2007 AnnRpt.indd - Harvesters

Feeding Families
The Need: While many
think of the face of hunger
as a homeless man in the
inner city, in reality it is more
often a working poor family
struggling to make ends
meet.
The Response: Harvesters’
member agencies have
access to more than 22
million pounds of food and
household items every year
through Harvesters’ regular
distribution system, mass
distribution and the holiday
meal program.
Building Hope Initiatives
In the heart of the breadbasket, in a nation of great abundance, no one should go hungry. But hunger
does exist in our community, and the need continues to grow.
Because of community support, Harvesters is here to respond to the need for emergency food
assistance in Greater Kansas City. Our efforts are guided by our four Building Hope Initiatives, which
provide help—and hope—every day of the year through creative programs designed to reach out to
our hungry neighbors.
Childhood Hunger
The Need: Forty-three percent of Harvesters’ emergency
food assistance recipients – more than 25,000 a week –
are children. These are hungry kids whose health, behavior
and school performance suffer because of nutritional
defi ciencies.
The Response:
Harvesters serves
thousands of
children every day
by distributing food
through our network
of agencies, as
well as through
programs that
specifi cally target
children, such as
Kids Cafe, Kids in
the Kitchen and
BackSnack.
Senior Feeding
The Need: Individuals who are most at risk for
food insecurity are the elderly and the
disabled, who often
are less mobile, have
health problems and
live alone.
The Response: In
addition to reaching
seniors through
Harvesters’ network of
agencies, Harvesters
has programs
targeting the nutritional
needs of the elderly,
such as the Senior
Mobile Food Pantry
and Commodities
Supplemental Feeding Program.
Healthy Eating
The Need: Hunger and malnutrition have a
signifi cant physical and emotional impact on
the entire household. Ironically, hunger can
play a role in obesity, particularly among lowincome
individuals who turn to inexpensive
foods that satisfy their hunger today, but lack
the nutrients they need for long-term health.
The Response:
Harvesters is
committed to
acquiring and
distributing
a variety of
nutritious foods
from the food
industry, the
Food Rescue
program and
food drives.
Harvesters also
provides nutrition education to clients
through programs such as Project STRENGTH.