Thirty Years Later, CAFB Still In Demand - Capital Area Food Bank

CAFB Programs Help Partner Agencies
Respond to Rise in Hunger
The St. Camillus food pantry utilizes the
Client Choice Model, which allows clients
to select the food they want and adds
a level of dignity to the food distribution
process.
Last year, the Capital
Area Food Bank and
Feeding America conducted
the study Hunger In
America 2010, a report on
emergency food distribution
in the United States.
By the end of April 2009,
79 volunteers conducted
421 client interviews and
collected 385 surveys from
partner agencies revealing
a painful picture of people
laboring under tenuous
circumstances.
The results of the study
revealed a 25 percent
increase in the number of
clients served by the food
bank and told the story of
lives irrevocably changed by
the pain of hunger; and
the heroic efforts of our nonprofit partner agencies who attempt
to address that pain daily.
The food bank coordinates several programs that directly impact
its partner agency’s food distribution programs including the
Mobile Pantry Program, USDA Commodities, Senior Brown Bag
Program, Hunger Lifeline and the Agency Achievement Academy.
In Washington, D.C., Allen Chapel Outreach is one such agency
serving the community with a CAFB model program. Twice each
month, they operate as one of 41 mobile pantries coordinated by
the food bank, serving over 500 households each month. Clients
arrive as early as 6:30 AM to secure a place in line; and volunteers
work tirelessly in the heat and the cold to ensure people are
served quickly. McKinley Crudup, director of Allen Chapel’s food
distribution, notes the importance of the mobile food pantries. “I
know what it means to be hungry and if I can help, I want to do all
I can.”
St. Camillus Church is another nonprofit partner agency operating
two emergency food pantries located in Montgomery County
– serving 200 families monthly. Joan Conway is the director of
services at both pantries and has seen firsthand the heightened
demand for services. “It took us two years between 2006-2008
to serve 1,000 families; this past year we have served 1,000 families
in the months of November through March, 2009.”
The St. Camillus food pantry has touched the lives of many
including a former landscaper unable to work because of medical
issues. His wife’s $500 monthly income went towards his medical
expenses, leaving the family unable to pay rent. The family
eventually found relief at the St. Camillus food pantry.
Right here at the food bank, the Hunger Lifeline refers people in
crisis to emergency food pantries like the two aforementioned
agencies. Last year, calls to Hunger Lifeline increased 71%,
having referred 2494 individuals to area food pantries. “I receive
many phone calls from first time callers, who thought they would
never be in a situation where they would be in need of food.
These clients have often been on the other side of this service
where previously they were volunteering or even donating funds
to help those who were in difficult times,” says Andrea McCarthy,
Hunger Lifeline coordinator.
While the demand for food assistance continues to mount, the
Capital Area Food Bank’s various programs and services ensure
that partner agencies, such as Allen Chapel and St. Camillus,
can continue to sufficiently meet clients’ needs.
- Marian Barton Peele, Director, Agency Relations
Deloitte Study Helps Food Bank Target Areas in Need
new study completed by Deloitte LLP for the Capital Area
A Food Bank identified where the highest concentration of
hunger is and access to affordable food is low in the Washington
metropolitan region. In certain areas of Prince William,
Fairfax and Prince George’s counties, for example, there are
a low number of agencies for the food bank to partner with to
distribute food.
Just to have information on targeted areas certainly enhances
our work and makes it easier,” says Lynn Brantley, president
and CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank.
The results of the study were revealed June 11th during Deloitte’s
Impact Day, an annual service day where Deloitte’s 3,500
personnel volunteer at 65 projects to help D.C. area nonprofits.
The pro bono study, which would have cost the food bank
thousands of dollars to conduct, will help the CAFB determine
efficient ways to increase food distribution to areas in need.
The food bank currently distributes 25 million pounds of food
to families and individuals in need, but wants to increase that
amount to 30 million pounds this coming year.
The study also highlighted the effects of migration of food
distribution. As more people move to rural areas, the food
bank is challenged with putting the right distribution channels
in place to address needs in those locations.
“As we look at what is continuing to happen with D.C.,
especially in Wards 7 and 8, people are beginning to move out
to Prince George’s County,” says Linda Solomon, principal at
Deloitte Consulting and CAFB board member. “You are going
to see more and more people living in areas that may be in
need.”
Deloitte has been a valued community partner of the food
bank – serving on the board of directors, participating in key
food bank initiatives and volunteering in our warehouse.
Consulting firm Deloitte will help the CAFB efficiently distribute food to areas
where need is high and access to affordable food is low.
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