June 5 is National Hunger Awareness Day   National Hunger Awareness Day recognizes more than 35 million Americans across the nation who is living on the brink of hunger.  Food banks, pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters will participate in events to strengthen awareness of hunger in our country.  Locally, Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel proclaimed June 6, 2006 as National Hunger Awareness Day for Evansville, Indiana.    Here locally, more people than you may realize depend on food assistance. Tri-State Food Bank provided food to 284 feeding programs in the tri-state that help low income individuals.  Through our network of agencies, each month, an average of 113,627 people received food from the food pantries and an additional 127,800 receive meals through soup kitchens, shelters, and other on-site feeding programs. They may be your neighbors struggling through a crisis, too proud and embarrassed to let you know they need help.  Many are single parent female head of household, with children under age 5.   Mothers or fathers may come in, requesting food because they have no food at home for their children; paychecks simply did not cover their basic needs.   Right here in the tri-state, 104,223 live at or below poverty.  This does not account for the many that are living on the periphery.    Almost half of the people requesting food are in households with children under age 18. Food recipients are:  primarily female (80%), married (51%), high school graduates (55%), living in rural and suburban areas (64%), and between the ages of 30 and 49 (42%). Most received either social security (SSA) or social security disability (SSDI) (68%). Only 2.6% reported having no income. In 33% of the households at least one adult was employed.   Of the 44% of clients that reported receiving Food Stamps, they stated the benefits run out in within 2 weeks. Tri-State Food Bank, pantries and other feeding agencies in our network must fill this gap. It is not a matter of an inadequate food supply in our country, but that too many to not have adequate income to purchase food and still pay for housing, medical care, and the ever increasing fuel    The needs of our clients are year-round, not just the holidays.  Contact the Tri-State Food Bank at 425-0775, or visit 801 E. Michigan St, Evansville, IN to learn more about hunger issues in the tri-state.   Mary Blair, Executive Director Tri-State Food Bank, Inc.

Tri-State Food Bank, Evansville, IN Wins Leadership Award Leadership Evansville presented the Project Award In Health & Social Service to Tri-State Food Bank’s Backpack Food for Kids Program at a its 12th Annual Celebration of Leadership Thursday, April 19, 2007.  “Winning this award is really special because it reinforces that our organization’s programs are working for the community and really makes a difference”, said   Mary Blair, Director of the Food Bank.  “The success of our Back Pack – Food for Kids program is attributed to John Hillenbrand, Assistant Director and Youth Programs Coordinator.  John worked very hard to raise funds, recruit distribution sites, and create measures to assure accountability and efficiency.” The program provides 6 meals and 2 snacks each week to children at risk of hunger.  Nutritional value is our key focus.  All food for this program is selected by our certified food handler. Pop-top cans are used eliminating the need for can openers.  Non-perishable foods are used including UHT Milk and 100% fruit juice.  Tri-State Food Bank began our Back Pack program last April distributing 10 backpacks through a local agency.  We now have 10 distribution sites handing out approximately 350 to 400 backpacks each week.  We are in the discussion stage with several agencies to expand the program into some of our rural counties.  In 2005, 11,062 (over 50%) of school children in Vanderburgh County participated in the Free & Reduced Lunch Program.   Our goal is to seek new sites and funding enabling us to increase the program throughout our 33-county service area, concentrating on school districts in low-income areas.

 

Dick Lugar

U.S. Senator for Indiana

Contact:  Andy Fisher • 202-224-2079 • Date: 12/08/2006

http:// lugar.senate.gov • andy_fisher@lugar.senate.gov

Senate Passes Hunger Free Communities Act

 

U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar announced Senate passage of the Hunger Free Communities Act, which would result in better analysis of domestic hunger and strengthen local efforts to address hunger through competitive grants to organizations, such as food banks.  Lugar introduced the bill in May 2005 with Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Gordon Smith (R-OR). 

 

“Each citizen can make an important contribution to the fight against hunger at a local level.  Demand on food banks has been rising, and this legislation would help alleviate the increased burden by allowing food banks to identify unique ways to serve their communities with federal assistance,” Lugar said. 

 

“Over the years, I have visited numerous Hoosier food banks and have been especially impressed by the remarkable work of these organizations. In many cases, they are partnered with churches and faith-based organizations and making a tremendous difference in our communities.  We should support this private sector activity, which not only feeds people, but also strengthens community bonds and demonstrates the power of faith, charity and civic involvement.”

 

It is estimated that food banks provide meals to more than 23 million Americans and that 13 million children are hungry or at risk of hunger. 

 

The legislation passed today compliments the Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Act also introduced by Lugar and passed by Congress in August 2006.  This new law allows farmers and small business owners to receive a tax deduction for food products contributed to food banks, pantries and homeless shelters for donations from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2007.  Previously, this deduction was available only to large corporations, not small businesses. 

 

Lugar has long supported Indiana food banks.  He is currently partnered with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana to host a food drive challenge for Indianapolis area corporations and community organizations.  Gleaners Food Bank serves 29 counties in Central Indiana and is the largest food bank in the state. 

 

Lugar is an inaugural member of the Senate Hunger Caucus.  The Senate Hunger Caucus provides a forum for Senators and staff to discuss and debate important hunger issues facing the United States and the world.  Lugar joined the Hunger Caucus to further promote issues that he has long supported, such as incentives to promote charitable food donation, elimination of childhood hunger, foreign food aid, and health promotion.

Household Eligibility Determinations for Disaster or Emergency Evacuees Residing with a Host Family- View National Policy Memorandum

POLICY NO.: FD-063: Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), & Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

Pension Protection Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-280)

President Bush recently signed the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-280), which includes an extension of the special enhanced tax deduction for charitable food donations to all business taxpayers and represents a milestone in the fight against hunger in America.  All business taxpayers?including farmers, ranchers, restaurateurs and small business owners?can reap the same enhanced tax deduction as C corporations for in-kind food donations.  The deduction, equal to the basis plus ? the fair market value appreciation, not to exceed twice the cost, will provide an estimated $250 million worth of new meals for hungry Americans over a 24-month period.

See overview

Firefly Southern Grill hosted a benefit for Tri-State Food Bank on Saturday September 16, 2006.  The Opening Celebration offered menu sampling, hosted bar, live entertainment and a special appearance by Betsy Uschkrat, Miss Indiana 2006.  The event raised $3,030 and 630 pounds of food. Because the food bank can generate $10.00 of food for each dollar received,  this event has the capability for over $30,000  in food for the hungry.

(L-R) Mehmet Kockulah, Tri-State Food Bank Board member,

Mary Blair, Executive Director, Tri-State food Bank, Betsy Uschkrat,

Miss Indiana 2006, Scott Wylie and Joshua Armstrong Firefly owners.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Donation drop off Sites

Businesses wishing to collect Food Donations for Tri-State Food Bank may call Mary Blair or John Hillenbrand at 812-425-0775.  Arrangements can be made for delivery of collection barrels and pick up of product.

Recent News Releases  Contacts:

                                                             Tri-State Food Bank

                                                 Mary Blair, Executive Director   812-425-0775 Office or 454-0708 Cell

                                                 Email: mblair@tristatefoodbank.org

                                                                        or

                                                 John Hillenbrand, Assistant Director   812-425-0775

                                                 Email: jhillenbrand@tristatefoodbank.org

Release date Monday, September 22, 2006 -Evansville, IN

Food Bank Clucking over Protein

Monday, September 25, 10:00 AM Tyson Foods will deliver a truckload of frozen chicken to Tri-State Food Bank to help alleviate hunger in our community.  Susan  Brockway, Mgr., Community Relations for Tyson Foods will also be here for a personal tour of the Food Bank.

Foods with protein are always a welcome gift, said Tri-State Food Bank director, Mary Blair.  We don’t get enough protein food donated, and this will certainly add to the nutritional composition of the products that we provide to over 200 feeding programs in the tri-state. .

Nutrition is vitally important to the people we serve.  Over 35% of people benefiting from the food are children   Approximately 22,600 different people receive emergency food assistance from Tri-State Food Bank agencies in any given week throughout our 33-country tri-state area.

THE PHILHARMONIC'S 10TH ANNUAL FREE CONCERT AT MESKER AMPHITHEATER

ON SEPTEMBER 3rd WILL HELP THE TRI-STATE FOOD BANK

Concertgoers are asked to bring food or cash donations to help feed needy families in the tri-state area.

The Tri-State Food Bank's Assistant Director, John F. Hillenbrand, states, "This event helps the Tri-State Food Bank to provide more food for families in poverty.  Can you just imagine if you could not feed your family?  Thousands of families in our area face this daily dilemma.  Many of our pantries and on site feeding programs are showing an increase number of low­-income families seeking food assistance.  This has created a major challenge for the Food Bank to bring in enough food to satisfy this need.  At present the Food Bank stores are low.  The food and money collected at the concert will help tremendously, and for every dollar collected, the Food Bank can obtain $10.00 in food."

Please come and join in the festivities with the National Guard who will join the Philharmonic for an explosive 1812 Overture.  Local veterans will present the Colors for the Star Spangled Banner, plus get a free preview of what the up-coming “Philharmonic on Fire” season has in store for you.  Enjoy yourself and listen to the symphony under the stars, a great venue for the Labor Day Weekend and your family.

The concert starts at 7:30 P.M., come early, bring your blanket, some food or cash to support your local food bank, and find your favorite spot.

Monday, July 19, 2006 -Evansville, IN

Harvest for All - Fights Hunger in Southern Illinois

Farmers in southern Illinois realize many citizens in their community still do not have the means to afford adequate food. 

Consequently, the Gallatin County Farm Bureau members, in a successful effort to assist their less fortunate neighbors, presented a check today for $1,125 to the Tri-State Food Bank.  Tri-State Food Bank provides food and grocery products to food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other on-site feeding programs in 16 counties in Illinois.

Food Bank Director Mary Blair, said, hunger is a reality for many in southern Illinois.  Over 27,600 people live at or below poverty, of which nearly 9,500 are children.  Food insecurity also affects many more families living on the margin of poverty.  The Harvest for All program will help eliminate hunger for many of these families.

Each dollar the Tri-State Food Bank receives will generate $10.00 in groceries for the needy. 

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