GHPFA Final Campaign

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Background 3

II. Business Goals 5

III. Statement of Opportunity 8

IV. Research Methodology 11

V. Literature Review 15

VI. Situation Analysis 20

VII. Objectives 23

VIII. Key Audiences 25

IX. Key Messages 28

X. Strategies/Tactics 31

XI. Timeline 37

XII. Budget 39

XIII. Evaluation 47

Appendix A: Research 50

Appendix B: News Releases 78

Appendix C: Deliverables 96

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The Greater High Point Food Alliance is a group of concerned local volunteers and area leaders from all

walks of life who are focused on utilizing current community and nonprofit assets in order to address the

area’s hunger crisis, while developing strategies and community partnerships to end it. Reports indicate

that High Point is one of the nation’s top areas for “food hardship.”

The GHP Food Alliance executive board has been meeting regularly to create a plan for combating

hunger in Greater High Point and to develop a local Food Summit. The Alliance will work to empower,

unify and sustain the community.

Vision Statement: The GHP Food Alliance will create just and sustainable supplemental food systems for

Greater High Point by fostering unity, developing responsibility and empowering communities.

Mission Statement: The GHP Food Alliance will strive to coordinate and improve the effectiveness of entities in Greater High Point focused on alleviating hunger by creating and executing citywide and neighborhood-focused initiatives to develop more just and sustainable food systems.

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A. Increase awareness

Raising awareness is the first step in creating a reputable brand. Awareness is “knowledge or

perception of a situation or fact;” more importantly, it is concern and well-informed interest in a

particular situation or development. This definition applies to brand awareness as well. Brand

awareness is one of the most tools organizations can use to become successful. It has been proven

effective to help the public recognize, remember and engage with a brand (GKAR, 2013). Essentially,

brand awareness is the process of building a memorable name and reputation for an organization and

using it to let the target audience know about the organization’s vision and mission. An organization

can create a memorable brand through strategic marketing, advertising and public relations

campaigns. Brand awareness is important because it helps build trust among users and encourages

them to continuously use the product or service (GWAR, 2013). Community members must be

informed about the mission and vision of the Greater High Point Food Alliance in order for the

Alliance to achieve their goals. Awareness is especially critical to the work of a nonprofit entity

because it can help reach those in need and those with the means to donate as well as volunteers and

community leaders. Our first step toward raising awareness was the Food Summit, which involved

more than 300 community members as well as media coverage from throughout the Greater High

Point area. Those who attended the summit are now in the process of telling others about the work

that the GHP Food Alliance is doing, and word of mouth will carry the awareness from there.

B. Develop a positive reputation

The second business goal is for the GHP Food Alliance to focus on building a reputation that shows

how the Alliance has worked to create change. In order to earn a positive reputation, the GHP Food

Alliance must create positive verbal messages, action and references in order to yield better results

(Campbell, 2015). Building upon the awareness that the Alliance has raised, we must show that the

Alliance has been achieving their goals and fighting to end hunger. We have found that sometimes the

hardest part for those who suffer from food hardship is accepting help. Some people are embarrassed

to ask for help, which is a completely understandable situation (Aaker, Akutsu, 2009).By developing

a positive reputation for the Alliance, people will be more likely to view them as a trustworthy source

and will thus be more inclined to go to them for help. A positive reputation goes hand-in-hand with

increased awareness, and while we want as many people to know about the GHP Food Alliance as

possible, we want to make sure that those people first and foremost know of the good that the

Alliance has done. A positive reputation will also help when asking for donations or volunteers; a

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person is more likely to donate their time and money to an organization that they know is doing good

in the community than to one that has a bad reputation or no reputation at all. By showing what the

Alliance has already achieved and emphasizing the GHP Food Alliance’s commitment to ending

hunger in Greater High Point, we can create a positive reputation and reach the right audiences in

order to reach our goals.

C. Increase Community Involvement

An important message for the Alliance to share is that this is the Greater High Point community’s

hunger crisis, and we can only solve it as a community. We have strength in numbers, and when

locals ban together to volunteer, donate and provide their ideas, that is when we have the best chance

to end the hunger crisis. To that avail, we must use our increased awareness and positive reputation to

inspire people to become more involved with the Alliance. Without community participation, a

movement may never gain momentum or be accepted. The long-term effect of community

involvement has the potential to make a difference within a neighbor’s life, while creating lasting and

trusting relationships (Smarte.org, 2010). Community involvement can include nearly anything that

advances the goals of the Alliance, from those in need providing stories of what they have

experienced to people in a position to help donating time or money. Increased community

involvement will also help by continuing to spread the information and resources that the GHP Food

Alliance will produce in the future. Community involvement is important because it gives the

community the power to create change and help their neighbors who are in need. Increasing

community involvement gives the Alliance the best chance to help those in need and end the hunger

problem that affects so many of the citizens of Greater High Point (Butzer, 2015).

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The Greater High Point Food Alliance is a newly-formed organization that is focused on providing

resources to those in need and formulating new ideas to help end the hunger crisis in the Greater High

Point area. As a new organization, the GHP Food Alliance needs to position itself in the community in

order to raise awareness, build meaningful relationships and encourage people to volunteer so that lasting

change can be created. The goal of this campaign is to have the GHP Food Alliance start off on the right

foot in order to create a path that will lead to future success. This campaign will also begin to establish the

GHP Food Alliance as a reliable organization that can help foster change in the Greater High Point area.

Opportunities for GHP Food Alliance include:

1. The fact that there is a dire need for the organization in the community

High Point Enterprise articles have already sparked discussion

GHP Food Alliance has the ability to appeal to donors who have already thought of

helping with the food crisis

With a huge problem, there is a great opportunity to have large-scale success and help a

multitude of people

2. Ability to partner with pre-existing organizations, including:

Churches

Food pantries

Existing charities

Local businesses

Local media outlets

Awareness raised from the more than 300 attendees of the Food Summit will lead to an

ongoing discussion of the work that the GHP Food Alliance has done and will do.

To ensure success, the following people need to have a strong understanding of the campaign:

GHP Food Alliance Team:

Executive Committee

Other members of the Alliance

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Current and Potential:

Donors

Volunteers

Community members in need of help

Organizations in the Greater High Point area, including:

Churches

Food pantries

Existing food nonprofits

The goal of this campaign is to increase awareness of the GHP Food Alliance in order to establish a

positive relationship in the community and increase volunteers and donors for the organization. This

campaign will help the GHP Food Alliance establish itself as an integral part of the Greater High Point

community so that they will be able to create positive change.

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The Greater High Point Food Alliance wants to better understand how communities within food deserts

operate in the Greater High Point area, which includes High Point, N.C., Jamestown, N.C., Archdale,

N.C., and Trinity, N.C. Every community is different, and the GHP Food Alliance must understand their

needs in order to help. To achieve this understanding, GHP Food Alliance must employ several types of

primary and secondary research.

A. RESEARCH GOALS

1. Determine the levels of activity in response to and awareness of food insecurity and hunger in the

Greater High Point area.

Once the GHP Food Alliance is able to determine the base level of knowledge of the community

in a pre-test, it can tailor its tactics over the next year to best appeal to the largest possible

audience to increase the levels first of awareness, followed by increased action among community

members. Should the GHP Food Alliance keep its name in close proximity to these tactics,

awareness of the new organization will increase as well. Are community members aware of the

Alliance? Do they have positive, negative, or neutral opinions of the organization? How will the

different tactics of the Alliance affect the public opinion of the organization over the next year?

2. Find out who in the community is already involved in the fight against food insecurity in the

Greater High Point area and how they are helping.

Through research of organizations and programs in the area, the Greater High Point Food

Alliance can tailor its own strategies and tactics to better align with successful predecessors.

What programs are experiencing ongoing success? What tactics have failed in the past, and why

did they? Where are the greatest legal, financial and social challenges current organizations face?

Once these questions are answered, the Alliance will have a stronger foundation on which to

implement its own plans.

B. RESEARCH METHODS

For the purpose of achieving the above research goals, we will implement a combination of secondary

and primary research that will take place over the course of one calendar year. While the literature

review as outlined later in this Strategic Message Planner is complete, we encourage additional

secondary research as explained below to become an ongoing activity by the Alliance.

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1. Secondary Research

Initial secondary research is necessary to learn how other programs and organizations have

operated successfully in the past to determine positive strategies and tactics that have worked in

similar situations. How are similarly-styled alliances organized? What are their goals and mission

statements? We must look not only at examples in other states but also focus on key organizations

in North Carolina. Not only have example organizations within the state faced the same legal

barriers, but the geographic and economic situations will be most similar, especially with regard

to urban agriculture and community gardens.

The United States Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Census Bureau will also provide a

wealth of quantitative data about a number of useful topics. What are the legal definitions of key

terminology like “food desert,” “food insecurity,” and “food hardship?” What is the poverty

rating of North Carolina compared to the national average? What is the ethnic makeup of

different neighborhoods? The answers to these questions and many others can help provide a

foundation of statistical information from which several primary research questions may be

derived.

2. Primary Research

Annual Summit Survey. Due to the disproportionate availability of Internet access among the

communities, a paper survey is the best way to reach a wide range of publics for an awareness

analysis. This survey would ask questions regarding the participant’s knowledge of Greater High

Point’s crisis of food insecurity. What is a “food desert?” Where does the Greater High Point rank

nationally in food insecurity? Understanding a quantitative base knowledge of the community

will be incredibly helpful to the Alliance when planning long-term tactics. Demographic

information such as eating habits, volunteer and donation status and neighborhood makeup can

also be derived from the survey. Additionally, the survey will serve as one method to evaluate the

success of the Alliance in increasing awareness of the issue. While the Alliance is initially lacking

in funds and resources to conduct proper sampling surveys, the proposed Annual Food Summit is

an ideal event to conduct convenient sampling for an annual survey.

Pantry/Program Survey. Another survey will be distributed directly to the operators of local food

pantry and other hunger-targeting programs. Information gathered from these surveys will help

the Alliance understand the aggregate needs and business trends of the established organizations.

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When are the busiest months for food pantries? Are there communication challenges between the

pantry and the clients, and if so, what are they? What are the services the individual pantries

provide?

Think tanks and focus groups. Finally, the Alliance wants all parts of the community to be

engaged in the process of ending hunger in the Greater High Point area. This means that the

Alliance must also include the food insecure in its primary research. We suggest these groups

begin at the Annual Food Summit and continue to meet on a regular basis throughout the year.

Groups can be broken into the established categories of Urban Agriculture, Food Access,

Neighborhood Networks, Food Education, and Research, Policy, and Advocacy. Volunteer

participants of these think tanks can help direct the Alliance towards realistic goals. Where do the

food insecure currently get their food? What do these groups see as the biggest obstacles to

acquiring healthy food options? While the Pantry Survey will acquire information from the

perspective of the providers, focus groups will allow access into the world of the recipients.

Understanding both sides is key to implementing long-term tactics that are successful for all

involved. To maintain an open dialogue with the food insecure, the Alliance should host

additional focus groups at participating pantries throughout the year.

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It is evident that the United States is one of the most developed countries in the world. The U.S.

has an ability to provide equal opportunities for success to immigrants and citizens alike. However, there

is hidden problem that many Americans face; hunger. According to dosomething.org, one out of six

Americans is hungry or “food insecure” (DoSomething.org, 2014, para. 2). The USDA measures food

insecurity by a “lack of access, at times, to enough foods for all household members.” In 2011,

households with children reported significantly higher in food insecurity rates than households without

children at 20.6 percent compared to 12.2 percent (DoSomething.org, 2014, para. 3). One of the main

problems for the food insecure is that they reside in food deserts.

A food desert is defined as an urban neighborhood or rural town without ready access to fresh,

healthy and affordable food (USDA, “Food Deserts,” para. 1). Essentially, a food desert is a place where

citizens cannot regularly purchase nutritious food and instead depend on fast food and convenience stores

for food options. These areas are more than a quarter mile away from supermarkets and grocery stores

and are characterized by households at or below the poverty line without vehicle access (John Hopkins

Bloomberg School of Public Health, “New, Improved Food Desert Map,” 2012, para. 3). The lack of

healthy food options in food deserts leads to higher rates of obesity, heart disease, and other serious health

complications. In fact, the death rate from diabetes is twice that of areas with access to grocery stores.

Minorities, especially African-Americans and Latinos, are especially vulnerable to living in food deserts.

Currently, more than 23.5 million people live in food deserts in the US, and more than half of those

people come from low-income households (USDA, “Food Deserts,” para. 2).

Of the several food summits that have been hosted throughout the country, only a few stand out

as being truly impactful. One of these successful summits was the 2014 Idaho Summit on Hunger and

Food Security: “Together Nourishing Idaho.” This event was Boise’s fifth anti-hunger summit and

attracted over 250 people from 22 counties, 49 Idaho cities, eight states and three tribal organizations

(2014 Idaho Summit Final Report, Conference Attendance section, para. 11). The summit’s keynote

speaker was Dr. Janey Thornton, Deputy Under Secretary for USDA Food, Nutrition, and Consumer

Services, Washington DC. The event focused its efforts through six workshops: Anti-hunger Advocacy,

Childhood Hunger, Blueprint to End Hunger, Local Food Systems, Multicultural Food Security and

Senior Hunger (2014 Idaho Summit Final Report, para. 12). In each workshop, participants brainstormed

a specific hunger issue, solutions, best practices and “next steps.” From the six workshops, some of the

priority initiatives included “increase awareness of and collaboration with small scale farmers by

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convening community partners”; “preserve cultural culinary traditions”; “remove Idaho sales tax”; and

“find and identify seniors suffering from hunger and implement nutrition programs.” Idaho’s 2014

Summit on Hunger and Food Security is an example of a successful food summit that attempted to

address a broad range of hunger issues and identified the necessary steps to achieve its goals (2014 Idaho

Summit Final Report, The Overall Top 6 Idaho Hunger Relief Priorities section, para. 18).

Other food summits took a more personal approach and found success by tailoring their solutions

to match the community’s individual issues. For example, The Voices of Hunger helped communities in

both India and Indiana (Dutta, Anaele, & Jones, 2013 p. 1). This summit addressed health disparities

through a culture-centered approach and used tactics that were successful in India in their own Indiana

communities. Through their research, they found that an effective way of touching donors’ hearts was to

take photographs of the people in need as they were working and going about their daily lives. This

proved that having a story about a real person or a real community works much better than merely

reciting statistics. This tactic also demonstrated that the people in need were trying to better their

situation, thus reducing the stigma associated with food insecurity. In Indiana, The Voices of Hunger

went a step further by creating focus groups in addition to using the pictures. This was a way for the

summit leaders to come up with business goals to support their overall mission. The organization

determined that successful food summits must address three major topics: eliminate stigma associated

with hunger, educate attendees on the quality of food versus quantity of food, and streamline logistics of

donations and organizations within the community (Dutta et al., 2013, p. 162-163).

The development of food co-ops is another solution to alleviating hunger in food deserts.

According to the Neighboring Food Cooperative Alliance (nfca.coop, 2014, para. 2), a food co-op is an

association of persons united to meet common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations

through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. In other words, a food co-op is a food

pantry that provides fresh produce to those in need. Food cooperatives are usually consumers’

cooperatives where the decisions regarding the production and distribution of its food are chosen by its

members. They typically offer natural foods and require a some form of payment for their services

(nfca.coop, 2014, para. 2). There are a handful of food co-ops that exist near the Greater High Point area.

They include: Deep Roots Market Co-Op (Greensboro), Company Shops Market (Burlington), Good

Food Farms & Growers Market (Kernersville), Triad Farm to Table Cooperative (Winston-Salem) and

NC Food Co-Op (Hendersonville).

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Several food co-ops have successfully implemented programs to help reach the hungry. For

example, La Mesa Verde is a new program in Santa Clara County where organic vegetable gardens are

built at the homes of low-income families. Virtual Supermarket Project is a program that started in

Baltimore, Maryland, where residents can order their groceries on-line and pick them up from a local

library (Planning/Baltimore Food Policy Initiative, 2014, para. 1). Although not everyone has access to

the internet, residents can use the internet at the library. The program was funded by a grant from the

federal stimulus package. Another initiative in Massachusetts is attempting to fight childhood obesity in

low-income families. Physicians at three health centers in Massachusetts are promoting “prescription

produce” from local farmers’ markets by piloting a vegetable prescription project. To promote healthy

eating, they are providing coupons worth $1 a day for each member of a patient’s family with the goal of

increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables. The doctors will track their patients in terms of their

eating habits as well as monitor weight and body mass index. The nonprofit Ceiling and Visibility

Unlimited is sponsoring the clinics, while the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture and non-profit

Wholesome Wave both provided funding to begin this pilot program (wholesomewave.org, 2014, para.

1).

In Detroit, a traveling food truck named “Peaches & Greens” allows the food insecure to access

fresh food. Detroit’s limited public transportation makes it difficult for those without cars to get to

farmers markets or suburban stores, and decades of population decline — from 1.8 million in the 1950s to

half that now — have made most neighborhoods in the 138-square-mile city too sparse to support corner

produce stands. The truck, set up like a small market, brings affordable produce to families on public

assistance, homebound seniors and others who can’t reach the well-stocked grocery chains in the suburbs

five days a week (Grocery Truck Caters to Underserved Market, 2014, para. 5). Peaches & Greens has

community gardens, where volunteers grow greens, tomatoes and other vegetables to help stock the truck.

The food also is offered at a neighborhood produce market, and organizers hope to persuade liquor stores

and corner markets to stock their vegetables.

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Bibliography

11 Facts About Food Deserts. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2015, from

https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11factsaboutfooddeserts.

2014 Idaho Summit on Hunger and Food Insecurity: “Together Nourishing Idaho,” 2014 Final Report. (n.d.).

Retrieved April 2, 2015, from

http://www.idahohunger.org/FINAL%202014%20HUNGER%20REPORT%202.pdf.

Beasley, M. (2014, January 22). Rethinking Santa Clara County's food system - Greenbelt Alliance. Retrieved April

2, 2015, from http://www.greenbelt.org/general/rethinking-santa-clara-food/

City of Baltimore. (2010, January 1). Planning / Baltimore Food Policy Initiative / Virtual Supermarket. Retrieved

April 2, 2015, from

http://archive.baltimorecity.gov/Government/AgenciesDepartments/Planning/BaltimoreFoodPolicyInitiativ

e/VirtualSupermarket.aspx

Dutta, M. J., Anaele, A., & Jones, C. (2013). Voices of Hunger: Addressing Health Disparities Through the Culture

Centered Approach. Journal Of Communication , 63 (1), 159180. doi:10.1111/jcom.12009.

Stories of Iowans Fighting Hunger. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/events/iowa_hunger_summit/the_iowa_hunger_directory/stories_of_iow

ans_fighting_hunger/.

Food Empowerment Project. (n.d.). Bringing Community Voices to the Table. Retrieved from

http://www.foodispower.org/documents/FEP_Report_web_final.pdf.

Harvest Thyme's NC Food Co-Op. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2015, from http://www.ncfoodcoop.com

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2012, March 5). New, Improved "Food Desert" Map. Retrieved

April 2, 2015, from http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-center-for-a-

livable-future/news-room/our-stories/2012/food_desert.html

TheGrio via AP. (2009, September 3). Grocery truck caters to underserved market. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from

http://thegrio.com/2009/09/03/grocery-truck-caters-to-underserved-market/

Triad Farm to Table Cooperative. (2015, January 1). Retrieved April 2, 2015, from

http://www.triadfarm2table.com/about.html

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). (n.d.). Agricultural Marketing Service: Creating Access to

Healthy, Affordable Food - Food Deserts. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from

http://apps.ams.usda.gov/fooddeserts/fooddeserts.aspx

Wholesome Wave. (2014, January 1). Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from

http://www.wholesomewave.org/our-initiatives/fruit-and-vegetable-prescription-program/

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Positive Negative

Inte

rnal

Strengths • Reputable cause (BG 2) • Mission and vision (BG 3) • Dedicated team members (BG 3) • Partnership with United Way (BG 3) • Core competencies in key areas (BG 2) • Group is campaigning on one key issue (BG 1) • Committed and passionate community leaders

(BG 3) • Use of volunteers to lower costs (BG 3) • Giving power to people (BG 1, 3)

Weaknesses • Lack of money (BG 3) • Does not have long history in the community (BG

1, 3) • Does not have a main office or contact

information (BG 1) • Little social media presence (BG 1, 2) • Lack of brand recognition (BG 1) • Complexity of operations - team is large (BG 3) • Seven large food deserts - big community to serve

(BG 3) • Hunger cannot be fully eradicated (BG 2) • Success heavily relies on donors and volunteers

(BG 3) • Primary members have a “disconnect” with the

food deprived (BG 2) • Core members have limited time to dedicate - full

time jobs (BG 3)

Exte

rnal

Opportunities • Grants from a government or private agency

group (BG 3) • Organization is a good community resource (BG

3) • Participants are a captive audience for other

educational opportunities (BG 1, 3) • HPE articles shed light on a new problem (BG 1,

2) • Need for the program in the community (BG 3) • Support from media and advocacy organizations

and donor agencies (BG 3) • Chance to challenge and reshape stereotypes and

stigmata (BG 2) • Alliances with other organizations, nonprofit

groups and commercial businesses (BG 3)

Threats • Public charities are held to higher standard than

for-profit organizations (BG 2) • Government restrictions/policies (BG 3) • Public may be unclear on the parameters

of “Greater High Point” (BG 1) • Sustainability problems due to lack of funding

(BG 2, 3) • Lack of interest at the community level (BG 3) • Weakening economy (BG 3) • Public stigma about food insecurity (BG 2) • Possible distrust toward Alliance among food

insecure (BG 2) • Cultural, religious and language barriers among

food insecure (BG 2, 3)

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Strategic Implications

At this point, because the GHP Food Alliance is just beginning to reach out to the Greater High Point

community, one of the most important things for the Alliance members to do is to publicize their

mission and goals. In order to involve community members in the Alliance’s events and tactics, the

community needs to be made aware that the Alliance exists and is planning and executing tactics to

make a difference in the lives of food insecure people in Greater High Point.

Additionally, the Alliance needs to ensure that its message is being shared with all members of the

community, which will require a significant amount of public relations work. Many of the people that

the GHP Food Alliance is trying to reach do not have access to the most common forms of mass

media, so the Alliance needs to use other methods of outreach as well.

Educating the public about food quality vs. food quantity is very important in regard to increasing

community involvement. In many cases, the public is misinformed about what the food insecure

citizens really need to eat. In addition, the Alliance needs to work to reduce the stigma that is often

associated with hunger, as that stigma may prevent community members from becoming involved

with the Alliance.

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A. Attain 10 platinum level sponsors by the 2016 Food Summit

Because the GHP Food Alliance is such a new organization, very few sponsors in the community

have been secured so far. Over the next year, it is essential that the Alliance connects with leaders in

the community, which will primarily be accomplished through sponsorships. In addition to providing

the money and resources necessary to help the Alliance make a change, sponsorships (especially from

well-known and respected community establishments) serve as a vote of confidence in the Alliance,

which will help other community members to want to become involved.

B. Host one event per quarter

Events create a space for individuals to share ideas and stories that can then influence the GHP Food

Alliance in finding new ways to achieve their goals. By hosting events, the Alliance can continue to

foster relationships with community members and strengthen pre-existing partnerships. Hosting an

event every quarter will also keep the spotlight on the work the GHP Food Alliance is doing year-

round. Multiple yearly events will give people more opportunities to partner with the GHP Food

Alliance as well as continue to establish a positive relationship in the community.

C. Host a second Food Summit and increase attendance by 15 percent (300 to 345) by March 2016

The GHP Food Alliance plans to hold annual food summits to address new issues, continue the

community discussion, assess the effectiveness of programs, revise strategies and develop new

initiatives. The second summit will likely occur in the spring of 2016, and by this time, the alliance

will have had time to implement several tactics to alleviate hunger. Therefore, the GHP Food Alliance

should aim to increase attendance by 15 percent at the second Food Summit, as compared to the first.

D. Generate positive media coverage about the GHP Food Alliance with at least two stories a month for

nine months (May - January)

One of the biggest threats that the Food Alliance is facing right now is that people do not know it

exists and therefore can not become involved. In order to educate the community and increase

involvement of community members in GHP Food Alliance initiatives, it is vital that information

about the Alliance is released to the public.

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A. The food insecure

This target audience is by far the most important to the GHP Food Alliance. The Alliance wants to

help those in the area who are affected by hunger, and the only way to help them is if we reach out to

them. By targeting them, we can better inform them about food access, food education and new

techniques like urban agriculture. In addition by reaching out to them, we can also hear their stories

and learn from them to find the best practices for the GHP Food Alliance.

B. Churches

Greater High Point is home to approximately 40 churches, and many residents of High Point and the

surrounding towns regularly attend or lead church services. Because there are churches all over the

Greater High Point Area and the congregants come from a variety of backgrounds and socioeconomic

statuses, they are an ideal audience for involvement in a GHP Food Alliance campaign. The

congregants of the area’s churches include those community members who are in need of food

assistance as well as those who are able to help satisfy that need, and church congregations often

come together to serve their community.

C. Food Pantries

The Greater High Point Area has a vast number of food pantries. It is important to target these pre-

existing organizations to learn how they have gone about effectively helping the community.

Targeting these pantries will create meaningful relationships, which can lead to future success. By

uniting multiple organizations, the GHP Food Alliance can create partners with first hand experience

in helping those in need in their fight against hunger.

D. Local Businesses

In order to help raise awareness throughout the community, it can be very beneficial to have local

businesses as sponsors. The more reputable sponsors can help boost awareness and the positive

reputation as well as provide funding so that the GHP Food Alliance can continue its work.

E. Donors

In order to accomplish our third business goal, we need to target those with the means to give in order

to increase donations and encourage others to volunteer. When it comes to targeting those who can

give, we can segment the group even further by targeting those in certain age demographics.

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According to Forbes.com, the Baby Boomers (ages 51-69) are the people that donate the most money

to charity. If we can raise awareness to this group, we will hopefully be able to increase donations

later. It will also be important because people of this age have been working for many years, and

some are respected leaders in their fields. If these leaders hear about the GHP Food Alliance, they

might be persuaded to help more and possibly provide their business services to help.

F. Media

Media is all around us, and they provide some of the best ways to get the word out to the correct

audience. If we can successfully target members of the media, there is strong potential that they will

find the GHP Food Alliance important. Having the media run stories about the Alliance will help

increase awareness of the organization and build a positive reputation.

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A. The food insecure

A healthy meal can be made quickly and inexpensively and still taste delicious.

The GHP Food Alliance is trying to do more than just give food to people who need it. They want to

help by educating people on how to eat better and live a healthier life as well. This message will

appeal to those who need help but will also show the different kinds of help the GHP Food Alliance

can provide.

B. Churches

The parable goes, “Give a man a fish, and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and feed him for a

lifetime.” The GHP Food Alliance is trying to do just that: feed people for a lifetime. You can help us

empower, unify and sustain a community.

This message is targeted at the local church leaders and congregants in the Greater High Point area.

Churches frequently help those in need, and this message appeals to them by showing them that there

are neighbors and community members who need help and that they can create lasting change to a

problem that has been around forever. This message is to reiterate that the GHP Food Alliance is not

trying to impede upon the work local churches do, but merely partner with them in their efforts

against hunger.

C. Food Pantries

To help those in need, we must come together to create a relationship that fosters positive change by

discovering the practices that work best to help the maximum number of people.

This message is geared at the local food pantries in the area and shows that the GHP Food Alliance

needs their help to find the best possible solutions. We want to show that we are grateful for the work

that they do, but by partnering together, we can foster relationships that can truly change a

community.

D. Local Businesses

As a community, we must band together to help those in need.

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This key message is geared toward local businesses that are potential sponsors of the GHP Food

Alliance. Local businesses in the High Point area are very community-based and, a lot of places will

help if they believe it is for the good of the community. Here, the main goal is to make sure that we

address the fact that this issue affects everyone and not just those who are hungry. Here, we show that

the food problem goes beyond just hungry people, and hopefully this will inspire businesses to help

out. The more businesses that become sponsors, the more likely we are to increase our positive

reputation in the community.

E. Donors

Our city has been through so much, and even as we are back on the rise, we have been presented with

one of the biggest challenges High Point has ever seen. The food crisis in High Point revolves around

those in need of food but also those who are in need of more nutritious food. Please help the GHP

Food Alliance so that we can turn our city back around.

This message is targeted at those who have the means to give. As state above, those who are most

likely to give are the Baby Boomers, and if they have been here their entire lives, they have seen the

ups and downs of High Point. The city itself was once home to a thriving economy that had fallen on

hard times. Recently, the city is on the rise but it is important to let those with means to donate know

that there are many who are still struggling. This message will reach them and inspire them to help

out their city any way that they can.

F. Media

The Greater High Point Food Alliance is a group of local volunteers focused on utilizing current

community and nonprofit assets to address the hunger crisis in the Greater High Point area, while

developing strategies and community partnerships to end it. The Alliance will work to empower, unify

and sustain the community.

This message is directed at local news outlets and is the basic message of the GHP Food Alliance.

When appealing to the media, it is important to let them know the succinct description of the

organization and what they hope to accomplish. This message will inform the media exactly what the

GHP Food Alliance is about and hopefully convince them that the work they do is newsworthy.

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A. Attain 10 platinum level sponsors by the 2016 Food Summit

Strategy: Raise awareness of the GHP Food Alliance among local businesses and philanthropists in the

Greater High Point community.

Rationale: In order to fund events aimed at fighting food insecurity, the Greater High Point Food Alliance

must be able to raise money from the community. By sending out newsletters and press releases, the GHP

Food Alliance can raise the awareness of the growing issue in the area. Raising awareness and proving the

validity of the crisis will appeal to local businesses’ senses and make them more eager to help and willing

to get involved.

Tactics:

1. Through a quarterly newsletter, the Greater High Point Food Alliance will update the community

on the current food hardships in the area and the actions the Alliance members are taking against

it. Newsletters will contain the results of the previous quarter’s events, information about

upcoming functions and suggestions for ways in which the community can help and get involved.

2. Press releases will be sent to the High Point Enterprise approximately twice a month through

February 2016 in order to continue raising awareness about food insecurity in the Greater High

Point area along with the GHP Food Alliance’s proceedings. The press releases will reach a wide

range of publics and add legitimacy to the GHP Food Alliance’s cause and actions. By

continually seeing the works of the organization in the area’s primary newspaper, the community

will wish to participate and donate.

3. Once a week during the month of September, Hunger Awareness Month, the GHP Food Alliance

will host restaurant partnership nights. During these nights, 10 percent of the proceeds will go to

the GHP Food Alliance. By hosting these events, not only will the GHP Food Alliance raise

money, it will also form partnerships with local businesses and continue to publicize its cause in

the community.

B. Host one event per quarter

Strategy: Conduct basic outlines regarding what the events will entail. The GHP Food Alliance will

host one event per season. There will be one main event in the spring (the annual Food Summit) and

three minor events in the remaining seasons.

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Rationale: The events will serve as individual mini-campaigns directed from each of the three

business goals. Hunger awareness month will focus on increasing awareness (BG 1); winners from

“Can You Cook It?” will be establishing reputation (BG 2). Summer will include a community

involvement event (BG 3). The second annual Food Summit will work toward all three business

goals.

Tactics:

1. Fall: September is Hunger Awareness Month. There is an opportunity for the Greater High Point

Food Alliance to partner with leaders from the Washington Terrace Park, located at 101 Gordon

St. in High Point, to host an outdoor movie night. Washington Terrace Park is located directly in

a food desert. This being said, it provides a perfect opportunity for the Alliance to gain

recognition in this area. The movie is based on the book A Place at the Table, which motivated

the executive team members to create the first GHP Food Alliance Food Summit. The book

shares information about food insecurity and the life of a person as he struggles to find food.

Once the Alliance is in contact with the park staff, they will then need to contact the parks and

recreation department to set up the dates, equipment, park rangers/medical staff and coordinators.

The head of the park and recreation department is Victoria Garrett. Once there is confirmation of

a date, the Alliance will contact “Fun Flicks of North Carolina Outdoor Movie”

(http://www.funflicks.com). This company will be able to handle the screen, projector, audio,

power and insurance for the event. As with any event, park rangers and medical staff must be

present. There is a pool at the park, so there will need to be a lifeguard on duty as well. The

Alliance will need to locate janitorial services to assist with park clean up, along with a sanitation

outlet that can provide portable toilets. It would also be in the Alliance’s best interest to provide

concessions for the attendees. Some ideas include renting or borrowing a popcorn machine or

hiring food trucks. Food Truck vendors could also be potential sponsors. The sponsorship

coordinator is responsible for gaining event coverage and donor/sponsor recognition. The

sponsorship coordinator could also create a slideshow presentation with all the sponsors and

labels on it and have it running as people enter the event.

Once these steps are taken, the GHP Food Alliance must attain its Public Performance License.

Below are the three outlets for licensing:

Criterion Pictures: www.criterionpicusa.com - (800)-890-9494

Swank Motion Pictures Inc: www.swank.com - (800)-877-5577

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Motion Pictures Licensing Corporation (MPLC): www.mplc.com - (800)-462-8855.

After gaining licensing permission, the movie will be approved and then delivered no later than

two days before the event date.

Awareness of the event is a key tactic. A press release should be created and distributed prior to

the start of Hunger Awareness Month. Flyers must also be created and distributed to businesses,

churches and pantries that are in close proximity to the park. The flyer will have the date, location

and time of the event. The release and flyer should suggest that attendees bring blankets or lawn

chairs to sit on to view the movie. In addition, signage about the designated entrances, parking

and restrooms will be communicated.

2. Winter: In correlation with the GHP Food Alliance’s Can You Cook It? event held in the spring

of 2015, there will be a program in which four food insecure families receive a privately cooked

Christmas dinner in December. Four chefs from Can You Cook It? will be transported to the

winners’ homes, surprise the families and act as their personal chefs for the night. To alleviate

extended costs for transportation, all four dinners will be cooked on the same night. The GHP

Food Alliance will provide the food (meat, vegetables, bread, etc.) for each dinner. A media

advisory will be sent to Time Warner Cable and Fox 4 News in the month of December. The

news stations should profile each family, highlight their reactions to the surprise dinner and

include details of the meal. The purpose of this program is to enhance the GHP Food Alliance’s

reputation in the Greater High Point community.

3. Spring: The GHP Food Alliance will host its second annual Food Summit during spring 2016.

See Appendices for details.

4. Summer: The GHP Food Alliance will partner with the Post Office to develop a Post Office Food

Drive. The Alliance can create a flyer for the High Point University Campus Concierge that will

reach HPU students and faculty members. The flyer must include information about what types of

items to donate and the donation locations. Most of the donations will consist of toiletries and

non-perishable items that students no longer need at the end of the school year. Collection boxes

be placed in the dorms and student centers. A series of press releases informing the public about

the Food Drive and the GHP Food Alliance’s involvement in the Food Drive should be sent out

no later than two weeks prior to the event. The flyers will be handed out to local grocery stores

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and businesses that also want to get involved. A media advisory will be sent to local news stations

and community organizations to inform them about the food drive.

C. Host a second Food Summit and increase attendance by 15 percent (from 300 to 345) by March 2016

Strategy: Create partnerships with various groups in the community.

Rationale: The first summit was critical in raising awareness of the GHP Food Alliance among

community members in the area. To continue to spread awareness and increase community

involvement, it is essential for attendance to increase at next year’s food summit.

Tactics:

1. Press Releases

Through the distribution of press releases, GHP Food Alliance will be able to reach the five key

audiences (see section VIII). The press releases will provide educational information and

announcements about events that the GHP Food Alliance will host. These approximately bi-

monthly press releases will extend the audience outreach, increasing awareness of the Alliance to

further gain community participation in Alliance-sponsored programs and events. Media

coverage will generate a positive reputation for the Alliance through developing awareness.

2. Summit Surveys

The 2015 Summit Surveys created a strong starting point for the GHP Food Alliance’s primary

research. With 86 completed surveys, the GHP Food Alliance could determine base levels of

education, activism and lifestyle of participants. By distributing the same survey in 2016, the

GHP Food Alliance will be able to compare any increase or decrease in result percentages to

evaluate tactics they implement over the year with respect to the business goals outlined in

section II. For example, the GHP Food Alliance hopes to increase attendance by 15% at the 2016

Food Summit. Responses to questions in these surveys will help measure those results.

3. Pantry Profiles

A Food Pantry Profile is a vehicle for the GHP Food Alliance to gather information on local food

pantries in the Greater High Point area. The data retrieved will display the way that food pantries

operate, their volunteer- and payroll-based employment, where and how they gather their

donations and what each pantry’s greatest needs are.

4. Flyers in Church Bulletins

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With approximately 300 churches in Piedmont Triad area, distributing Church bulletins with

news of the GHP Food Alliance will provide an opportunity for the Alliance to target people who

are willing to volunteer. Many churches host food drives or have a food pantry program, which

makes it easier for the GHP Food Alliance to gain volunteers and participants to spread

awareness and build relationships across the Greater High Point area.

5. Neighborhood Network Meetings

The Neighborhood Network meetings will play a critical role in communicating with the food

insecure and establishing meaningful relationships with members of the community. The initial

meetings took place at the GHP Food Alliance’s Food Summit and were effective in attaining a

climate for the issue of hunger in High Point. Neighborhood Networks allow citizens to be

proactive and actively engage in initiatives to alleviate hunger in the area. These meetings will

continue to take place on a regular basis as a way to assess the needs of the community and

develop realistic solutions to specific hunger needs.

D. Generate positive media coverage about the GHP Food Alliance with at least two stories a month for

nine months (May - January)

Strategy: Communicate and partner with local media affiliates to increase the likelihood that stories

about GHP Food Alliance are placed.

Rationale: In order to achieve our previously mentioned objectives, media coverage is essential. The

GHP Food Alliance will be able to use the media coverage to gain volunteers, donors and general

community interest. Positive media coverage can translate into increased community involvement

and can garner awareness of food insecurity throughout the Greater High Point area.

Tactics:

1. Press releases have been written and scheduled for the GHP Food Alliance to send out to local

media affiliates. They will be sent out approximately twice a month over the course of the next

year. The topics relate to timely events, such as Hunger Awareness Month and the 2016 Food

Summit.

2. Social media will be used to reach the community with more frequency, as posts will be made

daily and with the voice of the GHP Food Alliance. Additionally, any media attention received by

local media outlets as a result from press releases can be posted and shared on the GHP Food

Alliance’s Facebook and Twitter profiles.

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38

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Objective 1: Attain 10 platinum level sponsors by 2016 Food Summit.

Newsletter

Service/product Cost per "X" "X" required Total cost

Constant Contact (Email service) $20 per month 12 months $240

Design of Newsletter $20* 2 hours quarterly; 8

total $160

$400

Press Releases


Press Release 1 $20* 2 hours $40



$120

Restaurant Donation event


Written Letters $20* 2 hours $40

Press Release 4 $20* 2 Hours $40

Print Sponsorship Package .25 per page 500 pages colored $125

Package and Letter Distribution $20* 12 hours $240

$445

Total Objective 1 Cost

$965

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Objective 2: Create one event per quarter.

Press Releases






$160

Hunger Awareness Month Movie


Contact Park/Rangers $20* 1 hour $20

Contact Sanitation/Food Trucks $20* 4 hours $120

Screen Rental $799 1 $799

Popcorn Machine Rental $300 1 $300

Sponsorship PowerPoint $20* 3 hours $60

Public Viewing License $295 1 $295

Flyer Creation $20* 4 hours $80

Flyer Printing $0.21 per page 1500 pages $315

Flyer Distribution $20* 15 hours $300

Social Media post creation $20* 1 hour $20

Advertise at neighborhood meetings $20* 4 hours $80

$2,389

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Four Private Christmas Dinners


Chef Transportation $20* 4 hours $80

Chef Cost/Payment $100 4 chefs $400

Food costs $75 4 dinners $300

Media Advisory $20* 2 hours $40

$820

Food Summit #2


Tables and chairs rentals $1,650 1 $1,650

Tables and chairs setup $20* 8 hours $160

Tables and Chairs Takedown $20* 6 hours $120

Audio and Lights Rental $1,550 1 $1,550

Audio Setup Workers $150 per worker 2 workers $300

Sound Technician $300 per day 2 days $600

Summit posters $25 10 $250

Welcome Banner $60 1 $60

Miscellaneous costs (décor, pens, etc.) $400 1 $400

$5,090

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Post Office Food Drive


Flyer creation $20* 4 Hours $80


Media Advisory $20* 2 hours $40

$420

Total Objective 2 Costs

$8,879

Objective 3: Increase attendance by 15% at 2nd Food Summit.

Press Releases




$80

Summit Surveys


Survey Creation $20* 3 hours $60

Print Costs $.06 per page 1200 pages $72

Survey distribution/Collection $20* 8 hours $160

Coding and results $20* 8 hours $160

Secondary Research $20* 15 hours $300

$752

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Pantry Profiles


Survey Creation $20* 3 hours $60

Print Costs $.07 per page 500 pages $35

Survey distribution/Collection $20* 15 hours $300

Coding and results $20* 8 hours $160

$555

Flyers in Church Bulletins


Flyer Creation $20* 3 hours $60


$360

Neighborhood Network Meetings


Press Releases 3 $20* 2 hours $40

Press Releases 4 $20* 2 hours $40

$80


$1,827

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Objective 4: Generate positive media coverage by having 2 stories per month for 9 months.

Press Releases






$160

Social Media


Post Creation $20* 2 hours $40

$40


$200

Overall Budget:

Objectives Final Costs

Objective 1 $965

Objective 2 $8,879

Objective 3 $1,827

Objective 4 $200

$11,871

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In conclusion, this yearlong campaign will cost an estimated $11,871. Costs were determined by the

market value of products or services provided. Items priced with a * are estimations of the hourly cost of

a freelance “Public Relations specialist”. Finally, over the course of this semester, the HPU

communications class provided an estimated $1,000 worth of services with the material contained in this

package. If we include the time spent designing, discussing and planning both in and out of class, then

cost of services provided for the entire semester would be approximately $20,000.

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This campaign was created so that the GHP Food Alliance can reach its main objectives through the

tactics provided here. In order to evaluate the success of this campaign, there will be two evaluations

conducted throughout the year. The first will be conducted at this point in time and include the successes

reached from the 2015 Food Summit. The second evaluation will be conducted in February and will focus

on the four measurable objectives from this campaign. To evaluate the success of this campaign we must

consider the following:

First Evaluation (January - May)

During the first months of this campaign, we provided the GHP Food Alliance with valuable materials to

help establish their position in the community and raise awareness for the March 2015 Food Summit. We

distributed press releases, media advisories, brochures and flyers throughout the community in order to

reach as many people as we could to get them to the Food Summit. We welcomed more than 300 guests

from throughout the Greater High Point area, and they were able to provide the GHP Food Alliance with

valuable information and ideas. In order to keep in touch with those who attended, we collected contact

information from every attendee and we also created comment cards to analyze the effectiveness of the

Food Summit. Surveys were administered on a voluntary basis to the Food Summit attendees, and the

data received will help to show what changes need to occur in the community. The first few months were

very successful for this campaign, and the Food Summit was a huge factor in this success.

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Second Evaluation (June - March)

In order to measure success of the next nine months, the GHP Food Alliance will need to determine how

well each objective was reached as events occur. To achieve the first objective (reaching 10 platinum

level sponsors for the 2016 Food Summit), we recommend increasing your donor and giving campaigns

to target local business in the community. Measuring the effectiveness of hosting one event per quarter

will be based upon what you are trying to achieve with each event. The effectiveness of the second

objective will be based upon the individual success of each event. We can measure the success of the

2016 Food Summit by seeing how many people attend and how many more people attended than last

year. Continuing media coverage for the next six months can be measured by how many times the GHP

Food Alliance is mentioned by local media. These strategies can be used by the GHP Food Alliance in the

future to see how effective they are in the implementation of their objectives.

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APPENDIX A: Research TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Outline - 2015 Survey Process 51

II. Template - 2015 Survey 52

III. Analysis of Results - 2015 Survey 57

IV. Suggestions - 2016 Survey 61

V. Template - 2016 Survey 62

VI. Pantry Profile Rationale 67

VII. Template - Pantry Profiles 68

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I. Outline - 2015 Survey Process - Conduct secondary research (see Literature Review) - Develop primary survey questions based on the above research - Narrow questions down to 24-question paper survey - Create an informational consent form to pair with survey - Create codebook for later data analysis - Apply for approval from Institutional Review Board (IRB) - Upon receiving approval, print and prepare survey packets - Distribute survey packets to all who attended GHP Food Alliance 2015 Food Summit - College surveys during the Summit - Input surveys to numeric data on Microsoft Excel following codebook - Convert Excel data into the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software data - Analyze results by using different features of SPSS and filter statistically significant data - Write up analysis of significant results - Make changes to next year’s survey based on this year’s survey limitations

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-

II. Template - 2015 Survey 1. Are you a permanent resident of Greater High Point, or are you living here temporarily (staying

no longer than 6 months)?

• I am a permanent resident

• I am here temporarily

2. How long have you been a resident of Greater High Point?

• Less than 6 months

• 6-11 months

• 1 - 5 years

• More than 5 years

3. What is your zip code?

____________________________________________________________________

4. How far do you live from a grocery store or supermarket that sells fresh produce?

• .5 mile or less

• .6 to 2 miles

• 2.1 - 5 miles

• More than 5 miles

5. How often do you eat fresh fruit or vegetables?

• Less than once a week

• Once a week

• Two to three times a week

• Four to six times a week

• Daily

6. Does your household have regular/reliable access to a vehicle?

• Yes

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• No

• Other (please specify) _______________________________________________

7. Where do you think Greater High Point ranks nationwide in terms of hunger?

• Top 5th percentile



• Bottom 50th percentile

8. Do you know what a food desert is?

• Yes (please describe) _______________________________________________

• No

• Maybe (please describe) ____________________________________________

9. How many food deserts do you think exist in the Greater High Point area?

• None

• 1 or 2

• 3 or 4

• 5 or 6

• 7 or more

10. Do you believe that you or any of your neighbors are food insecure?

• Yes

• No

• Unsure

11. Have you ever donated food to a local food pantry?

• Yes (which organization?) __________________________________________

• No

• Unsure

12. If yes, what type of food do you donate?

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• Canned food

• Grains (flour, rice, oats, pastas, etc)

• Perishable produce (fruits and vegetables)

• Other (please specify)

13. Have you received assistance from a food pantry or similar organization in the last 6 months?

• Yes

• No

• Unsure

14. Have you ever volunteered at an organization dedicated to assisting the food insecure?

• Yes

• No

15. If yes, which organizations?

____________________________________________________________________

16. Before attending this Summit, had you ever heard of the Greater High Point Food Alliance?

• Yes

• No

• Unsure

17. How do you access your local news?

• High Point Enterprise (online)

• High Point Enterprise (newspaper)

• Local TV news stations (please specify) _________________________________

• Another local newspaper _____________________________________________

• I do not access local news information


18. Did you read the series on hunger in the High Point Enterprise last Fall?

• Yes

• No

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19. My yearly household income is…

• Less than $10,000/yr

• $10,001 to $14,999/yr

• $15,000 to $24,999/yr

• $25,000 to $34,999/yr

• $35,000 to 49,999/yr

• $50,000 to $74,999/yr

• $75,000 to $99,999/yr

• $100,000/yr or more

20. What is your gender?

• Male

• Female

• Prefer not to answer

21. What is the highest level of schooling you have completed?

• 8th grade or lower

• Some high school

• High School or GED

• Some College

• Associate's Degree

• Bachelor's Degree

• Master's degree or higher

22. What is your age?

• 18 - 24 years old




• 65 or older

23. What is your native language?

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• English

• Spanish

• Hindi and related

• French

• Chinese, Vietnamese, or other Southeast Asian

• Arabic

• Other _______________________________________________________________

24. What is your religious preference?

• Protestant

• Roman Catholic

• Mormon

• Seventh-Day Adventist

• Muslim

• Jewish

• Atheist/Agnostic


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III. Analysis of 2015 Survey This report summarizes key findings from a survey distributed at the Greater High Point Food Alliance’s 2015 Food Summit on March 20 and 21. The survey was in paper format and consisted of 24 general information questions related to hunger in the area. The purpose of the survey was to gain a baseline for the Alliance’s business goals to increase awareness and community involvement, and to gather additional primary demographic data. The survey results are broken down into three categories: education, activism and lifestyle/living situation. Demographics A total of 86 respondents completed the survey. The gender breakdown was fairly close to equal, with 60 percent female respondents and 40 percent male. The majority of participants were older adults, with 63 percent indicating that they were 50 years old or older. Overall, 30 percent were 65 or older. Respondents came from 16 zip codes representing 9 different cities/towns. The most popular residential areas were North High Point (25 percent), Central High Point (24 percent) and South High Point (13 percent). Several respondents also lived in Greensboro (13 percent) or other parts of the Triad such as Winston-Salem (7 percent). A small percentage indicated that they were from the Greater High Point areas of Jamestown (1 percent) and Archdale (2 percent). Overall, most of the respondents were permanent residents of Greater High Point, with 72 percent indicating that they have lived in the area for more than 5 years.

Figure 1. Respondents represented 16 zip codes from 9 different cities or townships. Education Respondents were asked to provide information about their level of education. The majority of South High Point residents had only received a high school diploma or GED (63.2 percent), making it the least educated area out of the represented cities/towns. Central High Point had a higher percentage of

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residents with college/associates degrees (45 percent) and Bachelor’s degrees or higher (40 percent). North High Point also had a more educated representation, with 54.5 percent stating they had a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Greensboro residents were the most educated, with 90.0 percent indicating that they had a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Table 1

What is the highest level of schooling you have completed?

High School or GED or lower

Some College or Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree or higher

South High Point 63.2% 21.1% 15.8%

Central High Point 15.0% 45.0% 40.0%

North High Point 18.2% 27.3% 54.5%

Archdale 50.0% 0.0% 50.0%

Jamestown 0.0% 100.0% 0.0%

Greensboro 0.0% 9.1% 90.9%

Other 0.0% 33.3% 66.7%

The survey also assessed how much participants knew about hunger in High Point. Respondents were asked if they knew what a food desert is and to identify how many food deserts existed in Greater High Point. The majority of North High Point residents knew what a food desert is (63.6 percent), as well as Greensboro residents (72.7 percent). Fifty-seven percent of South High Point respondents indicated that they might know what a food desert is, while 28.6 percent of Central High Point residents stating they did not know at all. Based on the data, it can be concluded that level of education strongly correlates to amount of knowledge about hunger in High Point. Business Goal 1: Increase Awareness As stated earlier, one of the purposes of the Summit survey was to provide a reference point for the goal to increase awareness about the GHP Food Alliance. When asked whether they had heard about the GHP Food Alliance prior to attending the Food Summit, 48.8 percent stated that they had heard about the organization, 50 percent had not, and 1.2 percent were unsure. These results indicate that the GHP Food Alliance did not have a strong presence in the local High Point community before the Food Summit, and they must continue to be proactive in their efforts to increase awareness among residents. Business Goal 2: Increase Community Involvement Another goal that needed assessment was community involvement. This goal involves increasing the number of people advocating for the hungry through volunteerism and donations. 53.1 percent of respondents indicated that they had volunteered at some point. The survey also asked if participants had ever donated to a local food pantry, and an overwhelming 81.9 percent responded that they currently

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donate or have done so in the past. This data supports the notion that many residents are already active in the community and are willing to support ending hunger in High Point. The next steps will be to determine where people volunteer/donate, what types of food items they donate and how frequently they provide assistance. Lifestyle/Living Situation The final category of survey results is lifestyle, which plays a significant role in the data’s implications. The questions from this category focused on food assistance, food insecurity and financial conditions. Respondents were asked whether they had received assistance from a food pantry or similar organization in the past six months. More than a quarter (30%) stated that they had received some form of food assistance. When asked if they believe that they or any of their neighbors are food insecure, 38.37 percent of respondents indicated that they were insecure, 27.91 percent were unsure, and 26.74 said no. Taking a closer look at the data and breaking down these percentages by neighborhood, the connection between food insecurity and location becomes more evident. Of participants from South High Point, an area with lower education levels, 52.63 percent identified themselves and/or their neighbors as food insecure. Greensboro and Central High Point followed, with 44.44 percent and 40 percent of respondents identifying as food insecure. Greensboro also had the highest percentage of people who did not consider themselves or neighbors food insecure at 55.56 percent.

Figure 2. South High Point respondents indicated the highest percentage of food insecurity. Household income was another lifestyle question that offers reliable insight into High Point’s hunger issue. When asked their yearly household income, 71.43 percent of South High Point residents indicated that they made less than $25,000, compared to 31.58 percent of Central High Point and 27.27 percent of North High Point residents. Only 14.29 percent of South High Point residents stated they made between $25,000 to $49,000; 31.58 percent for Central High Point; 36.36 percent for North High Point; and 22.22 percent for Greensboro. 14.29 percent of South High Point residents indicated earning

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more than $50,000 per year, compared to 36.84 percent for Central High Point, 36.36 percent for North High Point, a high 77.78 percent for Greensboro, and 83.33 percent for residents of other areas. Based on the results, the poorest neighborhoods are South and Central High Point, while the most affluent are Greensboro and other areas. This data only confirms the belief that there is a strong correlation that exists between income and food insecurity.

Figure 3. South High Point respondents also indicated the highest percentage with average household income below $25,000/yr. Respondents were also asked to describe how far they lived from a grocery store that sells fresh produce and how often they ate fresh fruits and vegetables. For South High Point residents, 42.9 percent indicated they lived more than two miles from a grocery store, compared to only 23.8 percent of Central High Point residents and 18.2 percent of North High Point residents. The data also shows that the closer to North High Point one lives, the closer in proximity they are to a grocery store, too. Additionally, more than 90 percent of Greensboro respondents stated that they lived less than two miles from a grocery store, compared to only 33.3 percent of residents from other areas. When asked how often they eat fresh food, 43.5 percent chose ‘daily’; 17.6 percent stated ‘four to six times a week’; 18.8 percent said ‘two to three times a week’; 11.8 percent said ‘once a week’; and 8.2 percent stated ‘less than once a week.’ Limitations There are a few limitations to note in the survey that are reflected in the data. The first is that the survey was conducted using a convenient sample. There is the possibility that the ‘education’ related questions might be skewed due to the large majority of higher-educated Greensboro residents. Other demographic limitations exist, as well. Non-native English speakers, non-Protestant religions and Hispanic and European minorities are not represented in the survey. Furthermore, no race/ethnicity demographic information was collected. Finally, 15 percent of respondents did not provide their zip codes, so they were not included in the area-based crosstabs.

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IV. Suggestions for 2016 Survey - Suggested amendments (see 2016 survey template):

- Add race/ethnicity - Remove time-sensitive questions - Seek council from Dr. Martin Kifer ([email protected]) and Mr. Brian McDonald

([email protected]), Director and Associate Director of the Survey Research Center, High Point University, for further adjustments BEFORE distribution

- Repeat the distribution and collection processes from 2015 Food Summit - Set a goal to have 30 percent more participants than 2015 (300 to 345) - Partner with the HPU Survey Research Center to assist with high quality data analysis - Compare results from 2015 with 2016 to measure significant changes - Yearly analysis of these summit surveys will develop useful trend data for the Alliance

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V. Template - 2016 Survey 1. Are you a permanent resident of Greater High Point, or are you living here temporarily (staying

no longer than 6 months)?

• I am a permanent resident

• I am here temporarily

2. How long have you been a resident of Greater High Point?

• Less than 6 months

• 6-11 months

• 1 - 5 years

• More than 5 years

3. What is your zip code?

____________________________________________________________________

4. How far do you live from a grocery store or supermarket that sells fresh produce?

• .5 mile or less

• .6 to 2 miles

• 2.1 - 5 miles

• More than 5 miles

5. How often do you eat fresh fruit or vegetables?

• Less than once a week

• Once a week

• Two to three times a week

• Four to six times a week

• Daily

6. Does your household have regular/reliable access to a vehicle?

• Yes

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• No


7. Where do you think Greater High Point ranks nationwide in terms of hunger?




• Bottom 50th percentile

8. Do you know what a food desert is?

• Yes (please describe) _______________________________________________

• No

• Maybe (please describe) ____________________________________________

9. How many food deserts do you think exist in the Greater High Point area?

• None

• 1 or 2

• 3 or 4

• 5 or 6

• 7 or more

10. Do you believe that you or any of your neighbors are food insecure?

• Yes

• No

• Unsure

11. Have you ever donated food to a local food pantry?

• Yes (which organization?) __________________________________________

• No

• Unsure

12. If yes, what type of food do you donate?

• Canned food

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• Grains (flour, rice, oats, pastas, etc)

• Perishable produce (fruits and vegetables)

• Other (please specify) _____________________________________________

13. Have you received assistance from a food pantry or similar organization in the last 6 months?

• Yes

• No

• Unsure

14. Have you ever volunteered at an organization dedicated to assisting the food insecure?

• Yes

• No

15. If yes, which organizations?

____________________________________________________________________

16. Before attending this Summit, had you ever heard of the Greater High Point Food Alliance?

• Yes

• No

• Unsure

17. How do you access your local news?

• High Point Enterprise (online)

• High Point Enterprise (newspaper)

• Local TV news stations (please specify) _________________________________

• Another local newspaper _____________________________________________

• I do not access local news information


19. My yearly household income is…

• Less than $10,000/yr

• $10,001 to $14,999/yr

• $15,000 to $24,999/yr

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• $25,000 to $34,999/yr

• $35,000 to 49,999/yr

• $50,000 to $74,999/yr

• $75,000 to $99,999/yr

• $100,000/yr or more

20. What is your gender?

• Male

• Female

• Prefer not to answer

21. What is the highest level of schooling you have completed?

• 8th grade or lower

• Some high school

• High School or GED

• Some College

• Associate's Degree

• Bachelor's Degree

• Master's degree or higher

22. What is your age?





• 65 or older

23. What is your native language?

• English

• Spanish


• French


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• Arabic

• Other _______________________________________________________________

24. What is your race/ethnicity?

• American Indian or Alaska Native

• Asian

• Black/African American

• Hispanic or Latino

• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

• White/Caucasian

• Other ____________________________________________________________

24. What is your religious preference?

• Protestant (incl. Baptist, Methodist, etc.)

• Roman Catholic

• Mormon

• Seventh-Day Adventist

• Muslim

• Jewish

• Atheist/Agnostic


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VI. Pantry Profile Rationale Who: GHP Food Alliance should use these profiles for all pantries or similar organizations that service the food insecure in the Greater High Point Area. What: A Food Pantry Profile is a vehicle for the GHP Food Alliance to gather information about local food pantries in the Greater High Point area. The data retrieved will display how food pantries operate, their volunteer percentage, where and how they gather their donations and what each pantry’s greatest needs are. When: There are approximately 40 food pantries in the Greater High Point Area, and it is vital for the GHP Food Alliance to understand the barriers these pantries face so it can tailor its tactics to meet the pantries’ needs. It is our suggestion that representatives from the Alliance provide these profiles to operations managers at the pantries when they begin to establish relationships with these pantries. These profiles can also be distributed on a yearly basis to measure changes in operations, client demographics and pantry needs. Why: Food Pantry Profiles will provide vital information for the GHP Food Alliance to accomplish their mission. Food pantries are the direct contact with the food insecure. In an effort to relieve the hunger crisis in High Point, the GHP Food Alliance must fully understand both the successes and obstacles that food pantries face. By understanding what is needed, the GHP Food Alliance will be able to maintain a positive relationship between all food pantries and successfully spread awareness of the Alliance among providers in the area. Suggestions to Succeed: In order to get full participation from all food pantries, the GHP Food Alliance must remain persistent in their efforts to collect completed profiles. The Alliance must also stress the importance of the data collected. The profiles will provide insight on what can be improved, how to contact those in need, and the best way to gain volunteers to accomplish their goal.

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VII. Pantry Profile Survey - Template Thank you for completing this survey! As an operating manager of your food pantry, please answer

the following questions to the best of your ability.

You do NOT have to answer every question, but the more information you provide, the easier it will

be for the GHP Food Alliance to better tailor its business goals to meet your needs.

1. What is the name of your pantry/organization?

________________________________________________________________________

2. What is your pantry/organization’s zip code? ________________________________________

3. Please indicate the days of the week your pantry/organization is open (mark all that apply).

• Monday

• Tuesday

• Wednesday

• Thursday

• Friday

• Saturday

• Sunday

4. At what time of day do you normally open?

• 6:00 a.m. or earlier

• Between 6:01 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.

• Between 8:01 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

• 10:01 a.m. or later

5. At what time of day do you normally close?

• 3:00 p.m. or earlier

• Between 3:01 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.


• 7:01 p.m. or later

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6. What time of day do you normally see the most traffic?

• 8:00 a.m. or earlier

• Between 8:01 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.



• 6:01 p.m. or later

7. Which days of the week do you see the most traffic?

• Monday

• Tuesday

• Wednesday

• Thursday

• Friday

• Saturday

• Sunday

8. Where do you receive the majority of your financial assistance? (select all that apply)

• Individual donations

• Religious organizations or nonprofits

• Government-run organizations or nonprofits

• Secular, non-government organizations or nonprofits

• Other ______________________________________________________________________

9. Where do you receive the majority of your food products? (select all that apply)

• Individual donations

• Religious organizations or nonprofits

• Government-run organizations or nonprofits

• Secular, non-government organizations or nonprofits

• Other ______________________________________________________________________

10. Have you ever received food from the Second Harvest Food Bank? If yes, how often?

• I have never utilized the Second Harvest Food Bank

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• I have received IRREGULAR ASSISTANCE from Second Harvest Food Bank

• I have received food ONCE from Second Harvest Food Bank

• I receive food WEEKLY from Second Harvest Food Bank

• I receive food MONTHLY from Second Harvest Food Bank

11. Are your workers paid or do they work on a volunteer basis?

• My workers are on PAYROLL

• My workers are VOLUNTEERS

• My workers are a MIX of paid and voluntary status

• Other _____________________________________________________________________

12. How many Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees work at your pantry/organization on a weekly

basis? (ex: 4 part-time employees working 10 hours/wk each = 1 FTE)

• 1 FTE

• 2 FTE

• 3 FTE

• 4 FTE

• 5 or more FTE

13. Has your pantry/organization run out of food at least once in the last 6 months?

• Yes

• No

14. If yes, how many times? _______________________________________________________

15. Has your pantry/organization ever had to turn people away?

• Yes

• No

16. If yes, why? (select all that apply)

• Ran out of food

• Not enough employees to process demands

• We had already closed business for the day

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• Our pantry/organization did not have authorization to distribute to a person (ex. the person/s

were not from our district)

• Other ______________________________________________________________________

17. Does your pantry/organization offer perishable products like fresh produce?

Note: this does NOT include CANNED or FROZEN fruits or vegetables

• Yes

• No

• Sometimes (please explain) _____________________________________________________

18. Does your pantry/organization offer a delivery program for those in need who do not have

reliable access to transportation?

• Yes (please explain) ___________________________________________________________

• No

• Sometimes (please explain) _____________________________________________________

19. Has your pantry/organization ever supported or sponsored a self-sustaining program such as a

community garden?

• Yes

• No, but we would be interested in participating/sponsoring one

• No, and we would NOT be interested in participating/sponsoring one

20. Have you ever found communication with clients difficult due to language or cultural barriers?

• Language barriers

• Cultural barriers

• Both language and cultural barriers

• These are not issues of communication at our location

21. Is there at least one employee/volunteer at your location that fluently speaks a second

language?

• Yes (what language?) ________________________________________________________

• No

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22. How would you describe the race/ethnicity of your clients? Mark all that apply.

• White/Caucasian

• African-American

• European refugees

• Hispanic/Latino

• Asian

• Other (please describe) ________________________________________________________

23. About how many native languages would you say are represented in your client base?

• 1 or 2 languages

• 3 to 5 languages

• 6 or more languages

24. Which native languages are the most common in your client base? Mark all that apply.

• English

• Spanish


• French


• Arabic

• Other ______________________________________________________________________

25. Has someone ever turned down your services due to dietary restrictions? (ex. cannot eat pork

products)

• Yes

• No

26. If yes, what products have been turned down? _____________________________________

27. What is the age demographic of your typical client?

• Children (17 yrs or younger)

• Young Adults (18 - 34 yrs old)

• Adults (35 - 64 yrs old)

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• Seniors (65 yrs or older)

28. Does your pantry/organization service families or individuals?

• Mostly families

• Mostly individuals

• Both

29. Before being asked to complete this survey, had you heard of the Greater High Point Food

Alliance?

• Yes

• No

30. Please tell us what you believe are the greatest challenges your pantry/organization faces (no

more than 2 sentences)

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

31. If you have any additional comments for the Greater High Point Food Alliance, please provide

them here.

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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76

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APPENDIX B: Press Releases TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. (Released Feb 2015): GHP Food Alliance Food Summit Release 79 2. (Released Feb 2015): GHP Food Alliance Food Summit Media Advisory 80 3. (Released Feb 2015): GHP Food Alliance Fact Sheet 81

4. May 1: High Blood Pressure Education Month 82 5. May 15: Think Tanks 83 6. May 30: Language Barrier in GHP 84

7. June 15: Existing Food Education Programs 85

8. July 15: Food Drive Education 86 9. July 30: Food Access Program Challenges 87

10. August 15: Hunger Awareness Month (1) 88

11. September 1: Hunger Awareness Month (2) 89

12. October 1: New Growing Season 90

13. November 15: Burns Hill Transportation Needs 91

14. December 15: 2016 Food Summit (1) 92 15. December 30: 2016 Food Summit (2) 93

16. January 15: 2016 Food Summit (3) 94

17. February 15: Nutrition Information Resource 95

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News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Feb. XX, 2015 John Marsicano

Media Relations 631-707-6426

[email protected]

Greater High Point Food Alliance to hold inaugural Food Summit

HIGH POINT, N.C., Feb. XX, 2015– The Greater High Point Food Alliance will hold its inaugural Food

Summit on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21. The event will take place at the former JC Penney location in

the Oak Hollow Mall in High Point, N.C. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, March 20 and is free of charge

to all attendees. The event will be open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday and from 4:00 p.m. to

6:30 p.m. on Saturday. Breakfast and lunch will be provided to all attendees on Friday, while heavy hors d’ouevres

will be provided to attendees on Saturday evening. Community members are encouraged to attend the Friday lunch

and Saturday reception in particular. “We strongly encourage all High Point, Archdale, Trinity and Jamestown community leaders and residents to

attend,” said GHPFA Executive Team Member Rev. Carl Vierling. “We need feedback from everyone. What

problems does your neighborhood face? What assets does your neighborhood have?” The Food Summit will feature a variety of group meetings and activities designed to engage and educate

members of the Greater High Point community through panel discussions, neighborhood workshops and seminars.

Prior to Friday morning’s registration, attendees will be able to access the itinerary and other Food Summit

information on the GHPFA website. “Through the GHPFA Food Summit, we want to empower the community, gather input from the community

and cultivate unity within the community,” said Vierling. “With this Food Summit, we have a golden opportunity to

unite people who need help with people who can and are willing to do so.” ###

The Greater High Point Food Alliance is a group of local volunteers focused on utilizing current community and

nonprofit assets to address the hunger crisis in the Greater High Point area, while developing strategies and

community partnerships to end it. The Alliance will work to empower, unify and sustain the community.

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Media Advisory FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Feb. XX, 2015 Conor Brown Media Relations 301-661-3689 [email protected]

Greater High Point Food Alliance to host first ever Food Summit

What: The Greater High Point Food Alliance will host a Food Summit in order to help build relationships of mutual

trust and respect throughout the community. The Alliance is working to create a common vision and alleviate the

hunger problem in Greater High Point, and the Food Summit will allow the GHPFA to build upon these

relationships in an attempt to examine the best practices and enlist the support of the community.

Who: The GHPFA is a group of concerned local volunteers and area leaders who are focused on utilizing current

community and nonprofit assets in order to address the area’s hunger crisis.

Where: The event will be held in the former JC Penney at Oak Hollow Mall, which is located at 921 Eastchester

Drive, High Point, NC, 27262.

When: The event will take place on March 20 and 21. On Friday, March 20, the Food Summit will welcome visitors

from throughout the community starting at 8 a.m. with a complimentary breakfast, followed by registration from

9:00 to 11:15 a.m. After registration, there will be neighborhood network meetings for those interested in helping

neighborhoods combat hunger. Following the meetings, there will be panel discussions as well as a provided lunch,

which will begin at noon. After lunch, visitors will separate into three team meetings focusing on food access, food

education and urban agriculture. Topics covered in the team meetings will include access to food pantries, access to

hot meals and access to mobile and backpack meal programs as well as gardening tips and techniques. On March 21,

a reception will be held at 4:30 p.m. during which the executive team will present their plan and welcome a guest

speaker. Visitors can also expect to receive complimentary hors d’oeuvres at the reception.

Why: Reports indicate that High Point is one of the nation’s top areas for “food hardship.” The GHPFA is a group

of local leaders from all walks of life that have come together to address this disconcerting news and find ways to

help combat it. The Food Summit is the first event that the GHPFA is using to connect service providers, those in

need and civic organizations. These partnerships will help the Alliance discover the best possible ways to reduce the

hunger epidemic.

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Fact Sheet FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Feb. XX, 2015 Conor Brown

Media Relations 301-661-3689 [email protected]

Greater High Point Food Alliance preparing for action

What: The Greater High Point Food Alliance is identifying new strategies and partnerships to address the area’s

food crisis. The GHPFA executive team has been meeting weekly to create a plan for combating hunger in Greater

High Point and to develop a local Food Summit.

Who: The GHPFA is a group of concerned local volunteers and area leaders who are focused on utilizing current

community and nonprofit assets in order to address the area’s hunger crisis.

Vision Statement: The GHPFA will create just and sustainable supplemental food systems for Greater

High Point by fostering unity, developing responsibility and empowering communities.

Mission Statement: The GHPFA will strive to coordinate and improve the effectiveness of entities in

Greater High Point focused on alleviating hunger by creating and executing citywide and neighborhood-

focused initiatives to develop more just and sustainable food systems.

Where: The Food Summit will be held in the former JC Penney building at Oak Hollow Mall. Oak Hollow Mall is

located at 921 Eastchester Drive, High Point, NC, 27262.

When: The event will take place on March 20 and 21. On Friday, March 20, the Food Summit will welcome visitors

from throughout the community starting at 8 a.m. with a complimentary breakfast, followed by registration from

9:00 to 11:15 a.m. After registration, there will be neighborhood network meetings for those interested in helping

neighborhoods combat hunger. Following the meetings, there will be panel discussions as well as a provided lunch,

which will begin at noon. After lunch, visitors will separate into three team meetings focusing on food access, food

education and urban agriculture. Topics covered in the team meetings will include access to food pantries, access to

hot meals and access to mobile and backpack meal programs as well as gardening tips and techniques. On March 21,

a reception will be held at 4:30 p.m. where the executive team will present their plan and welcome a guest speaker.

Visitors can also expect to receive complimentary hors d’oeuvres at the reception.

Why: Reports indicate that High Point is one of the nation’s top areas for “food hardship.” The GHPFA is a group

of local leaders from all walks of life that has come together to address this disconcerting news and find ways to

help combat it.

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NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION: May 1, 2015 Insert contact name

Insert contact title Insert contact phone number

Insert contact email

Communities come together during National High Blood Pressure Education Month

HIGH POINT, N.C., May 1, 2015, – May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month. According to the

United States Department of Agriculture, there is clear link between the food environment that people live in and

health-related issues. There is a disproportionate number of people who suffer from health problems, such as

hypertension, diabetes and obesity, who live in food deserts, as compared to those who have access to fresh produce

daily. The USDA identifies a food desert as a low-income community in which residents live more than a mile

away from a place where fresh produce is sold. The Greensboro-High Point metropolitan area ranks second in the

nation for food hardship, which means that just a small portion of the Greater High Point community has access to

fresh produce. The Greater High Point Food Alliance is an information hub for the food insecure in the Greater High Point

area. The Alliance is working closely with residents and leaders from the Burns Hill Neighborhood Association, The

Washington Street District and West End Neighborhood Association to alleviate food and nutrition-related health

issues in the Greater High Point community. The Alliance believes community involvement, combined with educational resources, is a key component

in the solution to dietary-related health issues like high blood pressure. ###




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NEWS RELEASE

EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: May 15, 2015 Insert contact name



Food Alliance actively empowers community to end hunger crisis

HIGH POINT, N.C., May 15, 2015– Following its inaugural Food Summit, the Greater High Point Food Alliance is

continuing to engage the community in its efforts to end the local hunger crisis. In an effort to streamline community

engagement, the Alliance has developed a series of research-based “think tank” teams to target the opportunities

identified at the Food Summit. These teams will focus on food education, urban agriculture, transportation, and

community culture and dietary needs. In addition, food access volunteers have been working on a database for food

pantries while offering educational workshops and information sessions to pantry staff and volunteers. “The best practice out there is trying to think bigger than the typical programs of backpack meals and food

pantries,” said High Point University’s Rev. Dr. Joe Blosser, an executive team member. “We need to start talking

about a just and sustainable food system from the ground to the plate and ask ourselves how are we helping people

access healthy food. Part of it is also trying to expand urban agriculture with community gardens and food parks and

working with social entrepreneurs,” he added. The Greater High Point Food Alliance has a variety of unique educational programs planned to empower and

unite the community. These programs include cooking classes, garden creations, food bank carpools and mobile

meal marketplaces, among others. “Through the Food Summit and within the community, we’ve established that we’re going to do something,”

said Greater High Point Food Alliance Executive Team Member Matt Thiel. “Now we need to demonstrate that

we’ve done something to alleviate hunger and start to show the results.” ###




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NEWS RELEASE EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: May 30, 2015 Insert contact name



Greater High Point Food Alliance works to overcome local language barrier

HIGH POINT, N.C., May 30, 2015 – The Greater High Point area (High Point, Trinity, Jamestown and Archdale) is

home to residents who speak more than 100 different languages. The Greater High Point Food Alliance views local

diversity as an opportunity to connect and learn from one another. The GHP Food Alliance is committed to finding a solution to language barriers that may impede residents

dealing with food insecurity from accessing the resources available to them. Currently, residents unable to read or

speak English face a number of difficulties when seeking help, which impacts the community’s ability to attack the

hunger crisis. The Food Alliance is working to find ways to overcome this obstacle and implement alternative

solutions, such as creating multilingual flyers and locating multilingual volunteers for its next food summit. “Hunger is a complex issue and there are no simple answers. We need input and output from all community

members, not just English speakers, to alleviate hunger,” said Carl Vierling, a member of the GHP Food Alliance

executive team. ###




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NEWS RELEASE

EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: June 15, 2015 Insert contact name



Greater High Point Food Alliance educates the community about hunger crisis HIGH POINT, N.C., June 15, 2015 – The Greater High Point Food Alliance is a group of concerned volunteers

focused on utilizing current community and nonprofit assets to address the hunger crisis in High Point, Jamestown,

Archdale, and Trinity. GHP Food Alliance is dedicated to alleviating food insecurity while ensuring local residents

have access to fresh food and vegetables. The GHP Food Alliance is working in local communities healthy eating habits. Also working to advance

this goal is a network of local food banks dedicated to educating the public about alternative options for healthy

meals. Open Door Ministries is one of the primary organizations in Greater High Point that provides immediate assistance

for food, serving the community three meals a day, seven days a week based on donations of more than 12,000

meals per month. The program makes it possible for those in need to receive a hot meal at no cost. The program

serves men, women and children of all ages. GHP Food Alliance will be hosting events in the near future to inform people about healthy eating as well

as sharing ways for citizens to acquire fresh and affordable food within the community. The upcoming events will

model the structure and success of the Alliance’s previous events, the March 2015 Food Summit and the ‘Can You

Cook It?’ fundraiser. In September, the GHP Food Alliance will host a movie night in the park, which will educate people about

the hunger crisis. In winter 2015, each chef from ‘Can You Cook It?’ will provide a family in need a private, home-

cooked meal. Finally, GHP Food Alliance will host another food summit in March 2016. ###




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NEWS RELEASE

EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: July 15, 2015 Insert contact name



Local food alliance educates public about food drive necessities

High Point, N.C., July 15, 2015 – The Greater High Point Food Alliance is dedicated to ending food insecurity in the

area by educating the community on the necessities for operating and promoting a successful food drive. The GHP

Food Alliance’s food drive tool kit will show what food items are needed most in Greater High Point. The kit will

include a list of the most critically-needed items for infants, children, seniors and adults with dietary and/or cultural

food restriction. The GHP Food Alliance is educating the Burns Hill, Washington Street and West End community

members about what is needed in a food drive. It is essential for the GHP Food Alliance to spread awareness of food

insecurity in order to gain community reinforcement to support its mission. The GHP Food Alliance is fighting the community hunger crisis to ensure that no person in Greater High

Point lacks nutrition security, which is defined as adequate nutritional status in terms of protein, energy, vitamins

and minerals for all household members at all times, by tackling the 3 pillars of food insecurity: food availability,

food access and food use. To overcome these obstacles, the GHP Food Alliance must gain volunteers dedicated to

fighting for the same cause. The GHP Food Alliance will provide numerous opportunities for people in the community to learn about

food and nutrition insecurity. The events hosted by the GHP Food Alliance will increase participation from

volunteers and also increase the impact of relieving hunger in Greater High Point. ###




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NEWS RELEASE EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: July 30, 2015 Insert contact name



Food alliance addresses challenges of food access in community

HIGH POINT, N.C., July 30, 2015 – The Greater High Point Food Alliance plans to educate the

community about the challenges of food access, which plays a significant role in Greater High Point’s hunger issue.

The organization is partnering with the High Point City Council and other city leaders to increase awareness of the

problem and assess how citizens can better access affordable, nutritious food options. The GHP Food Alliance will meet with the city council and community leaders at City Hall on Monday,

August 3 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss ways to make citizens aware of policies and barriers regarding food access. One of

the most critical topics the members plan to cover is public transportation. Members of many households in Greater

High Point lack access to personal vehicles, and a sporadically timed bus route means that people cannot

conveniently travel to grocery stores that offer healthy food. Other issues to be discussed include affordability of fresh produce. Government assistance programs such

as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allow participants to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables

and plant seeds. However, with an average of just $126 per month per person allocated in food stamps, most

individuals cannot afford to buy healthy food each week. Other barriers that city officials and GHP Food Alliance

members will consider are the policies associated with the preparation and distribution of food. Food trucks and

pantries must abide by sanitary and ethical guidelines and also be culturally sensitive when handing out food. A key factor affecting food access in High Point is a general lack of knowledge about the issue. “What

some people may not realize is that there are lots of limitations in this area in terms of food access,” said Executive

Team Member Carl Vierling. “If we can make folks aware of these obstacles and get them thinking of ways to

overcome them, we can develop solid strategies to improve the availability of healthy food.” The GHP Food

Alliance believes its efforts to educate citizens who are not food insecure will encourage them to take action and

support their initiatives to create a sustainable future. Food access is just one of the many obstacles the GHP Food Alliance is working to overcome in its plight

for a hunger-free Greater High Point. Community gardens, cooking classes and food drives are examples of other

programs the GHP Food Alliance plans to implement over time to alleviate hunger in the area. ###




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NEWS RELEASE EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: August 15, 2015 Insert contact name



Dine out for Hunger Awareness Month Area restaurants donate proceeds to fight hunger

High Point, N.C., Aug. 15, 2015 – On Friday, Sept. 4, more than 10 restaurants in Greater High Point will be

donating some of their proceeds to help fight local hunger. Participating restaurants will donate 10 percent of the

money earned that day to the Greater High Point Food Alliance to use in its fight against hunger in High Point,

Trinity, Jamestown and Archdale. Participating restaurants include Southern Roots, Carter Brothers, Penny Path

Café, Sammy G’s Tavern, Blue Rock Pizza, Emerywood Fine Foods, Giannos, Mad Greek Grill, La Fiesta and

Liberty Steakhouse. Every dollar raised will help end hunger in the area. High Point ranks second in the nation for

food insecurity, so this is a fun and easy way for the community to help those in need. Representatives from the GHP Food Alliance executive team will be at each participating restaurant to

provide facts about hunger in High Point and spread information about the Alliance’s mission. The Alliance is

convinced that community partnerships are key to fighting hunger in High Point. Support restaurants that support

our community on Friday, Sept. 4 by eating out for a great cause. ###




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NEWS RELEASE EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: September 1, 2015 Insert contact name

Insert contact title Insert contact email

Go Orange for National Hunger Awareness Month

HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 1, 2015 – September is National Hunger Awareness Month. Join the Greater High Point

Food Alliance in the national movement of ‘Going Orange.’ Throughout the month of September, people across the

country will be wearing orange, displaying hunger action month flyers and calendars, changing outdoor light bulbs

to orange bulbs and using the hashtags #HungerAction and #GoOrange on social media. According to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina website, “‘Going orange’ provides an

opportunity for people across the country to unify and show their support. And of course, we hope the eye-catching

shade of color will get people’s attention and get them talking.” In North Carolina, nearly two million people face hunger, and 26.1 percent of those people are children.

### The Greater High Point Food Alliance is a group of local volunteers focused on utilizing current community and



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NEWS RELEASE EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: October 1, 2015 Insert contact name



Local food alliance reminds community that new growing season is just beginning

HIGH POINT, N.C., October 15, 2015 — It is cold growing season again in the Triad, and the Greater High Point

Food Alliance wants to remind community members that they do not need to have land outside to plant their own

produce-bearing garden. Indoor container gardens can service single families with several hardy vegetables this

winter. The Urban Agriculture team within the GHP Food Alliance can be a resource for community members

interested in setting up their own gardens-in-a-pot. The GHP Food Alliance can provide tips on the best potting

tricks and show you how to care for your vegetable plants during the winter months. Whether on a small patio outdoors or inside the kitchen by a window, you can start growing your own

vegetables for less than $2 per seed packet. Many types of “powerhouse” vegetables like spinach, broccoli and peas will thrive just as easily inside a

gardening pot as they will on a farm, which makes these plants ideal for families who want access to fresh produce

but are limited to little space and small budgets. These leafy-green vegetables can have growing times as short as

two months and will also survive mild frosts, so they are ideal for growing in the winter. To further capitalize on a limited growing space, tomato vines can be planted and hung in upside down

planters. For added flavor and seasoning opportunities, smaller herb plants like parsley, rosemary, sage, and basil

can grow alongside the larger vegetable plants in the planters on the ground. ###




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NEWS RELEASE EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: November 15, 2015 Insert contact name



GHP Food Alliance identifies Burns Hill neighborhood transportation needs HIGH POINT, N.C., Nov. 15, 2015 – The Greater High Point Food Alliance is striving to coordinate and improve

the effectiveness of entities in the Greater High Point focused on alleviating hunger by creating and executing

citywide and neighborhood-focused initiatives to develop more just and sustainable food systems. High Point is ranked second in the nation for food hardship. To help prevent this from continuing, there is

a crucial need for city transportation to reach the Burns Hill neighborhood. Identifying transportation needs is

included the neighborhood’s one-year plan. City buses reaching the neighborhood will help to create a better living

situation for the residents. The transportation needs also include a bus stop that is located within walking distance

from residents and is suitable for easy access, as well as an morning and afternoon bus stop in the neighborhood.

Without transportation, residents are unable to reach jobs, schools and fresh food efficiently. ###




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NEWS RELEASE EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: December 15, 2015 Insert contact name



Second annual Food Summit planned for March HIGH POINT, N.C., Dec. 15, 2015 – The Greater High Point Food Alliance will continue to raise awareness and

find solutions for the area’s ongoing food crisis through its second annual Food Summit on days of food summit.

The Food Summit will welcome area residents who wish to learn about the work the Alliance does and who want to

voice their opinions and ideas regarding the food crisis, as well as those who are looking for resources. Alliance

members will be on hand to discuss work they have done and unveil plans for the next phase in their fight to end

hunger. The summit will include unique experiences for attendees, including insert some seminars and discussions.

The Alliance and the community will continue to identify unique ways to alleviate hunger in our area and educate

those who are affected and those who want to help. Last year’s Food Summit was an unprecedented success, with more than 300 community members in

attendance to learn about Food Access, Food Education, Urban Agriculture and the Alliance’s short and long-term

plans. The discussions at the Food Summit helped the executive team determine what is most important to the

people in the Greater High Point area and what needs to be focused on next, which will allow the GHP Food

Alliance to have a greater impact in the future. ###




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NEWS RELEASE EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: December 30, 2015 Insert contact name



Alliance gears up to once again conquer hunger in the community HIGH POINT, N.C., Dec. 30, 2015 – Last year, more than 300 people joined with the Greater High Point Food

Alliance to create one of the largest food summits ever held in the United States. This year, the GHP Food Alliance

hopes to shatter that record. This year, discussions will once again be held to create plans for reducing hunger in three of the area’s

most at-risk neighborhoods. The Food Summit will also include programs intended help teach urban gardening

techniques and healthy food options. “So many good people are doing so much already in High Point to combat this problem,” said Rev. Dr. Joe

Blosser, a volunteer with the Alliance. “The Food Alliance was formed not to replace anyone or duplicate any

existing services, but to unite the community through clear communication and the sharing of resources to combat

this problem together.” ###




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NEWS RELEASE EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: January 15, 2016 Insert contact name



GHP Food Alliance continues to foster community relationships Will host second annual Food Summit this month

HIGH POINT, N.C., Jan. 15, 2016 – On March XX, the Greater High Point Food Alliance will host its second

annual Food Summit. Last year’s inaugural Food Summit welcomed more than 300 members of the community.

People came out over a span of two days to voice their opinions and establish solutions for the food insecurity crisis

in Greater High Point. The GHP Food Alliance hopes to continue to build upon the last Food Summit by

acknowledging the community’s accomplishments from the past year and developing strategic plans to move

forward. The second annual Food Summit will be led by the GHP Food Alliance executive team members, and it

will feature guest speakers from throughout the area. Members of the community are welcomed and encouraged to

attend. The Summit will continue to focus on discussing the issues that specific area neighborhoods are facing.

Participants will also evaluate the action plans put into place last year. A common theme in discussion at the first Food Summit was the community members’ wish for

empowerment, rather than charity. The GHP Food Alliance stresses the need for community action and tactics to

assist those in need. These tactics include community gardens, shuttles and neighborhood networks, among others.

By involving all interested citizens, the GHP Food Alliance has managed to not only help an area in need, but also

cultivate a new community and create a call to action. ###




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NEWS RELEASE EMBARGO: FOR MORE INFORMATION: February 15, 2016 Insert contact name



GHP Food Alliance educates food insecure citizens about nutritious eating

HIGH POINT, N.C., Feb. 15, 2016 – Every year, the month of March is dedicated to educating the masses on the

importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. This

campaign is known as National Nutrition Month, and it is run by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The

primary message of the campaign is to consume fewer calories, develop sound eating habits and exercise regularly

in order to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. The Greater High Point Food Alliance acknowledges March as National Nutrition Month, and it strives to

use the month to further educate the food insecure citizens of the area who struggle to find their next meal and are

forced to sacrifice quality of food for quantity. The GHP Food Alliance is not only concerned with making sure the

food insecure citizens of Greater High Point are well fed, but also that they receive the necessary nutrition. In doing

so, the GHP Food Alliance is aiming to teach people not only what to eat, but also how to cook it while on a budget. When March comes around, the GHP Food Alliance will be working tirelessly to educate people about

eating nutritiously with low income. A significant portion of the food that is accessible with food stamps and at food

pantries is not very healthy, so it is very important for the food insecure to know how to make the most nutritious

choices possible. One major suggestion from the GHP Food Alliance is to focus on nutritious low-cost foods, like beans,

peas, lentils, white potatoes, canned seafood and even peanut butter. Nuts, dried fruit and whole grain pretzels are on

the cheaper side and they are also rich in nutrients and perfect for making trail mix. They also advise stocking up on

meats and produce items when they are in season and freezing them if possible. ###




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APPENDIX C: Deliverables TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Operations Plan - 2015 Food Summit 97

II. Sponsorship Packet 99

III. Advertisements 103

IV. Newsletter and Newsletter Plan 107

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I. Operations Plan - 2015 Food Summit We have outlined the operational logistics from the 2015 Food Summit in hopes that the GHPFA can

refer to this list for easier set-up and management for the 2016 Food Summit.

Happy Rentz, Tables & Chairs Contact: (336)370-1234

*Tables and Chairs are set for attendance of 400 people

● 32 Round Tables, 8 top

● 20 8’ Rectangle Tables

● Black table cloths for each table

● 400 black folding chairs, allows for 300 to be set at round tables, 100 in pre-set breakout sessions

● Volunteers needed at time of drop-off for set up of chairs and tables

● Volunteers needed at end of summit to collapse tables and chairs for pick-up

● 2015 cost: $1608.72

○ delivery Thursday and pick up on Monday

○ did not pay for labor cost because there were volunteers

Audio and Light Contact: Charlie Starr (336)274-1234

● Stage and stage skirt

● 2 large projectors and 2 screens

● 4 speakers (2 for front and 2 for back)

● 3 microphones (request wireless) and console

● 1 sound technician

● Podium provided by High Point University

● Bring computer to show powerpoint with correct input, this year computer was provided by HPU

IT Department

● 2015 cost: $1550 for equipment and $900 for labor ($300 for two set up workers, $300/day for

sound technician)

Signage

● Street signs directing cars to parking lot

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● “Welcome” sign outside JC Penney, sign made at Sir Speedy

● Registration, Non Profit Fair, Childcare, Breakout Session #1-5, Restrooms

● Sponsors: Presenting sponsor, other sponsors by level, HPU Library Print Shop, $25 per sign

● “We pledge to alleviate hunger”

● Frames and easel stands provided by High Point University

Decor

● 5 gallon cans collected by churches and High Point University dining facilities wrapped in a

burlap bow

● Burlap bought in 30 foot spools from Hobby Lobby

Miscellaneous Items

● Pens and sharpies

● Easels and large drawing boards for breakout sessions (Chamber of Commerce)

● Hand sanitizer to put at food stations and around the event

● Tape

● Clear stands to put 8x11 paper signs in

● Child Entertainment Items: Coloring sheets, games, snacks, etc.

● Name tags (provided by Chamber of Commerce)

● Sign in sheets for registration (name, email, address, zip code, organization)

● Sign up sheets to get involved with Neighborhoods or Teams

● Feedback cards and surveys (see Research section)

Food

● Breakfast on Friday morning (Charity Jackson owner of a coffee shop on Washington Street)

● Lunch on Friday (provided by High Point Regional Hospital)

● Hors d’oeuvres on Saturday (Visions Catering)

● Childcare snacks (donated by Sheetz)

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II. Sponsorship Packet March 2015

Dear Sponsor Candidate, In November 2014, the High Point Enterprise published a series of articles revealing a startling truth: one in

four High Point children go to bed without knowing where their next meal is coming from. High Point, the city

known for its booming furniture industry, now holds the unfortunate ranking of number two in the nation for food

hardship. A team of advocates from our community decided it was time to take action. To better understand the

issues and find solutions to hunger in our community, we created the Greater High Point Food Alliance. Together,

the members of GHPFA have established a mission, vision and a concrete list of objectives. Empower – Unify – Sustain

The vision of the Greater High Point Food Alliance is to create just and sustainable supplemental food

systems for Greater High Point by fostering unity, developing responsibility and empowering communities. The

Food Alliance will work to better coordinate and improve the effectiveness of entities in greater High Point already

focused on alleviating hunger by creating and executing citywide and neighborhood-focused initiatives to develop

more just and sustainable food systems. As an important member of our community, please consider becoming one of our sponsors. As a sponsor,

you will receive positive media attention and appropriate recognition. We encourage you to take this opportunity to

exercise social responsibility, as these are our neighbors and members of our community. As a local business, you

are an ideal partner for us, as our objectives include empowering the community to make a difference. Any donation

would be very beneficial to our organization, and would help us tremendously. We have included a fact sheet and a sponsorship proposal for your review. If you are interested in

becoming a sponsor of the Greater High Point Food Alliance, please do not hesitate to contact us. In addition, we

will follow up via telephone within the next two weeks to see if you have any questions that we can answer about

the proposal or our organization. Thank you in advance for taking the time to review our sponsorship proposal

package.

Sincerely, Rev. Carl W. Vierling, Joe Blosser, and Matthew P. Thiel Executive Team of the Greater High Point Food Alliance For more information, contact: Sara Kronquist - 714-609-2413 - [email protected]

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Greater High Point Food Alliance Sponsorship Levels

LEADER: $1,000+ Platinum level

Corporate logo in event program Corporate recognition during speaking program Corporate recognition on event web page Logo displayed at event Thanked in remarks Full page advertisement in booklet at Summit

CITY-BUILDER: $500-$999 Gold level Corporate logo in event program Corporate recognition on event web page Logo displayed at event Half page advertisement in booklet at Summit

URBANIST: $100-$499 Silver level Corporate recognition on event web page Logo displayed at event Quarter page advertisement in booklet at Summit

ADVOCATE: $20-$99 Bronze level Logo displayed at event Eighth page advertisement in booklet at Summit

All donations are welcome. In-kind donations are needs based; levels will be based on monetary value. Please email

the sponsorship team at [email protected] to inquire about in-kind donations. Checks can be made and mailed to: United Way Attn: Food Summit or Greater High Point Food Alliance 501(c)(3) is being offered through the United Way Receipts will be provided upon request - Contact Carl Vierling - [email protected] Thank you! GHPFA Sponsorship Team Questions? Contact: [email protected]

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Dear Sponsor Candidate,

In November 2014, the High Point Enterprise published a series of articles revealing a

startling truth: one in four High Point children go to bed without knowing where their next meal is

coming from. High Point, the city known for its booming furniture industry, now holds the unfortunate

ranking of number two in the nation for food hardship.

A team of advocates from our community decided it was time to take action. To better

understand the issues and find solutions to hunger in our community, we created the Greater High Point

Food Alliance. Together, the members of GHPFA have established a mission, vision and a concrete list of

objectives.

Empower – Unify – Sustain

The vision of the Greater High Point Food Alliance is to create just and sustainable

supplemental food systems for Greater High Point by fostering unity, developing responsibility and

empowering communities. The Food Alliance will work to better coordinate and improve the

effectiveness of entities in greater High Point already focused on alleviating hunger by creating and

executing citywide and neighborhood-focused initiatives to develop more just and sustainable food

systems.

In the month of September 2015 we are looking for restaurants to participate in a

percentage night to benefit our cause. We are encouraging you to donate 10% of proceeds to a GHFA

event. We hope you take this opportunity to exercise social responsibility, as these are our neighbors and

members of our community. As a local business, you are an ideal partner for us, as our objectives include

empowering the community to make a difference. Thank you in advance for taking the time to review our

sponsorship proposal package.

Sincerely,

Rev. Carl W. Vierling, Joe Blosser, and Matthew P. Thiel

Executive Committee of the Greater High Point Food Alliance

For more information, contact: [email protected]

102

103

III. Advertisements

104

105

106

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IV. Newsletter This is sample newsletter (Spring 2015) that will be distributed through ConstantContact. Constant Contact login: [email protected]; Password: campaigns Team Updates

Food Access

The Food Access team is led by Carl Vierling, a member of the GHPFA executive team. This committee

is designed to unite the food pantries and increase coordination among the sources of food in the Greater

High Point area. Within the next month, Food Access will be incorporating new programs with the food

pantries and beginning to serve hot meals in the community. They are also working to initiate several

backpack programs.

Food Education

The Food Education team, led by Bill McKenzie, is focused on educating the community about nutrition

and the relationship between food insecurity, malnutrition and obesity. The team's members have created

connections with UNCG and A&T University for additional resources and volunteers. Thanks to the Food

Education committee, nutrition information will soon be available at all locations where food stamps are

issued. Check out our website for links to quick facts, printable information and a list of food pantries

offering nutrition education and classes. Food Education will be meeting next on April 21 at 4:30 p.m. at

DeBeen in High Point.

Urban Agriculture

The Urban Agriculture team is led by Wendy Fuscoe and is aiming to establish community gardens and

individual gardens around the Greater High Point area to increase access to fresh produce for

neighborhoods. Emerywood Church garden, Macedonia Family Resource Center and South Side

Community Association are looking to team up with the Urban Agriculture team to help expand gardens

around the city.

Neighborhood Networks

The Neighborhood Networks serve as a means of encouraging involvement in the community. The

Greater High Point area consists of several communities, including Washington Street, West End and

Burns Hill. Burns Hill currently has more than 127 vacant lots, and the Burns Hill network is in the

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process of securing some of these lots for community gardens. The Washington Street network has

developed an inventory of organizations that are willing to transport people to grocery stores, and their

first trip is scheduled for early May. The West End network recently received a grant allowing the team to

provide transportation to the local Food Lion. At the next meeting, a Food Lion representative will be

present to explain a walk-through of the store to the neighborhood's residents. West End neighborhood

network meetings are the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at West End ministries.

GHP Food Alliance Cookbook

Beans and Greens on a Budget

Experimenting in the kitchen can be fun, but it can also be a bit daunting when dealing with limited

ingredients. Using food boxes supplied by pantries is a perfect example of needing to be creative while

sticking to a budget and trying to get the most nutritional value out of the meal at the same time. This

easy-to-make recipe is nutrient-rich, and many of the ingredients can be substituted for others depending

on what is available. Dark greens such as collards, kale and spinach provide a good source of vitamins A,

C and K as well as potassium, calcium, iron and fiber. With six servings and just 296 calories per dish,

Beans and Greens is a great dish for family dinners or a week's worth of leftovers. Even the most novice

of chefs can master this dish in no time and add their own artistic touches.

1 onion, diced 4 cloves garlic, minced ½ lb. lean sausage 4 cups pinto beans 1 bunch collard or turnip greens, chopped 1 (14-oz.) can whole tomatoes, coarsely chopped 1½ cups chicken broth 1 tablespoon olive oil 4-5 sprigs cilantro, chopped ½ cup parsley, finely chopped

1. Heat oil in a large skillet. Sauté onion for 3 minutes. 2. Add garlic and sauté another 5 minutes. 3. Add sausage and cook until it is lightly browned. 4. Add broth, beans, tomatoes and greens to sausage in pan. Cook at a low simmer so that the flavors can blend, about 15 minutes 5. Remove from heat and add cilantro and parsley. Best served with cornbread or rice for a complete meal.

GHP Food Alliance Event Recaps

109

Can You Cook It?

The Greater High Point Food Alliance recently hosted its first fundraising event, "Can You Cook It?"

This inaugural event, held at Centennial Station, drew nearly 100 community members and raised nearly

$2,300 in the fight against food insecurity.

In this Iron Chef-style cook-off, top chefs from the Greater High Point area, including those from

Emerywood Fine Foods, String and Splinter and Penny Path Café and Crepe Shop, prepared a two-course

meal using ingredients found in an average food pantry box. Typical boxes consist of non-perishable

items such as pasta, canned meats, beans and soup, and they may not necessarily reflect a well-balanced

and nutritious meal, so the chefs took on the challenge of preparing tasteful and nutritious dishes.

During this interactive dining experience, guests were able to taste the culinary creations and watch

the ways that the chefs decided to use the ingredients found in food pantry boxes. Three expert judges

critiqued the food and evaluated the nutritional value of each course, while event attendees had the

opportunity to vote for their favorite dishes. While all of the dishes were delicious, Eric Brownlee of

String and Splinter won the critics' choice award, and Brian Anderson of Emerywood Fine Foods won the

people's choice award, taking home a monogrammed chef hat.

The night included musical performances by High Point University's Ken Marshall and a cappella groups

the Toccatatones and the Petal Points as well as a silent auction with goods and services from local

businesses.

"Can You Cook It?" was not only entertaining, but also a way to unite the community for a greater

cause. All proceeds from the event will benefit the GHP Food Alliance's initiative to end hunger in

Greater High Point by empowering the food insecure, unifying the community and becoming a

clearinghouse for sustainable methods.

2015 GHP Food Alliance Food Summit

On March 20 and 21, 2015, the Greater High Point Food Alliance hosted its inaugural food summit.

The program started Friday morning with a breakfast, a nonprofit fair allowing attendees to see what

services local organizations offer and, finally, neighborhood breakout sessions, during which community

members were able to discuss their needs and concerns while brainstorming possible solutions to the food

insecurity issue in the Greater High Point area. The neighborhood sessions were attended by people from

across the Greater High Point area, but the three groups specifically discussed the Washington Street,

Burns Hill and West End neighborhoods.

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Upon conclusion of the neighborhood meetings, a lunch program was sponsored by High Point

Regional Health, which demonstrated a protein-rich meal costing only $1.75 per person. During the lunch

hour, several members of the GHP Food Alliance executive team spoke about the mission of the Alliance

and what they hoped to achieve during the Food Summit. Attendees also had time to network and discuss

solutions in a less formal setting. Immediately following the lunch program, the second series of breakout

sessions was held, aimed at community members who were interested in learning how they could help

alleviate the hunger insecurity in the area. Session topics included urban agriculture, food education, food

access: pantries, food access: backpack programs and food access: hot meals.

The second day of the Food Summit featured a hors d'oeuvres reception hosted by Visions

Catering, a presentation by Rev. Joseph Blosser about the GHP Food Alliance's goals for the upcoming

year, a keynote speech by Dr. Tom Haggai and, finally, a call to action by Rev. Carl Vierling. A special

presentation was also made by Matt Thiel, awarding Carl Vierling the 2015 GHP Food Alliance Hunger

Advocate of the Year Award.

The Food Summit had over 500 people in attendance over the two-day span of the event, making

it one of the largest in the nation. This event was made possible because the community members came

together to help one another with the issue facing their area. The GHP Food Alliance is looking forward

to working with the community in the future, and they plan to continue hosting successful food summits

on their path to alleviating hunger.

Spring into Gardening

Tips provided by Better Homes and Gardens

Planning

The first step in gardening is deciding what you want in your garden. Choices can include vegetables,

herbs, flowers or a combination of the three. Once you decide what will be planted in your garden, you

have to decide whether or not you want to plant annuals, which you have to replace every year, or

perennials, which come back year after year. People have a variety of methods for choosing what to plant,

from looking online to picking something from a local gardening center. Some easy-to-grow vegetables

are lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers.

An important thing to consider when gardening is that a majority of plants need about six hours of

sunlight each day, so be sure to pick a spot that gets enough sun but also is in a place where you won't

forget about it, like near a back door or a mailbox. It is also helpful to consider where your hose is located

when considering a spot for your garden. No matter what you choose, the best idea is to start small and

add to the garden each year.

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Planting

The quickest way to clear out a spot for your garden is to dig it out. Digging helps loosen soil, which

allows roots to stick easier. The best time to do this is when the soil is moist enough to form a ball but

falls apart when you drop it. You should only dig and turn the soil once a year. For an easier but more

time-consuming solution, layer about five sheets of newspaper covered with a three-inch layer of potting

soil and topsoil on top of the area you wish to plant. It will take about four months for the area to be ready

to garden.

The best way to boost your soil is to add two or three inches of compost to it, either by mixing it in or

leaving the compost on top. Your compost can consist of decayed leaves, dried grass clippings or old

manure. Some plants can tolerate cold, but a majority should not be planted until there is no longer a

chance of frost. While some plants can be sprouted from seeds, the easiest method is to buy young plants,

dig a hole and put them right into the ground.

Protect

The most important part of gardening is upkeep of the garden. It is important to make sure your plants are

always watered and to remember to pull weeds when they begin to grow. It is also important to fertilize

your garden about halfway through the season. Small plants need to be watered daily, and they need to be

watered less often as they grow. The best way to know whether or not your plants need water is to watch

them and see if they wilt during the day. The best time to water is early in the morning.

Mulch is designed to help keep weeds out of your garden and keep water in. The way to do this is to

cover the soil of your garden with a few inches of mulch. There are different types of mulch available at a

local gardening center. If you follow these steps, you will be sure to earn your green thumb.

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The following is a list of potential topics for upcoming seasonal newsletters: Summer:

- Where to get food when school isn’t in session - Food recipe: Summer - 10 ways to eat more real food http://www.katheats.com/10-ways-to-eat-more-real-food - Neighborhood updates - Beat the heat: Gardening Tips http://gentleworld.org/gardening-tips-for-summer/ - Food pantry spotlight

Fall:

- Holiday Ideas: 10 ways to stay healthy during the holiday season - Food recipe: Fall/Holiday Recipes - Team updates - Fall Superfoods: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20307323_2,00.html - How to get the most out of your pumpkin: carve, seeds, pie, etc… - Food pantry spotlight

Winter:

- Food Recipe: Soups - http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/15-soups-with-just-5-ingredients/

- Neighborhood updates - The season of giving: Ways to get involved and donate - Seasonal food chart: What’s in season

- http://www.ncagr.gov/markets/availabilitychart.pdf - Food pantry spotlight

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