Bill Derwin’s Post

This morning, I received an email with the subject line "Skyrocketing Tuna". I immediately imagined it written in Indiana Jones font, advertising the lamest adventure movie ever. Once I stopped giggling, I was able to review a very serious report from our supply chain team. Simply put, a can of tuna fish - a staple of my childhood and Crosslines food pantry - has increased in price 70% this year. Seventy percent. In the last five months, we've seen 49% more families at Crosslines than we did in the same time last year. Last year was up 20% from the year before. Even after streamlining our services and consolidating under one roof (a measure which cut our utilities in HALF) this rapidly increasing demand for services is quickly outpacing our available resources. Inflation is hitting food prices hard. And it's hitting Crosslines too. We are stretched. Thin. Some simple math for you: A flat budget + 49% increase in demand + 70% price increase = Tuna is something we may no longer be able to provide the hundreds of families who visit us each week. What is it worth to you to feed a hungry child? Is it worth the price of a can of tuna? What if it was your child who was hungry? Will you help us, help them? For about the price of a cheeseburger meal, you can provide a family of four groceries for a week. I hope you join me in combatting hunger right here in SW Missouri. Your gift can change lives! ccozarks.org/donate

Tackling Summer Hunger with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin 🌞 Summer should be a time for kids to play, explore, and enjoy the sunshine. But for many families in Eastern Wisconsin, it's also a season of uncertainty. When school cafeterias close, thousands of children lose their most reliable source of nutritious meals. This is where Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin steps in. Did you know? - 1 in 9 people in Eastern Wisconsin face hunger. - Summer is one of the most challenging times for families struggling with food insecurity. But together, we can make a difference! Here are three impactful ways you can help: 🍎 **Donate Food**: Non-perishable items like canned fruits, vegetables, and proteins are always in high demand. Check your pantry or organize a neighborhood food drive. 💵 **Donate Cash**: Every dollar donated helps provide meals to those in need. Even a small contribution can have a huge impact. 🤝 **Volunteer**: Join us for a volunteer session at one of our food banks. Whether you’re sorting donations or packing boxes, your time and effort make a big difference. If you're inclined to take action and help us ensure that every kid in our community has something to eat this summer, please visit www.feedingamericawi.org to learn more about how you can help. Let's ensure that no one in our community goes hungry this summer. Together, we can fight hunger and provide hope. #SummerHunger #EndHunger #CommunitySupport #FeedingAmericaEasternWI #Volunteer #Donate #FoodMemories

This past Tuesday was Hunger Action Day! CEO Scott Rumpsa joined The Morning Mix on Fox 17 to share how neighbors like you can help nourish our neighbors and build a stronger, healthier communtiy. Hunger doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Families who struggle to access the food they need often face other challenges, and a setback in one area creates a ripple effect across systems: education, childcare, employment, housing, healthcare, food, finances, and transportation. Complex problems require holistic solutions - that’s why we combine healthy food access, resource navigation, financial empowerment, and street outreach to build a community where all of our neighbors have what they need to thrive, and no one faces challenges alone. It takes a community, working together, to nourish our neighbors! Act with Action House by volunteering, hosting a drive, or donating to support our work! View the full segment here, https://loom.ly/4aGL3Gs , or visit https://loom.ly/XwKzsFY.

Don’t miss this series and first webinar next week. We will be talking to National experts about incorporating voices of lived experience. #freewebinar #equity #bestpractice

Food insecurity is a worldwide problem that manifests itself locally in all our communities. Over the past few years, Curcio Webb, LLC’s holiday donation has been made to Chef José Andrés World Central Kitchen program. The World Central Kitchen teams are first on the spot wherever hot meals and human kindness are needed. Karen McKeon volunteered for a ½ day volunteer shift Thursday, June 27th at Mercer Street Friends Food Bank. In 2021, Karen directed her Curcio Webb charitable donation to Mercer Street Friends. At the time she shared that “the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank channels 5.5 million pounds of food and groceries annually to a network of over 100 local food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, meal sites, schools, senior and disabled programs, and low-income housing sites. Our food distribution and hunger prevention programs reach over 60,000 people who face the pain and indignity of hunger.” Five point five MILLION pounds annually—how impressive is that? The day Karen volunteered at the Food Bank they needed help labeling bags for “SHUP” (their Send HUnger Packing program). SHUP is a "meal bag program that helps feed food insecure students over the weekend when they lack access to school meals." It distributes 10,000 bags a month to students in need throughout Mercer County, New Jersey. Karen, your in-the-trenches work at the Food Bank is so important. Thank you! It’s not just students in Mercer County, New Jersey who run the risk of going hungry on the weekends. Curcio Webb is going to address local food insecurity for children at our upcoming annual company meeting. Brian Pieper and his wife Katie are spearheading an opportunity for us to pack bags of food for children to eat during the weekend. They’re tapping into a local program that helps kids get meals on weekends i.e., where they are already participating in a meals-at-school program. Are there suggestions from our wider community re programs that deserve our attention? Where do you like to volunteer your time and treasure -- in order to "Send Hunger Packing"? #foodbanks #foodinsecurity #givingback

Tis the season! People often ask me how they can get involved with our community. They want to give back, however they are not sure how to go about it. There are 6,300 registered charities in Nevada. The first step is to determine what is on your heart. Children? Animals? Education, healthcare, seniors? Next, decide how you would like to contribute. The three most common strategies are financial support (writing checks), sitting on a Board of Directors (donating your talents) or volunteering. If you don’t have the financial resources to be a donor, do not fear! Volunteering is not only fulfilling, but also highly valued by charity organizations. Volunteers are the true heroes. Today we review Olive Crest. Olive Crest - Olive Crest is dedicated to preventing child abuse by strengthening, equipping, and restoring children and families in crisis…one life at a time. This is a faith based organization focused on foster children and their families. Never forget Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given…much is required.” https://lnkd.in/gGNZvGpD

Are you like me and are looking for ways to give back to others? I have volunteered at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) many times over the years. A few months ago, I stopped in and asked what more could I do beyond packing meals and donating money. As it turns out, they also need folks to speak to organizations (schools, churches, businesses....etc.) to inform them about FMSC. Recently, I was at an event where I spoke to high school students about FMSC and why what they do is so important. Did you know that 1 in 9 children go hungry each day? What's worse, an estimated 6200 children die each day from starvation. I think many of us 'know' this but are so far removed, that we are really numb to this crisis. I know the vast majority of the high schools students I spoke with were very much unaware. FMSC receives no government funding. They are 100% supported by volunteers (time to pack these meals and money to buy the food). They strive to keep administrative costs down and over 90% of the monetary donations go directly into the food costs. If you are interested in helping, below is more information: From their LinkedIn Page: Feed My Starving Children We believe hope starts with food. Join us as we feed kids, feed spirits and empower communities. Non-profit Organizations Coon Rapids, MN 16K followers 201-500 employees • Our Mission — Feeding God’s starving children hungry in Body and Spirit • Our Vision — With God’s help Feed My Starving Children will strive to eliminate starvation in children throughout the world by helping to instill compassion in people to hear and respond to the cries of those in need. • Our Strategy — The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals designed specially for starving children, and FMSC ships the meals to nearly 70 countries around the world. Website http://www.fmsc.org Industry Non-profit Organizations Company size 201-500 employees Headquarters Coon Rapids, MN #feedmystarvingchildren #hunger #volunteering #givingback

Give to the Max Day is here! Today is a celebration of the incredible abundance of our community. It is a day to look within ourselves to acknowledge and share the unique abundance in each of our lives: How am I showing up for my neighbors today? How can I challenge attitudes of scarcity, when I know that our community has each other's backs? What can I do today to make sure my neighbors know they can count on our community safety net? 2024 is the hungriest year our community has ever seen. CEAP is on track for a record amount of food served as we see the highest need for our Food Market in our 52-year history. At the same time, we know that many neighbors face barriers - like mobility challenges and lack of access to transportation – that prevent them from reaching CEAP’s doors. That’s where “CEAP On the Move” steps in.  No matter the barrier, CEAP is here to fill gaps in access. We need to know – are you with us in the fight against hunger?  www.givemn.org/CEAP24

Costs are rising rising. Mobile Meals of Toledo has experienced a 25% increase in food costs,transportation, and, labor. Even with that we haven’t passed cost on. What does that mean? Do the math we are eating into our reserves. Also government, contract funding, and insurers increases support has only gone up from 0% to 6% in 3 years. Help us find a sustainable path forward