March 2011 Affiliate

March 2011 Volume 11, Issue II

Points of Interest: ♦ 2010 Hungry in Mon-

tana Report

♦ Featured Products

♦ No More TEFAP De-clines

♦ Montana Hunger Relief Forum

♦ New Partner Agency

♦ Big Sky BBQ

Inside this issue:

Online SNAP 2

Legislature Update 3

Map the Meal Gap 3

Pound for Pound Challenge Gap Analysis

3 3

Feb/Mar Delivery Schedule

4

Feb/Mar Delivery Schedule

5

Montana Hunger Relief Forum

5

March’s Recipe: Peanut Butter Muffins

6

Hungry in Montana 2010 Report Available Online

Every two years the Montana Food Bank Network and the Food Security Council compile a report detailing the daily struggles of those who are hungry in Mon-tana and the factors that contrib-ute to their need for need emer-gency food. Our 2010 report was based on nearly 400 in-depth interviews with clients at 11 different food pantries through-out ten counties. The Hungry in Montana re-port is an enormously valuable tool for both education and advocacy. 2010 findings in-clude:

♦ 50% of households surveyed had chil-dren and 22% had at least one senior.

♦ 49% of households surveyed had at least one member employed.

♦ 80% of clients surveyed were living in

poverty (based on last month’s in-come). ♦ 69% of clients surveyed reported having unpaid medical bills. ♦ 61% of clients surveyed were receiving SNAP (food stamps) which helped them stretch food dol-lars and make it through the month. ♦ 48% of clients surveyed reported having to skip meals in the last 12 months because there was not enough food in the house.

The complete Hungry in Montana 2010 report is available for download from the MFBN website at www.mfbn.org/files/2010HungryinMontanaReport.pdf . If you have not already done so, please share the report with your staff, volunteers and board members!

If you have any questions or would like more information please contact Lorianne Burhop at 721-3825 Ext. 230, [email protected] or Kate Devino at Ext. 231, [email protected].

Declines of TEFAP Product

In preparation for the potential discon-tinuation of FAM funding, MFBN can no longer accept declines of TEFAP product from participating agencies. Although continued food purchase funding is still on the table, it is very important that MFBN and Partner Agencies anticipate our operational needs without FAM product and plan accordingly. We all need to ensure that we make the most of all of the food that is available to us, es-pecially product that is free to your agency such as TEFAP. Participating agencies will begin receiving their full

allotment of TEFAP product on the next order cycle and need to distribute the food out of their agency. If you have any questions please contact Brent Weisgram at Ext. 233.

Featured Products— Fresh Apples and Potatoes!!

Spring is slowly making its way into Montana and MFBN has started receiving delicious fresh produce for your clients! Fresh apples are avail-able under I5564 on your FAM Shopping List. These are available to pick up at MFBN as 40 lb. cases and are available for delivery only as a full pallet (56 cases). If your agency would like a pallet, please e-mail Brent Weisgram at [email protected] – please be sure to include

your Agency name, con-tact information, and address.

We also have loads of fresh potatoes avail-able to Partner Agen-cies for both pick up or delivery! They are in 50 lb. bags (10/5 lb. bags in each) and listed as I5556 on your FAM shopping list.

Page 2 The Affiliate

2011 Legislature Updates

Everyone at MFBN is continuing to hound the State Legislature to approve the Childhood Hunger Study and to keep emergency food purchase fund-ing coming. We achieved a victory when the Study Resolution to Reduce Childhood Hunger in Montana (HJ8)

passed by the House Human Services Committee but we are not out of the woods yet, since now it will move the House floor. Please contact your Legislators and deliver the following message (please personalize for your agency): "Please vote "yes" for HJ 8 - a Study Resolution to Reduce Childhood Hunger in Montana. We have many opportunities to correct this problem, but it can only be done by a legislative committee - not by private non-profit groups.

Hungry children cannot wait till the economy im-proves. This problem also puts a very large burden on food banks who are trying to feed them. We need to act now by looking at the barriers and the ways to resolve them."

We also need to keep illustrating to the Legisla-ture how vital emergency food purchase funding is to the many food insecure people throughout Montana. Please continue to call or e-mail your Representatives and Senators! Another effective tool to reach your Legislators is client stories. If you have a client who is willing to share their story, please encourage them to do so. Ask them to ex-plain why emergency food assistance is important to them and how critical the services you provide are to them and the community. Please send any client stories to Kate at [email protected].

NEW: Clients can apply for SNAP ONLINE!

Exciting news! Clients can now ap-ply for SNAP directly online through Montana Connections. Clients also have the option of using a pre-screening tool to find out which pro-grams they are likely to be eligible for. Both the application and pre-screening tool can be used for SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and Healthy MT Kids. The new online resource will simplify the application process and reduce transportation and time-constraint barriers. The online application and pre-screening tool are

available at www.app.mt.gov/mtc. Also, watch for information regarding our upcoming webinar to increase your familiarity with SNAP and the online application.

**ATTENTION: Watch for new SNAP outreach

materials in the mail! Make sure your clients are aware of this great new tool!

We will be sending updated SNAP brochures to all food pantries, senior centers, meal sites and other applicable Partner Agencies throughout the state. The materials in-clude information about the online application, income guidelines, and county-specific application information. When you receive these materials, please distribute them to clients! Hand them to clients during in-take, include them in food boxes, or make sure they are promi-nently displayed. Look for materials in the mail in late March or early April.

If you do not receive materials but would like some,

please contact Lorianne Burhop at 721-3825 Ext. 230 or [email protected].

4 Stars for MFBN!

The Montana Food Bank Network has received the coveted four-star ranking on Charity Navigator, a prominent national charity watchdog group. The logo is now on MFBN’s home page, at www.mfbn.org. Simply click on the Char-ity Navigator logo and the link will take you to our page on their website. Many parameters are scrutinized to deter-mine whether or not a nonprofit organization is worthy of donor support and we are very excited to receive all four stars- the topmost ranking. This is something we can all be proud of, since all that we do at MFBN is a team ef-fort. As wonderful as this ranking is, here at MFBN we are even more honored by our partnership with you, in the fight to End Hunger in Montana. If you have questions or comments, please give Kathryn a call at Ext. 244.

MFBN apologizes for any confusion caused by last month’s shopping lists. We are in a transitional period in terms of staff and that was the first time publishing the shopping lists since staffing changes. We have worked out the technological kinks and do not expect any such issues on the current order cycle or in the future. So sorry for any inconven-ience this caused. If you ever have concerns about whether your order was received please feel free to con-tact the Inventory Department via phone or e-mail to verify. Please also remember that you MUST put your agency name and e-mail address when sub-mitting an order. Thank you.

Online Ordering Apologies from MFBN

Page 3 Volume 11, Issue II

Partner Agency Surveys & Gap Analysis

Thank you to all of the Partner Agencies that have submitted their 2011 Partner Agency Surveys! Your input is absolutely invaluable to MFBN’s Gap Analysis, which will be completed by May, 2011. We are using the data to create a full, statewide pic-ture of food insecurity and the emergency food system which will help direct the efforts of MFBN in terms of food distribution, advocacy, public programs, and capacity building. If you have not yet completed the 2011 Part-ner Agency Survey, please do so immediately. Please contact Jeff at Ext. 232 if you have any questions.

Map the Meal Gap Broadcast

For those of you interested in MFBN’s Gap Analysis and food insecurity at the national level, our nationwide umbrella organization, Feeding America, will have a “Map the Meal Gap” press release event, March 24 at noon MST which will be broadcast live online at www.feedingamerica.org.

The Map the Meal Gap data identifies food in-security numbers for every US County, as well as the estimated cost of a meal based on actual prices in each county. Just as our Gap Analysis will be used for Montana, the Map the Meal Gap data will help us to understand the need among the food insecure population nationwide and as-sess available federal and state programs. All the latest statistics on Hunger in America will become available on this broadcast.

If you are interested in the live broadcast, give Kathryn a call for more information at Ext. 244.

2nd Annual Big Sky BBQ—June 11th!! On June 11, 2011 from 3-9

MFBN and Big Sky Brewing Company will be teaming up again for the 2nd annual Big Sky BBQ Festival! The event will feature loads of great BBQ artists, cold beer from Big Sky Brewing Company, and music by Tom Catmull & the Clerics, Russ Nasset & the

Revelators, Zeppo MT, and House of Quist. Please mark your calendars and stop on by if you are in the area and join in the fun! www.thebigskybbq.com If you need any more of a draw on June 11th, from 9:00-4:00 Karl Tyler Chevrolet just down the road from MFBN will be hosting the Montana Benefit Car Show that day also! They are expecting to have 500 cool cars from 68 car clubs for folks to check out and all proceeds will benefit MFBN and Guide On!

Join MFBN in the Pound for Pound Challenge!

MFBN has started a team to take part in the Pound for Pound Challenge! Team members pledge to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight to help fight hunger. For every 1 pound pledged, 11 cents will be donated to Feeding America—enough to se-cure one pound of groceries on behalf of MFBN!

Our team is called “Hunger Fighters of Montana” and we are currently in 17th place in the nation! We have a very good shot at winning the competition with your help! Please visit www.pfpchallenge.com to join our team and pledge your support and to stay motivated. If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn at Ext. 244.

Give and Get! Enjoy 30% off and Feeding America Gets 5%

Shop: 4 Days only—March 17-20 At: Gap. Banana Republic, Old Navy, BR Factory store, Gap Outlet in-store With: This barcode at checkout:

Free coupon to help the hungry in Montana!

Page 4 The Affiliate

February/March 2011 Delivery Schedule Date Time City Partner Agency 29-Mar 9:00-9:45 Stevensville—Pantry Partners 29-Mar 10:00-10:15 Victor—Victor School (Victor School Back Pack) 29-Mar 10:30-11:00 Victor—House of Praise 29-Mar 11:15-11:30 Hamilton—Bitterroot Valley Calvary Chapel 29-Mar 11:45-1:15 Hamilton—Haven House, WMMHC West House 29-Mar 1:30-2:00 Darby—Darby Bread Box 31-Mar 10:00-10:45 Bozeman—Gallatin Valley Food Bank, Gardiner Food Pantry, Headwaters Area Food Bank, West Yel lowstone Food Bank, Yellowstone Social Senior Center, Big Sky Youth Center 31-Mar 12:45-1:15 Helena—Helena Food Share, Helena Pre-Release, Montana Youth Homes, Elkhorn Treatment Facility, Transitional Living Facility, Rocky Mountain Development Council, Helena Salvation Army, Lewis and Clark Group Home, (Helena Schools Back Pack) 1-Apr 11:30-12:00 Seeley Lake—Seeley-Swan Food Bank 5-Apr 8:30-9:00 Dillon—Beaverhead Community Food Pantry, (Dillon School Back Pack) 5-Apr 10:30-11:30 Butte—Butte Emergency Food Bank 5-Apr 11:30-11:45 Butte—Butte Rescue Mission 5-Apr 12:30-1:00 Anaconda—Project Care, Discovery House 5-Apr 1:45-2:15 Maxville—Granite County Food Bank 7-Apr 9:00-9:30 Thompson Falls—Community Harvest Food Bank, Thompson Falls Seniors, Thompson Falls AOG Church, (Thompson Falls School Back Pack) 7-Apr 10:00-10:30 Trout Creek—Open Gate Ranch Youth Group, Trout Creek Seniors 7-Apr 10:45-11:30 Noxon—Community Services Fellowship, Noxon Seniors, Heron Seniors 7-Apr 12:15-1:15 Troy—Troy Food Pantry, The Food Cupboard 7-Apr 1:30-1:45 Troy—Troy Community Baptist Church Food Pantry 7-Apr 2:15-3:30 Libby— Libby Food Pantry, Libby Christian Church, Kootenai Valley Head Start, Libby Seniors 12-Apr 10:15-10:30 Livingston—Livingston Food Pantry 12-Apr 12:00-12:30 White Sulphur Springs—Meagher County Nutrition Coalition 12-Apr 3:00-3:30 Lewistown—Central Montana Community Cupboard, B/G of Lewistown, FCCOA 12-Apr 5:00-5:30 Roundup—Musselshell County Food Bank 12-Apr 5:30-6:00 Roundup—Youth Christian Home 13-Apr 7:30-7:45 Hardin—Helping Hands 13-Apr 8:15-8:45 Garryowen—Center Pole Foundation 13-Apr 10:00-10:45 Billings—Family Services INC., Alternatives/Passages, Montana Rescue Mission, Salvation Army 13-Apr 11:15-11:45 Laurel—Community Hope 13-Apr 12:15-12:30 Joliet—Joliet Food Pantry 13-Apr 1:00-1:30 Columbus—Project Hope 13-Apr 2:15-2:30 Big Timber—Big Timber Community Food Bank 15-Apr 8:00-8:15 Alberton—Alberton Seniors 15-Apr 8:15-8:45 Alberton—Alberton Community Food Pantry, (Alberton School Back Pack) 15-Apr 9:15-9:45 Superior—Community Food Bank of Mineral County, Superior Seniors 15-Apr 11:00-11:45 Plains—Plains Community Food Bank, Shekinah Kitchen, Hot Springs Food Pantry, Plains-Paradise Seniors, (Plains School Back Pack) 19-Apr 8:00-8:15 St. Ignatius—St. Ignatius Seniors 19-Apr 8:15-8:45 St. Ignatius—Mission Valley Food Pantry 19-Apr 9:15-9:45 Ronan—Ronan Bread Basket, Mission Valley Seniors

November/December Delivery Schedule All delivery times will be published online and in the Affiliate concurrently to scheduled delivery dates. If for any reason your scheduled delivery time changes from what has been

published, MFBN staff will notify you immediately.

Please mark your calendars, Partner Agencies! MFBN’s 2011 Montana Hunger Relief Forum will be held on Friday, May 20 from 9:00-4:30 at the Wingate Missoula (5252 Airway Blvd – right around the corner from MFBN). It is sure to be an exciting and informative day and a fantastic op-portunity to interact and share your stories and challenges with MFBN staff and other Partner Agencies. MFBN does not have Regional Meetings sched-uled for 2011 so this is the absolute best opportunity to connect with every-one. Invitations will be mailed out soon. Please contact Jeff at Ext. 232 or [email protected] if you have any questions or to RSVP.

Upcoming Events/Updates

Page 5 Volume 11, Issue II

2011 Montana Hunger Relief Forum

Important

Dates and

Reminders

ORDERS: Due March 25th!

MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORTS: Due April15th!

MONTANA

HUNGER RELIEF

FORUM May 20th!

19-Apr 11:45-12:15 Columbia Falls—Columbia Falls Food Bank 19-Apr 12:30-1:00 Whitefish—North Valley Food Bank, Whitefish Four Square Church 19-Apr 2:00-3:15 Eureka—Tobacco Valley Food Pantry, Eureka Four Square Church, Tobacco Valley Seniors 21-Apr 8:00-8:15 Polson—Polson Seniors 21-Apr 8:30-9:00 Polson—Polson Loaves and Fish Food Pantry, (Polson School Back Pack) 21-Apr 9:45-10:15 Lakeside—Westshore Food Bank 21-Apr 10:45-11:30 Kalispell—Flathead Food Bank, Light House Christian Home, Samaritan House, (Kalispell Schools Back Pack) 21-Apr 11:45-12:00 Kalispell—N.W. MT. Veterans Stand Down 21-Apr 12:30-1:00 Bigfork—Bigfork Food Pantry 21-Apr 2:30-2:45 Arlee—(Arlee School Back Pack) 26-Apr 8:30-9:30 Great Falls—Great Falls Community Food Bank, Great

Falls Agency’s, Salvation Army, St. Vincent De Paul, FISH 26-Apr 10:45-11:00 Choteau—Teton County Food Pantry, Pondera Food Pantry 26-Apr 12:15-12:45 Browning—Blackfeet Food Bank 3-May 1:15-1:30 Lame Deer – Boys and Girls of the Northern Cheyenne Nation 3-May 2:00-2:30 Ashland – St. Labre Food Pantry 4-May 7:30-7:45 Miles City – Custer County Food Bank 4-May 9:45-10:00 Wibaux—Wibaux Food Bank 4-May 10:30-10:45 Glendive – Dawson County Food Bank, Boys & Girls Club of Dawson County 4-May 11:30-11:45 Sidney—Boys and Girls Club of Richland County 4-May 12:30-1:00 Culbertson—Culbertson Food Bank 4-May 1:30-1:45 Poplar—New Life Mission 4-May 2:15-3:15 Wolf Point—Wolf Point Thrift Store & Food Bank, Wolf Point Seniors 4-May 3:15-3:30 Wolf Point—Basket of Hope 4-May 4:30-5:00 Glasgow—Valley County Council on Aging 4-May 5:00-5:30 Glasgow—Valley Community Food Bank 4-May 7:00-7:15 Malta—Malta Food Bank 5-May 8:00-8:15 Harlem—Harlem Food Pantry, Harlem Area Senior Citizens Center 5-May 8:45-9:15 Chinook—Chinook Food Pantry 5-May 9:45-10:30 Havre—Havre Food Bank, Feed My Sheep, Boys and Girls of the Hi-Line ??-May TBD Missoula—Missoula agencies begin scheduled pick ups

Delivery Schedule continued... Due to the change of delivery frequency we im-plemented a stop-gap pro-cedure to make sure that no Partner Agency runs out of food between deliveries. If you are in critical need of food be-tween our deliveries to you, please log on to insidemfbn.org and click on the “Need Food Now” block on the left. From there, fill out all the re-quired information and a staff person from MFBN will be in touch to begin coordinating the delivery.

Need Food Now?

New Partner Agency!

MFBN is very pleased to wel-come another new Partner Agency to the Network! The River of Hope Food Bank in East Missoula just became active in February and is preparing for their first ever food dis-tribution in the beginning of April!! Please join us in welcoming River of Hope to the MFBN!

Page 6 The Affiliate

The Montana Food Bank Network 5625 Expressway

Missoula, MT 59808

Phone: 406-721-3825 800-809-4752

Fax: 406-542-3770 [email protected]

Log on to our website!

www.insidemfbn.org

www.insidemfbn.org For the latest information and updates on new prod-ucts, special offers, delivery schedules, shopping lists, Montana’s Pantry, Pioneer Food Buying Service, grants, media featuring issues in food banking today and cur-rent outreach programs, log on to our website www.insidemfbn.org. You can even submit your monthly activity report and grocery rescue numbers online!

Find more recipes at www.insidemfbn.org/

recipes

Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the peanut butter and combine with a pastry cutter or 2 forks until it has reached a coarse, crumbly texture. Stir in the milk, egg, and butter. 2. Coat a nonstick muffin pan with cooking spray or lightly with oil. Fill each muffin cup about 3/4 full with batter. Evenly sprinkle some chopped peanuts over each. 3. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt

March’s Recipe - Peanut Butter Muffins

Executive Director Peggy Grimes x225 Director of Development Mark Brennan x228 Development Manager Kathryn McCleerey x244 Development Coordinator Ben Darrow x226 Accountant Clark Tower x223 Director of Operations Brent Weisgram x233 Transportation Manager Rob Shipley x240 Inventory Control Stacey Strang x251 Coordinator Inventory Control Tosha Gillis x251 Coordinator Agency Relations Manager Jeff Gutierrez x232 Agency Relations & Nate Merkt x252 Volunteer Coordinator Warehouse Cory Simmons x237 Director of Public Policy Kate Devino x231 Public Policy Manager Lorianne Burhop x230

MFBN S ta f fMFBN S ta f fMFBN S ta f fMFBN S ta f f

An empty stomach is

not a good political

advisor

-Albert Einstein

” “

MISSION

Working to eliminate hunger in Montana through food acquisi-tion and distribution, education,

and advocacy.

VISION Building a unified force to address hunger in Montana.

Nutrition Facts Recipe makes 12 servings Calories 201

Amount Per Serving %DV

Total Fat 3.1 g 4.8%

Saturated Fat .6g 3%

Cholesterol 27 mg 9%

Sodium 376.3 mg 15.7%

Potassium 87.8 mg 2.5%

Total Carbohydrate 14.3g 4.8%

Dietary Fiber .9g 3.6% Sugars .1g Protein 3.5g 7% Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C .3% Calcium 5.3% Iron 4.6% Thiamin 6.3% Niacin 6.7% Vitamin B6 1.9% Magnesium 3.5% Folate 6% *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calo-

rie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower

Please Remember— we try to choose each month’s recipe based on product we have in stock. Be sure to stock up on peanut butter—I on your FAM Shopping List!

1/3 cup peanut butter (crunchy or smooth) 1 cup whole milk 1 egg, beaten 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1/3 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped