Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Inc.

Results: FY 2015 Accomplishments: We are currently distributing food to more than 60,000 individuals monthly through our member agency partners (pantries and meal programs). Golf Tournament raised more than $67,000, an increase of $15,000 from the previous year. We welcomed 251 golfers and over 100 dinner only guests who helped us honor Jacqueline Moloney, Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Pantry Raids that took place in September and April collected a combined 32,521 pounds of non-perishable food. Holiday Food Drives added an additional 44,207 pounds of food. Annual Appeal raised $ 64,315 from November through January. Canstruction Boston 2014 – received 44,000 cans from 20 teams of architects and designers from Boston area architectural firms, who designed and built “sculptures” with cans of food. Partnered with Stop & Shop to facilitate ordering and delivery of food to the build location for the teams to construct the sculptures of cans. Welcomed ten new member agencies to receive food from our operation. Continued our formal Community Awareness campaign to include print, electronic, promotion video and transit advertising. We maximized these investments by choosing media partners who provided matching in-kind donations of ad space (The Sun newspaper and Merrimack Valley Magazine) and air time (WCAP 980am Radio and WFNQ 106.3 Frank FM). Increased the participation in our Operation Nourish Program by adding 6 Lowell public schools to distribute supplementary food for students to enjoy over the weekends and school vacations. During the 2013-2014 school year the program served 485 students, the expansion that occurred this year increased that number to 629. The 5 schools added this year include the E N Rogers, McCauliffe, Moody, and Washington Elementary Schools as well as the B.R.I.D.G.E middle school program, and the Literacy Lab at Lowell High School.

Target demographics: Clients include the elderly and disabled, children, families, veterans, recovering addicts, and the working class poor.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 632 students, 128 agencies

Geographic areas served: 47 Cities and Towns within Massachusetts & S. New Hampshire. Merrimack Valley, North Shore, Worcester.

Programs: • Food Distribution Program, an emergency food program that distributes food through a network of member agency programs (soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, as well as day and residential programs) to help eliminate hunger and maintain good health of the underprivileged in 30 Massachusetts and New Hampshire towns. The program operates from our warehouse, stores and distributes federal, state, and donated foods from manufacturers, distributors, retailers, local farmers, and community members. Food Distribution food inventory contains food received by The Federal Emergency Food Assistance Program (USDA/TEFAP), The Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP), and donations from individuals, businesses, and food companies. Agencies who receive food through Food Distribution must participate in a Nutrition and Safe Food Handling Education Program which provides valuable information regarding the safe transportation, storage, and handling of food. • Guy Francesschelli Food Rescue picks up perishable foods three days a week from local grocery stores to be distributed to member agencies in Lowell, Chelmsford, and Lawrence. • Mobile Pantry, a home delivery grocery and health information service for homebound eligible elderly and disabled clients in Greater Lowell. • Summer Lunch, a USDA feeding program operated by MVFB to provide nutritious lunches to youth participating in Lowell summer programs. • Community Market provides fresh produce and other nutritious food products to residents of three Lowell public housing complexes once a week from June through November. • Operation Nourish addresses hunger among Lowell public school children, makes nutritious foods available for students to take home twice a month or healthy snacks to eat at school, giving students a boost of energy to get through the school day.