Midwest Food Bank Values include Embrace Our Communities and Empowering Volunteers. One of the ways we do this is by providing clean, efficient, safe, and comfortable gathering places. At MFB, we work hard to maintain clean, inviting warehouses. To keep them well maintained and organized, we have standards, prioritize investment, and have safety co...
While food insecurity is rapidly rising, the world is expected to waste 2.1 million tons of food annually by 2030, according to Yale research. In the United States alone, $408 billion was spent on food in 2021 that was never eaten. That's nearly a quarter of US food going to waste instead of to those who need it. On Tuesday, July 12, 2022, Mid...
"All in" is how Brent Carl describes an energetic volunteer at Midwest Food Bank New England. That volunteer is Linda Spinelli, and she started volunteering after a tour given by Brent, the Volunteer and Community Relations Manager at MFB. This was during the "open to the community" volunteer events. "From the moment she came to volu...
Tender Mercies meals are designed by dieticians to be more than a rice and beans meal. There is nutrition in every bag. Every serving of Tender Mercies has: • The calcium of one glass of milk• The iron of two and a half cups of spinach.• The potassium of two bananas.• The protein of 3 ounces of fish. With such a nutritious product, MFB wondere...
When people think about donating to Midwest Food Bank, they often think of the three Cs: Cash, Check, Credit card. While these three are very common, there are many ways to make a contribution to MFB. We understand our donors appreciate the opportunity to give in a variety of ways. To make it easy for donors, MFB has assembled instructions and insi...
We've all felt the pinch of rising food and gas prices. But for people who fall into the category of "food insecure," those prices create a budget where the math can't add up. It's not just a hunch that prices are rising. The Consumer Price Index shows an 8.8% increase in food prices in March 2022, the most significant 12-month advance since May 19...
The numbers say Midwest Food Bank gave about $430 million worth of food at no cost to about 2,100 food partners in the U.S. and around the world in 2021. That $430 million number represents the food those food partners receive from MFB - at no cost. That's a big deal as it allows them to use their money in other areas of their ministries - like fue...
A car drove around Waterbury Worship Center Church a few times. It was a day when food was being distributed for free, and volunteer Ruth Ann Barrett noticed the car. That's when she looked for an opportunity to approach the driver and have a conversation. The volunteer team at Waterbury Worship Center built a bridge and eliminated ...
When Jill Welti worked as a dental hygienist, not everyone was excited to see her. "I like that everyone is happy to be at Midwest Food Bank," says Jill. "Not everyone was happy to come to the dentist." Now retired, Jill says spending time at MFB New England fills her time with something purposeful. "I receive much more than I give," says Jill.&nbs...
Podcasts are here to stay, and they have exploded in popularity. Consider this: there are about 4.5 million podcasts registered globally, and 57% of people in the US have listened to at least one podcast (according to thepodcasthost.com). Because podcasts are easily accessible and allow listeners to zero in on content that interests them whene...
Cheryl Poulin offered to "do whatever is needed" when she started volunteering at Midwest Food Bank New England. That offer turned into building automation into our Excel inventory spreadsheets to help us be efficient and accurate. While that might make some people turn in the other direction, Cheryl has taken on the challenge. Volunteeri...
Will R. spends as much time as he can at The Friendship Center. He says it helps him "stay out of trouble." The Friendship Center is one of five Mercy Housing and Shelter programs in Hartford, CT, working to break the cycle of homelessness. This day shelter is where Will eats breakfast and lunch five days a week. He can also take a shower...
One of John Pesaturo's spare-time activities is fixing up used bicycles and donating them to children in need. With a giving heart like that, John is a natural fit for Midwest Food Bank. As MFB New England's new Operations Manager, John brings 15 years of warehouse management with him. He is responsible for food procurement, inventory, an...
The numbers are in for 2021, and it was a year of blessings. Midwest Food Bank spent $14 million and distributed $430 million worth of food. Put another way, for every dollar donated to MFB, $31 worth of food was given to those in need. MFB serves nearly 2,100 nonprofit partner agencies. Generous donors and dedicated volunteers make those numbers p...
Midwest Food Bank has again received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, the nation's top charity evaluator. MFB has received this recognition every year since 2011. Only 3% of charities receive a four-star rating for ten consecutive years. The rating is based on MFB's demonstration of robust financial health and its commitment to accountabi...
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." - I Peter 4:10 Smiles, food, and cleaning supplies are free on the third Friday of each month at Trinity Covenant Church in Manchester, CT. That's when the church puts ministry in action through Hope 4:10 ba...
We are grateful for God's blessings as we continue our soft launch phase. Warehouse shelving is beginning to fill as we obtain products from existing organizational relationships and new distributors in our region. We are utilizing 30% of our approximately 1,500 pallet positions, containing everything from Kellogg products to first aid items. One o...
Michelle Zelesky heard about Midwest Food Bank New England when she was volunteering at another non-profit. Now she volunteers at MFB weekly, loading vehicles on distribution day, sorting groceries, and operating a pallet jack in the warehouse. "I have seen so much progress in the facility since I began volunteering," says Michelle. "I li...
Brandon Lipps has joined the Midwest Food Bank National Board of Directors. His vast experience in organizational leadership aligns with the mission of MFB. Brandon grew up in the small town of Woodson, TX. He received a B.S. in agricultural economics and a law degree from Texas Tech University. His wide array of experience includes practicing law,...
The images of a natural disaster show hard-to-believe scenes - flooding up to a roof-top, a home destroyed but books still lined on a shelf, charred trees with a fire approaching an urban area, rain and high winds bending trees over. These are familiar sights following floods, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes. In the aftermath, there are people who...
