February 2015

Quick Links

In This Issue

National Nutrition Month

Story Banking

CMATS Tops Upper Falls

Hunger Hides: Part 2

Agency Spotlight: Zion House

Monthly SNAP Outreach Survey

Living Outside the Box

Upcoming Trainings

Your Agency Services Team

Kim Floeser

Agency Services Associate

585-328-3380 x128

Morgan McKenzie

Food Bank Programs Coordinator

585-328-3380 x129

email

Phil Daniel

Agency Services Coordinator

585-328-3380 x117

Jerome Nathaniel

SNAP Outreach and Assistance Coordinator
585-328-3380 x150
email

Matt Knaub

Director, Food Bank Operations

585-328-3380 x155

email

Laura Sugarwala

Nutrition Resource Manager

585-328-3380 x151

email

FAX: 585-464-0497

Foodlink Social Media

February

Agency Announcements

Foodlink has transitioned to online ordering. You can order here
If you need help with online ordering, please read our FAQ sheet here
Check out the Agency Schedule, which includes delivery routes and scheduled closures.
Do you get a delivery? Use this helpful Delivery Route resource to plan.

Emergency Agency

Announcements

Agencies are required to participate in a yearly Civil Rights Training to receive USDA food. Foodlink will offer this training at food security meetings and the annual meeting.
HPNAP-funded agencies have been granted funds for food safety/sanitation supplies. These funds help cover items like thermometers, gloves, etc. The amount available to your agency will be noted on invoices.

National Nutrition Month

This March marks the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 35th annual National Nutrition Month (NNM)! The campaign focuses on the importance of making sound food choices and developing healthy eating and physical activity habits.

To get a early start, download our NNM calendar here . Recipes will be posted at www.foodlinkny.org starting March 1st.

Contact [email protected] or 585-328-3380 x 151 for more information

New on FoodlinkNY.org: Story Banking

SNAP: On the Outskirts of the City, at the Center of Need

Agencies can help their clients share their stories, raise awareness about hunger, and support hunger relief efforts by submitting personal accounts of food insecurity on our website through the Story Bank. Foodlink's Story Bank project is a stage for our community members to share their stories and thoughts on local hunger. Personal accounts of the issues and successes surrounding hunger relief in our service area is an effective form of advocacy. To share a story or for more information, visit Foodlinkny.org today!

Foodlink and the Greater Rochester Health Foundation kickoff National Nutrition Month with nutrition education at Tops

In partnership with the Greater Rochester Health Foundation, Foodlink is hosting its third annual Cooking Matters at the Store National Nutrition Month event day. This is a one-time educational opportunity for individuals to learn how to shop smarter and healthier on a budget.

Saturday March 7th from 10am-3pm

Tops Friendly Market on Upper Falls Blvd

Tours will begin every 15 minutes

To learn more about Cooking Matters at the Store or to RSVP contact Emily Smallwood at [email protected] and 585-328-3380 x132.

The Hunger and Aging Alliance Hosts

Hunger Hides: Part 2

The Hunger and Aging Alliance will be hosting Hunger Hides: Part 2 at the Temple B'rith Kodesh on March 24th. This interactive workshop will equip participants with skills and resources to identify aging adults and seniors who are at risk of food insecurity, provide information on various community resources such as SNAP, and facilitate collaborative efforts to identify and eliminate gaps and barriers to services for older adults.

The Hunger and Aging Alliance is coalition of community providers and programs that work together to eliminate hunger amongst food insecure aging adults and seniors through advocacy and collaboration. Hunger Hides: Part 2 is a follow up to the Hunger Hides summit hosted at Foodlink in October 2014. All of the input and feedback from October's summit was taken into account by the Hunger and Aging Alliance in the development of the upcoming workshop.

Share the flyer and RSVP today:

Hunger Hides: Part 2 Flyer

FEBRUARY

AGENCY SPOTLIGHT: ZION HOUSE

Zion House has been a valued member of Foodlink since 2012. Operating out of Avon, NY in Livingston County, the emergency program has served as one of the first transitional homes specifically for homeless female veterans in New York State since it opened its doors in 2010. The program currently supports 6 veterans with housing and work skills.

Zion House Assistant Director/Case Manager Rachel Bender is an active Foodlink partner. Last year she completed a Foodlink SNAP outreach volunteer training and currently helps clients with prescreening for SNAP eligibility. She is also working with Foodlink's Community Food Access Programs Coordinator to start a community garden with her clients this year.

Bender says the best part of her job is helping each veteran transition back to housing and financial stability.

"It is wonderful to work at a place that helps our veterans get back on their feet and is able to provide the support each veteran needs through an individualized plan," Bender said.

This year, Zion House has two major fundraisers: (1) First, Zion House will be hosting an event at the Genesee Brew House on Tuesday March 24. Zion House was also selected for the Pilot Brewery Charity Program. For the first quarter of 2015, a portion of the proceeds generated by the $2 "flight" tastings on the first floor of the Brew House will be donated to Zion House; (2) On September 18, Zion House will benefit from the proceeds from a golf tournament at Southern Meadows Golf Course .

With such a great start, Zion House isn't slowing down. They are working on their 2015 goal of obtaining an apartment complex or building they can convert into apartments to help female veterans transition into permanent supportive housing in the community. They are also working on developing the Zion Computer Training Center to offer free training and classes to all community members.

On behalf of Foodlink, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!

Genesee Brew House Fundraiser Flyer

Zion House Computer Training Center

Zion House Golf Tournament

For questions about Zion House and its programs, goal or fundraiser, please contact Rachel Bender at [email protected]. If you're interested in having your agency spotlighted, please contact us.

Monthly SNAP Outreach Survey

Foodlink is requesting for our agencies to keep track of how many clients they are assisting or referring for help with SNAP (formerly known as food stamps).

Please take the time to complete this brief 3 question survey to help Foodlink determine how many families that rely on our partner agencies are also getting help with their food needs through SNAP assistance: Monthly SNAP Outreach Survey

You can measure the impact of SNAP assistance with the new SNAP Impact Calculator

United Way of Greater Rochester Children's Success Fund 2015 Mini-Grant

The United Way and the Wegmans LPGA is providing grants of up to $5,000 to nonprofit organizations delivering programs that help youth be ready by 21 for college, work and life. Grants will support one-time purchases, activities or special projects for out-of-school- time programs primarily serving disadvantaged youth in Monroe County. Grants must be used for non-recurring expenses. Grant requests are due by February 25, 2015. Click here to review the application and apply today.

Greater Rochester Health Foundation Announces Community Health Grant

The Great Rochester Community Health Foundation is awarding 15 to 20 grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to support a variety of short-term, health benefiting activities or organizations whose primary mission is health services and/or health promotion. The first round of applications are due March 23. Click here form more information.

WHEC Seeks Nominees for the ESL Jefferson Award for Volunteer Service

Do you have an outstanding volunteer that you can always count on at your agency? WHEC is accepting nominations for the ESL Jefferson Awards for volunteer service until tomorrow, February 13, 2015. Nominate a volunteer by clicking here

"Living outside the Box"

This column features opportunities that go beyond traditional food banking

The Emergency Services and Family Stabilization Network (ESFSN) annual training is scheduled for March 3rd.

Topics include: Best Practices in Crisis Intervention for Basic Needs Providers and Increasing Awareness of Temporary Income Support. Presenters include staff from Monroe County Department of Human Services, 211, and Rochester Mental Health.

Lunch will be provided. Space is limited.

March 3, 2015

8:30 AM-3:30 PM

Asbury Church

1050 East Avenue

Rochester, New York 14607

Please RSVP to [email protected] with your Name, Agency and Email Address by February 25, 2015

Foodlink Trainings

Updated Every Month

New Shopper Orientation:

February 16th & March 16th; 9:30-10:30 am

Please note: Both classes will focus on using the new Online Ordering system. In order to shop at Foodlink staff and/or volunteers from your agency must attend this class.

HPNAP 101:

February 16th & March 16th; 10:45-11:45 am

What is HPNAP? What is covered by HPNAP grants? What does donated and purchased HPNAP mean? What is required of my agency to receive HPNAP grants? If you cannot answer these questions then HPNAP 101 is for you. Whether you have been at your emergency food program for years or you are brand new, this class will be beneficial to all. In addition to learning all about this essential grant, you will also learn about other grants and resources available to you as an emergency food program.

Basic Food Safety:

February 16th & March 16th; 12-1:30 pm;

The class will cover basic food safety information for pantries and programs that prepare food on site. A staff member or volunteer who has completed this training must be on site during food usage. Certificates are good for one year and fulfill the HPNAP and agency membership food safety training requirement. All agency staff and volunteers are invited at no cost.

Level 2 Food Worker Certification:

March 16th & 17th; 2-5 pm both days

This course fulfills the Monroe County Department of Health criteria for certified food handling. Cost is $75/person for Foodlink member programs and $105/person for non-members. Limited grant funding is available for emergency programs.

For L2 Class Registration: Contact Larkin Podsiedlik, [email protected]

***To register for classes: Please contact

Laura Sugarwala: [email protected] or (585) 328-3380 x 151

All classes are located at 1999 Mt. Read Blvd, Rochester NY, unless otherwise noted. ***

Mission:

To end hunger and to leverage the power of of food to build a healthier community.

Vision: A healthy, hunger free community.