OUR MISSION: TO NOURISH HUNGRY PEOPLE AND LEAD THE COMMUNITY IN ENDING HUNGER.

Feeding Students, Creating Futures p2 . Hunger Action Month p2 . Invest in Nutrition Programs, Invest in

Education p3 . Thank You and Upcoming Events p4 & 5 . Austin Chronicle’s Hot Sauce Festival p6 . Girls Giving

Back p6 . Teaching Kids the “Power of Choice” p7 . Message from the President & CEO p8

Summer 2012feedback

Learn how you can help at austinfoodbank.org

Hunger Action MonthFor many Central Texans each day begins with uncertainty of where their next meal will come from. September is Hunger Action Month, and all month long you will have many opportunities to speak out against hunger in our community. One of the most powerful ways to speak out is to make a donation to the Capital Area Food Bank.

When you make a gift during Hunger Action Month your money goes to help people like the Sanchez family. Christina Sanchez’s family is one of the many Central Texas families living in uncertainty. Christina works in home health care and her husband works in maintenance to support their children and Christina’s mother. Their oldest daughter attends college at The University of Texas on a pre-med scholarship. Christina is grateful for her daughter’s scholarship because she knows that their family couldn’t afford tuition otherwise.

“Even with us both working it’s really hard to pay the bills, let alone groceries.” Like the Sanchez family, almost half of the families served by the Capital Area Food Bank must choose between buying food and paying utilities.

Families like Christina’s have access to the assistance they desperately need because you have chosen to speak out against hunger. Christina wants you to know that “your money is not going to waste. It’s going to feed families that are in need. It’s feeding children and helping families that otherwise wouldn’t have food.”

This September, make an immediate impact on hunger. When you give $10, we can turn your gift into $50 worth of nutritious food for hungry Central Texas families. Visit austinfoodbank.org to donate and get more information.

Feeding Students, Creating Futures In the searing summer heat, Alesha Davis stood patiently in line for the Capital Area Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry to arrive at Texas State Technical College. Alesha, a pharmacy technician student, was among almost three hundred Waco residents receiving a box of nutritious groceries during this monthly delivery.

Dressed neatly in scrubs, Alesha explained “it’s really hard as a student to work and go to school, so this is really helpful.” With a demanding class

money to keep her head above water.

Alesha is hardly alone according to Cherice Poole, a counselor at Texas State Tech. “We are faced with helping students in need of food on a daily basis,” said Cherice, “ Many factors contribute to that, including a decrease in

The assistance provided by the Capital Area Food Bank allows students “to focus on their education, worry less about how they will feed themselves and their families,” explained Cherice.

The nutritious groceries provided to students and their families are more than just a stopgap. Alesha will be able

Alesha dreams of the future, particularly when she can return the kindness show to her. “Of course, I really want to give back one day! It’s on my mind” she said, smiling hopefully.

In August, classes will begin for thousands of college students throughout Central Texas. Attending college is an investment well worth the effort, though it isn’t cheap. Estimates are that a four-year bachelor’s degree from a public Texas university, including tuition, books, and living expenses, approaches $100,000.

community colleges, vocational programs, and universities must

students should be focusing on their future and achieving their full potential, too many students are struggling to survive today.

Invest in Nutrition Programs, Invest in Education By Kathy Green, Senior Director, Advocacy and Public Policy

“Students with ambitions to

invent the next technological

diseases, or educate the next

generation of Americans need

healthy food to fuel their

brains.”

photo by TriD Photography

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, is an option for many students in higher education. Traditionally thought of as a program primarily for the working poor or the unemployed, full-time college students working more than 20 hours a week may qualify for assistance.

As discussed in previous editions of Feedback, good nutrition is closely linked to academic performance. Students with ambitions to invent

for diseases, or educate the next generation of Americans need and deserve healthy food to fuel their brains. A nutritious diet is a critical tool for success in college—much like studying hard and attending class.

As decision makers in Washington are

should not be an option. Providing healthy food is truly an investment, and it must remain available for those who need and qualify for it.

41% of our clients are child

ren.

4411%%ooff oouurr cclliieenntts

iilldddrrreeeeennnnn....

ttssssarreee

ccccchhaaarreearreearreeaaarreeaaaaaarrrrreeeeeeee Remind our representatives to support this critical program

and learn how you can get involved at austinfoodbank.org/advocate.

Thank you, Central Texas, for making thes

cafb community e

If you would like to volunteer with your family, friends, colleagues, neighbors, civic or community group, please visit www.austinfoodbank.org to register today.

YEAR-LONG VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

P. Terry’s Gives Back! Raised more than $16,00

Kicking off CAFB’

Austin Cosmopolitan Rotary Club’s Poker Night

Raised $8,000

Stamp Out HungerRaised more than 114,000 pounds of food and $1,800

ASIS’ Shoot Out HungerRaised $5,000

photo by TriD Photography

Stamp Out HungerRaised more than 114,000 pounds of food and $1,800

e events a success!

THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE HOT SAUCE FESTIVALFiesta GardensSunday, August 26

The Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival is one of the world’s largest hot sauce festivals. Three healthy, nonperishable food items or a $3 cash donation are

packages are available for purchase at the festival and on the CAFB website. For more information, please visit: austinfoodbank.org/hot-sauce-festival

FOOD DAYWednesday, October 24

Help support this grassroots campaign for better food policies and a stronger, more united food movement by getting to know your Food Bank – stop by for a tour on Wednesday, October 24th, sign-up to volunteer, or make an online donation at: austinfoodbank.org/foodday

4TH ANNUAL CANSTRUCTION AUSTINBarton Creek SquareNovember 10 - 18

Local architects, engineers, and builders showcase their talents by designing and building giant sculptures made entirely of canned foods. The one-day build takes place during regular mall hours on Saturday, November 10th. Structures will remain for patrons to enjoy for the following week. For more information, please visit: austinfoodbank.org/canstruction

The holiday season is right around the corner. Please save the date for the following events:

Austin Empty Bowl Project, November 18thHoliday Sing-Along & Downtown Stroll, December 1stLuminations, December 8-9

Get the facts about hunger at HungerIsUNacceptable.com

For more info on our events, follow us on Twitter: @events4goodeventsfor these upcoming events

that raise awareness about hunger in

Central Texas:

join us

For a complete list of upcoming events, visit austinfoodbank.org/events.

edemaria@austinfoodbank.org.

00ARMA Shred Day

Raised more than $7,000

Chef David Bull ’s Summer Food Service Program at El Buen Samaritano.

APLA/APES Golf TournamentRaised $25,000

photo by TriD Photography

Girls Giving BackA wild race was unfolding in Product Recovery, where the Food Bank sorts and packs food donations for distribution to different pantries across Central Texas. Dashing nimbly from a crate of bread to weigh stations, a dozen students of the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders (ARS) were in a friendly competition during their service-learning experience at the Food Bank.

The commitment to volunteerism and community is one of the hallmarks of the all-girls charter school in Austin. “We believe that you start young learning about philanthropy,” explained ARS Service Learning Coordinator Stephanie Turner, “if you start young, it becomes natural.”

Volunteering at the Food Bank is also an opportunity for ARS students to give back. The Ann Richards School is a location for Capital Area Food Bank’s Kid’s Cafe, a program that provides evening meals to students eligible for free or reduced lunch. “Many of these girls attend after school classes, tutoring, and clubs, and are recipients of the program” said Stephanie “this is a way for them to feel that they can contribute too.”

Rising senior Autumn Kervow agreed that service-learning was an important part of ARS education. “You get to use what you learn by giving back to the community” said Autumn. “We believe these girls will change the future,” continued Stephanie “ and if they can start small in their communities and see where the needs are, they can create innovations and make change.”

22nd Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival The 22nd Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival will be August 26, 2012, from 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The festival will be at a new venue this year, Fiesta Gardens, 2100 Jesse E. Segovia St, right in the heart of East Austin.

This event is free to the public with a donation of three healthy non-perishable food items or a $3 donation. Last year’s Festival raised over $17,000 and almost 19,000 lbs. of food in a single day!

Don’t forget to purchase tickets for our Sizzlin’ Summer

For more information, please visit austinfoodbank.org/hotsauce.

”

Teaching kids “The Power of Choice”By Angela Henry, RD LD, Nutrition Education Manager

“What recipe are we making this week?” The voices echoed as the 6th graders from East Austin College Prep Academy (EACPA) commenced for our nutrition class. The CAFB CHOICES Nutrition Education Team conducted a total of 24 classes in May at a charter school in East Austin with some of the most engaging students we have taught so far.

The “Power of Choice” series teaches children basic nutrition

read a food label and how to make healthy snacks. Our classes at EACPA did not disappoint. We enjoyed listening to their stories how they were sharing the snack recipes at home with their parents and siblings. Most students made the snacks on their own with their favorite ingredients, or with what was available in the pantry.

The positive feedback and gratitude continued throughout the four weeks of classes with sentiments like “thank you for telling us the

right!”, “you have taught us a lot!! And now we have a healthier diet and are happy!”, and “thank you for helping us put the right amount for each ingredient.” But all the thanks we needed was getting the chance to see they were applying the knowledge gained to their everyday life!

To bring nutrition education to your school, email choices@austinfoodbank.org.

“Thank you for telling us the

.”

- Student at East Austin College

Prep Academy

September is Hunger Action Month.

Advocate. Donate.

Volunteer. Details at austinfoodbank.org/ham

Even the Travelocity gnome knows that Hunger is Unacceptable! It’s time to book your fall volunteer events! Visit austinfoodbank.org/volunteer to get signed up or contact Charlotte Hall at chall@austinfoodbank.org, 512-684-2551.

In late July the Agriculture Committee of the House of

Representatives voted to pass dramatic cuts to the Farm Bill. If

passed by Congress, the legislation will remove $16.5 billion from

seniors and families. Approximately 80% of the Farm Bill budget

funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),

commonly known as food stamps. As 45 million people, or 1 in

7 Americans, currently rely on SNAP to help feed and nourish

defense in our country’s hunger relief network.

At the time of writing this, the Farm Bill still has a long way to go,

before reaching the President’s desk for signature. In between there

budget process on the side. But the House vote is especially

troubling as almost half of all SNAP recipients are children. As these

kids prepare to start their new school year, and with more than 1 in

4 Texas kids at risk of hunger today, these cuts threaten the most

vulnerable in our society.

Good nutrition is an essential part of a child’s development, health,

learning potential and future employment prospects. Because a

family’s enrollment in SNAP affects enrollment of children in the

free and reduced lunch program at schools, with more than 3

million children in Texas receiving free or reduced price lunches

each year, the cuts could also mean lost lunches for hundreds of

thousands of children, exacerbating an already intolerable situation.

Here at the Food Bank we believe hunger is unacceptable, and

doesn’t do it off the backs of hungry children and their families. For

children returning to school hungry to learn, that should be the only

hunger we should tolerate as a society. Anything less would be a

collective failure and our kids deserve better than that don’t they?

CAFB

Board of Directors

OUR MISSION: TO NOURISH HUNGRY PEOPLE AND LEAD THE COMMUNITY IN ENDING HUNGER.

The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas8201 S. Congress Avenue Austin, Texas 78745 | (512) 282-2111

messagePresident & CEO

from the

HANK PERRET

President & CEO

Feedback?Questions, comments, suggestions?

Change of address? Receiving duplicate copies?

Contact communications@austinfoodbank.org

Read it onlineDownload & subscribe to CAFB publications at

austinfoodbank.org

Subscribe to our blogblog.austinfoodbank.org

Subscribe to our podcastaustinfoodbank.org/stories

Connect with us on

A member ofHighest charity rating

@CAFBtx@events4good

Matt Dow, Chairperson, Jackson Walker, L.L.P.

Mark Downing, Vice Chairperson, Silicon Laboratories

Melissa Mitchell, Treasurer, Ernst & Young

Vanessa Downey-Little, Secretary, City of Austin, Retired

Michael J. Tomsu, Immediate Past Chairperson, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

Melissa Anthony Sinn, anthonyBarnum Public Relations

Heidi Baschnagel, National Instruments

John Cyrier, Sabre Commercial, Inc.

Mohamed el-Hamdi, Ph.D., Samsung Austin Semiconductor L.L.C.

Ken Gladish, Ph.D., Seton Foundations

Joyce Mullen, Dell

Sue Snyder, University of Texas at Austin

Sheldy Starkes, MBA, PMP, Booker, Starkes, & Patodia, Inc.

Leslie Sweet, H-E-B

Catherine P. Thompson, Motion Computing

Jason Thurman, PlainsCapital Bank

Color printing generously donated by Ginny’s Printing, Inc.