA) and CA ranks in the top 10, I think the Hand Up Youth Food Pantry should receive a truckload. If pantries are ineligible, please donate to Feeding America San Diego (one of our local deserving food banks).

By: Jill Whittington

Jill Whittington — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:17:14 +0000

In Arkansas we also have a state association of the Feeding America Food Banks and we also share items via a formula based on the FA distribution formulas.

By: Tony Mans

Tony Mans — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:04:05 +0000

We have an association of 6 food banks (5 in Minnesota and 1 in Fargo, North Dakota) that automatically share food donations that are 3 pallets or larger based on a predetermined formula. This allocation formula is determined using the percentage of people in poverty in combination with other factors. The result is an equal distribution of inventory which allows agencies across 2 entire states to have access to large local and National donations such as this offering from Tyson and Conagra. It also encourages collaboration, not competition, among neighboring food banks which allows us all to focus on our mission of ending hunger.

By: Terra Keller

Terra Keller — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:14:44 +0000

If it is possible to have each food bank from winning states send an email or some correspondence explaining how they promoted the WeCanEndThis Campaign. Something as simple as: How many people did you email, how many tweets, facebook posts etc. Then base your decision off of that. I believe a lot of food banks are dedicating time and resources to really promote this event.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to give feedback and comments.