MFB Normal has implemented a new inventory system, paving the way for MFB's other locations. The system, Primarius, includes scanning bar codes on pallets, which is quite different from the 20 years of using Excel spreadsheets. An implementation team has been meeting weekly for 18 months to prepare for the launch. The switch took a great deal of pl...
Executive Director, Marcie Luhigo, Midwest Food Bank, Indiana is proud to announce Lisa A. Patton Patton and M. Paige Oliver have joined the Indiana Advisory Board. Lisa A. Patton is the Senior Corporate Relations Manager for the American Cancer Society of Indiana where she engages the corporate community to support the efforts in raising funds and...
Independence and hope are two things Happy Tails Service Dogs provide to their clients in the Phoenix area. For more than 25 years, this nonprofit has helped people with disabilities train their own service dogs, all free of charge. These weekly classes, held for 15 months, give their clients the tools to train their dogs in up to 25 commands speci...
Grief was channeled into faithfulness 15 years ago when Georgina Johnston's two-year-old daughter passed away.During that time, Georgina's sister suggested they do something for the Lord. That something was taking $500 of their own money to buy food, taking it to the streets of Phoenix, Chandler, and Mesa, and giving it to people who need it. ...
Like many food pantries, Livingston County Food Pantry saw an increase in people needing food during the pandemic. They shifted their operations but remained open because building a relationship with their clients is vital to them, says Bill Fairfield, a volunteer."Midwest Food Bank has partnered with Livingston Food Pantry for over 13 years," says...
With just five volunteers, Manna From Above gets food and hygiene products to 11,000 people each year. They are one of the nonprofits that receive food, free of charge, from Midwest Food Bank, Georgia."Manna From Above runs an efficient operation effectively serving those in need," says Gail Frantz, Operations Manager at MFB. Recently, Manna From A...
What happens when you connect the resources of Midwest Food Bank and a corporate donation? 968 food boxes get delivered every week to people that live below the poverty line.For several years MFB Peoria has delivered food to Harlan, Kentucky, where 43 percent of the population has an income below the poverty line. A semi of food is loaded at the wa...
We get excited about equipment at Midwest Food Bank. That's because it helps us safely and efficiently fulfill our mission.At MFB Florida, the excitement is real because three pieces of equipment are now part of the fleet - a forklift, a refrigerated utility trailer, and a semi-truck."While the upfront equipment expense is costly, it ensures the re...
At work and at church LaDonna Orr was encouraged to serve and volunteer. She first volunteered with a group from work several years ago, and then a recent message at church about service re-enforced that idea."LaDonna is an amazing ambassador for Midwest Food Bank Peoria," says Dominica Rogers, Community Relations and Volunteer Manager.LaDonna reti...
One of the privileges of Midwest Food Bank is adding new non profit partners and learning about the work they do. MFB recently added Broken Butterflies to the list of agencies that get food, without charge, at the Florida warehouse.Broken Butterflies creates a long-term recovery plan for people with addictions. They reintroduce former prisoner...
As she finishes her college education and looks ahead to working in the nonprofit sector, MFB Florida intern Caitlyn says her experience helped her expand skills she will use in her professional career."I witnessed the incredible impact that a dedicated group of individuals can have on the lives of those in need. It was a privilege to be part of a ...
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...
What started as a requirement ended up being an experience for Florida Gulf Coast University student Elise.She initially volunteered at Midwest Food Bank Florida for the Winter Harvest fundraising event as a service hour requirement for her degree. She has completed that requirement but also experienced the accomplishment of assisting others and co...
A bag of groceries feeds the body, mind, and spirit. That's what happens when clients drive through Gettysburg Baptist Church each month for their food distribution.The church ministers to a largely rural area in Adams County, Pennsylvania, providing a well-balanced variety of food groups and volunteers offering prayer and invitations. Recently a g...
Problem-solving has been the theme at Midwest Food Bank Pennsylvania for the last year or so. With current food partners requesting additional food and new partners being added, it was time to look at the warehouse and make improvements."Kudos to our staff, volunteers, and advisory board members who have been moving pallets, clearing out rack space...
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...
A Midwest Food Bank Morton volunteer sees the big picture when it comes to getting food to people that need it. Dave not only volunteers at MFB but also at Hidden Manna Food Pantry in Peoria. Hidden Manna is one of the nonprofits that receive food, without charge, from MFB.Hidden Manna is always in need of boxes to distribute food to their clients....
When Henry isn't in school, you can most likely find him volunteering at Midwest Food Bank in Morton."It's fun, and I get to help people," he says.At 12 years old, Henry likes baseball and swimming. He also likes to volunteer. At MFB, he is "certified" in operating the hand-held pallet jack. The day he received that certification four years ago is ...
Lives Changed by Christ, a church with 19 locations in Pennsylvania, take their name to heart. It's a testament to the service they provide. The church partners with Midwest Food Bank Pennsylvania and assists in many ways. Food distribution days at MFB require many volunteers, and some men from LCBC volunteer for every distribution."We're able to s...