We often hear this question: "Why is all this food donated?" In 2023 alone, we distributed over $482 million worth of food. Midwest Food Bank partners with food producers, manufacturers, and distributors to save products. Sometimes, the food is something they can't sell. This may result from market challenges due to economic changes, shifting consu...
ARIZONA Beyond MFB: A Volunteer's Compassion At Midwest Food Bank, we witness countless acts of kindness from our volunteers every day. One such volunteer, Rosemary, dedicates her time to the bi-weekly food box distribution at her church, St. Matthew's United Methodist. This church operates a food pantry that serves around 50 families ev...
NEW ENGLAND Unity in Service: Midwest Food Bank and Gemma E. Moran United Way In the heart of New London County, the Gemma E. Moran United Way / Labor Food Center (Food Center), operated by the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, stands as a testament to the power of community and collaboration. Beginning with $5,000 grant funding from United W...
Midwest Food Bank values our donors and we steward every gift with integrity. We frequently receive questions about various ways to give to MFB and one mechanism - Donor-Advised Funds - is a way donors have partnered with MFB to achieve their giving goals and benefit our mission. A Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a type of giving program that allows yo...
For the first time in history, enough food is produced to feed everyone. Globally, farmers are growing over 22 billion pounds of produce every day, enough to provide every person on the planet almost twice, according to the Farm Link Project. It's not about having enough food; it's about getting the roughly 30-40% of the wasted US food supply into ...
Since its founding in February of 1980, The House of Bread in Hartford, Connecticut, has been a beacon of hope for the most needy in the Hartford community. Co-founders Sister Maureen Faenza, CSJ, Theresa Fonti, CSJ, embarked on a mission to assist the hungry and homeless in Hartford's North End, initially welcoming 17 guests. Today, The ...
At Midwest Food Bank New England, the volunteer culture revolves around essential qualities like selflessness, humility, kindness, and a spirit of service. Among the dedicated volunteers, Rick and Ann Mahoney not only align with this culture but also bring it to life.Volunteering is a way of life for Rick and Ann, instilled from a young age by thei...
At Midwest Food Bank New England, we see answers to prayers. Those answers sometimes are the volunteers that show up at just the right time. John Carter is a great example."John came to us when we were praying to expand our forklift driver team, and he has served every week since," says Corey Barrette, Volunteer and Community Relations Manager for ...
The volunteers who walk through the doors at Midwest Food Bank not only make our operations better, they leave an impression on everyone around them.With sadness, the New England location of MFB shares the news of the unexpected passing of Warren Zahner. Warren was one of the key people involved when MFB New England was established in 2021. He and ...
Midwest Food Bank New England wants to give our nonprofit agency partners the food their clients need and will use. A good example is when Schoke Jewish Family Service of Fairfield County started coming to MFB for food and household items. They specifically needed Kosher products."When we first approached MFB New England to discuss our particular n...
A healthy start is a challenge for children in East Africa. That start can impact them for the rest of their life. Kapu Africa (Midwest Food Bank East Africa) isn't backing away from big goals to provide that healthy start by reducing stunting in Kenya and across East Africa. What is stunting? It is when a child has a low height fo...
A strong work ethic is part of Rick Callahan's DNA. At 12 years old, he had a paper route and has been working ever since. He retired after 37 years at Traveler's Insurance and then picked up a couple of part-time jobs. During those work years, Rick always wanted to volunteer, but he was often on-call and couldn't volunteer as often as he wanted to...
Staff and leadership at East Hartford Public Schools do what it takes to ensure students are ready for the classroom. That means identifying students that may be food insecure because a hungry child isn't an attentive learner."We want to support the whole child and address the needs to keep the students in the classroom," says Alexis Safo-Agye...
Volunteer groups at Midwest Food Bank New England know how to grab a hairnet, gloves, and measuring tools to help make a nutritious meal. We are grateful for the groups who recently hand-packed Tender Mercies. Tender Mercies was developed by dietitians for MFB and is a highly nutritious, low-cost blend of rice, beans, and fortified s...
Perceptions and reality don't always match up. You might be surprised to learn that 53% of food-insecure people work full-time.So, the suggestion "Why don't they just get a job?" falls flat for more than half the people choosing between putting gas in their car, paying a utility bill, or going to the grocery store.The USDA defines food insecurity a...
Keep or pitch? That's the question everyone faces when cleaning out a refrigerator or a pantry. The date on the product is usually the determining factor if it stays or goes. But those dates are one of the biggest reasons that 30-40 percent of food in the United States is thrown away even though it is still safe to consume. The dates printed ...
MFB began a partnership with Amazon as a food donor in 2020. Since then, Amazon has provided loads of product across the MFB footprint and is a valued food donor for the organization. Some divisions have picked up Amazon Fresh regular loads - a tremendous source of nutritious and fresh food. That partnership continues to grow and expand in exciting...
A hot meal, seven days a week, no questions asked.Enfield Loaves and Fishes provides that to those who walk in their door. Those doors are open again after the board of volunteers navigated the challenges of feeding the food-insecure during the pandemic. Late in 2019, Loaves and Fishes moved to a new location, but once the pandemic hit, they c...
At first, Glenn Koehler thought he would spend his retirement years teaching. It seemed like a natural transition after spending 38 years as a pediatric dentist, serving on a school board, coaching little league, and being a board member of a children's museum."I just kept returning to fulfilling a human need, like feeding people," says Glenn.Then ...
Experience and faith make Corey Barrette an excellent fit for Midwest Food Bank New England. He joined the staff in February as the Volunteer and Community Relations Manager."God provides the right people at the right time," says Jan Young, MFB New England Executive Director. "We greatly appreciate Corey's volunteer management experience and his he...
