Hy-Vee, Inc.’s Post

*** LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS/SUPPORT (Cooking Competition) *** In Bloomington, Indiana, food insecurity runs rampant, creating problems for the community ranging from increased youth crime rates to strain on local hospitals. As an individual with access to nutritional foods, I find it my role as a citizen to play a part in giving back to the community and bringing up those around me. With these principles in mind, RedCapes was born. RedCapes is a student-led volunteer initiative aimed at targeting food insecurity and encouraging students to always look for ways to help others in their community. With the backing of the Salvation Army, we are organizing an iron-chef-style cooking competition, where we estimate over 500 servings worth of food to be made and donated to those in need. We are searching for eager students and professionals located in Bloomington to volunteer some time on November 16 to help make these meals, and the support of kind-hearted donors willing to help bring this project to life. Participants will receive verifiable volunteer hours, and all donors will be provided a full budget breakdown. Our goals are ambitious, but the need for a project of this nature will only grow, as long as these issues aren't addressed. The principles behind RedCapes involve invoking as much community support and volunteer action as possible to make the biggest impact we can -- anyone and everyone can help. This type of project is greater than any one of us. If we do not begin to pool our energy together as a community and set a trend of generosity, harsh realities like youth crime and hospital overload in Bloomington will remain at large -- is that what we want for the future of our home? Use our LinkTree for more information, sign-ups, and to make contributions. Each of us, in some way, is a hero: come wear your cape on the front with us!

On November 28, the U.S. will celebrate Thanksgiving, a holiday that began in what’s now Virginia. Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Specialty Diagnostics business operates a manufacturing facility in Middletown, Virginia. For the past three years, 90 members of our Middletown team have given a Thanksgiving meal to 12 local families that might otherwise go without one. A dozen teams from practically every part of the Middletown operation, from production staff to training specialists, quality managers to warehouse workers, create 12 baskets. The baskets are filled with non-perishable food items needed to make a Thanksgiving meal, gift cards and special vouchers for perishable food, and other items to address a particular family’s urgent needs, such as diapers, hats, gloves or children’s clothing. The kindness of our Middletown team was further shown by including other items, such as puzzles and coloring books. To add some friendly competition to the basket program at Thermo Fisher’s Middleton site, the baskets are judged, and for the second consecutive year, I was honored to be one of the judges, this time remotely. It was difficult to think about anything other than the care, compassion and generosity that went into the contents of each basket, what it will mean to the family who receives it, and how proud I am to work alongside the people of Thermo Fisher Scientific. Once complete, the baskets are delivered to Family Promise Northern Shenandoah Valley, a local non-profit that delivers the baskets to families in need. Family Promise’s local coordinator told our Middleton colleague Hannah Thiel, who co-leads the site’s Community Action Council with Becca Hartley-Cole, “Your teams went above and beyond in bringing much-needed items for families to be able to have a joyous Thanksgiving. One Mom called me crying from her car after she picked up her items.” This program, this week and the upcoming holiday are all reminders to be grateful for all that we have, and to give back whenever we can. Happy Thanksgiving. #QualityProfessionals #QualityAssurance #RegulatoryAffairs #QARA #Regulatory #Quality #QualityControl #QualityManagement #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #Giving Back

With Christmas right around the corner, many people find themselves called to give to those in need. While the season brings out the giving spirit, food insecurity is something people are challenged with year-round. Learn more about food insecurity and how you can help below.   https://lnkd.in/gizEXWQ5

We have a story in the latest issue of Neighbourhood Media detailing all the work we do via Addison Road Food Pantry Camperdown, our low-cost grocery store which makes use of rescued, donated and purchased food to support the local community and its needs. The story (link below) shows how we help feed people from Mission Australia's Common Ground housing project and the nearby Johanna O’Dea Court, a multi-storey NSW Family and Community Services apartment block. It also explains how we serve people living on a tight budget in Camperdown and Glebe, as well as people who come to the pantry from right across the City of Sydney LGA. Most of all, the story is a celebration of our monthly Addi Road 'Let's Get Cooking' sessions (AKA "the Cook-Up"), which offers 260 free hot meals for Mission Australia and Joanna O'Dea residents, as well as those shopping at our Addi Road Food Pantry Camperdown. These sessions involve a monthly cooking demo inside the Common Ground building. Food literacy is the ultimate goal behind Addi Road's Let's Get Cooking program. As well as simply providing a free hot meal (and dessert) each month, we look at helping people to shop AND cook with often very limited funds. Each month there are easy recipes on offer (and ready to be tasted) along extra tips for stocking people's kitchen cupboards; a list of essentials to facilitate simple, inexpensive and nutritious recipes that will match whatever Addi Road Food Pantry might have in stock. It's about building an integrated food ecology for people battling. With a few extra special ingredients over a shared meal as the community comes together: camaraderie and connection. + #Addiroad #cityofsydney #foodrelief #foodjustice #housing #inequality #Camperdown #Glebe #MissionAustralia #homeless #battling #costofliving #poverty #resilience #mentalhealth #wellbeing #nutrition #diet #charity #community #freemeals #cookingworkshop #volunteers #caring #education #connection #letsgetcooking #neighbourhoodmedia https://lnkd.in/gs7vVEvM

Need help with Thanksgiving meals? 211 can help! 🍂🦃 As we gather to give thanks, we want to ensure everyone has access to a warm Thanksgiving meal. If you or someone you know is facing food insecurity this holiday season, 211 is here to connect you with local resources such as: 🍁 Free Thanksgiving meal services 🍁 Food pantries and holiday food drives 🍁 Community meals and outreach programs 🍁 Assistance with SNAP benefits Don’t go through the holidays without the support you need. Call 211 or text your zip code to "898211" to find food resources near you. #ThanksgivingHelp #211SupportsYou #CommunityResources #FoodAssistance

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I would like many to remember that this holiday is not always celebrated with food. Having the abundance of entrées, side dishes, desserts is truly a privilege. In my home city--Toledo, Ohio, experiences significant food insecurity, especially among low-income households. In Lucas County, where Toledo is located, around 21% of residents and 25.2% of children are affected by food insecurity. Many residents face challenges accessing nutritious food due to the prevalence of food deserts—areas with limited access to affordable, healthy food options, particularly affecting neighborhoods with low incomes and reduced mobility options. These food deserts are compounded by economic hardship, as roughly 61% of Lucas County households facing food insecurity fall below the income threshold for SNAP benefits, limiting their ability to access additional food assistance programs. Organizations like the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank play a vital role in addressing this issue by providing food distribution, SNAP outreach, and educational programs. Community initiatives, such as local food pantries and projects like the Little Free Food Pantry and community gardens, further support residents in need. Despite these efforts, food insecurity remains a pressing issue that requires continued community and policy efforts to ensure equitable food access and support for Toledo's vulnerable populations. This year my church helped by providing gift certificates for food to members of our community to promote community presence as well as helping those in need. If you are able, you should try to provide others with food or you can invite others to your home to help with the prevalent food insecurity of today! #publichealth #socialdeterminantsofhealth #foodinsecurity #publichealt #toledo #food

You and your family are most likely preparing for Thanksgiving today, but for almost 1/5 of America, Thanksgiving is a painful reminder of inequity and food insecurity. Use this holiday to reflect on what makes you grateful, and remember that what may seem standard to you is inaccessible to some families. Click the link in our bio to learn more about and get involved in our mission to end food insecurity. #ChildrensHealthWatch #Thanksgiving #FoodInsecurity

Happy Thanksgiving!  As we gather this week, let’s celebrate the work done and still to be done to help our food insecure neighbors in need.  Last month, I shared my goal to save $4Billion of food by 2045 through Last Mile Food Rescue, Inc. in Ohio and Kentucky and Tamiami Food Rescue in Florida. The occasion was the 2024 Food Rescue Hero Conference.   I had the pleasure of being on a panel named "Starting a Food Rescue: Choosing Your Own Adventures" with fellow founders Omar Tarabishi (Leftover Love Inc.), Lori Martin (Haven's Harvest) and Randy Rosens (Food Rescue Dude).  Check out our video here.  https://lnkd.in/eFjrBFaj My Key Points: ·        Founders reframe what possible and are willing to see it through. Food rescue is hard work but worth it. Reframing examples include:  ·        Reframe WTF as WOW TOM FERNANDEZ or WORTH THE FIGHT.  Our daughters keep me in check when I give them advice but they help rescue food.  Last Mile FR is a rocket ship delivering 30% YOY growth and will deliver 4,300,000 pounds of free fresh food in 2024. ·        Reframe IDGAF as I DELIVER GREAT AMOUNTS OF FOOD.  When people say No to food rescue, they just need more time to say Yes. Keep thinking “I deliver great amounts of food” and soon new donors will say, “I donate Great Amounts of Food”.   ·        Reframe FAFO as FEEL AWESOME FEEDING OTHERS. When someone is difficult, belligerent, unhelpful, reframe the situation by reminding them to feel awesome feeding others. Collaboration is the only way forward. Being a founder is difficult but not even comparable to the difficulty the chronic hungry face.  ·        The team is everything: The team’s job is hard and oftentimes underpaid for their brilliance. The team cares about the mission. So recognize their monumental contributions.   ·        Set big goals: My goal is to rescue $4Billion by 2045. We are on-track for $0.5Billion in Cincinnati/NKY via Last Mile Food Rescue. I set a goal of $3.5B for Florida thru Tamiami Food Rescue. This sets a vision of what’s possible, energizes allies, engages food and financial donors, gives my teams targets to execute, empowers team to try new approaches, and gives me room to adjust as necessary. Call to Action: ·        We need more founders to scale / we need you ·        It’s difficult but worth it ·        Scale with supporters not detractors ·        Team is everything ·        Ask for help – 513-237-3839(m), tom@lastmilefood.org Happy Thanksgiving!

Massachusetts Courts Host Fifth Annual Statewide Trial Court Cares Food, Supplies, and Clothing Drive It is two weeks until Cultural Appreciation Week, October 21st-25th, and the official kick-off of the Massachusetts Trial Court's Fifth Annual Trial Court Cares Food, Supply, and Clothing Drive which was originally launched during the Pandemic. The Trial Court Cares Drive will begin October 21st and run through Friday, November 22nd, followed by a winter clothing drive from December 1st- 15th. State courthouses and court offices across the Commonwealth are participating in this event. This year, several courts have gotten a head start in planning their events. Last year, more than 20 tons of food was collected during this effort and organizers hope to collect as much or more for food pantries and charitable organizations across the state. More than 260 boxes of cold weather gear - for infants to adults - was collected and distributed last year. Each year, the Trial Court Cares Drive - the largest of its kind in the country - takes place during Cultural Appreciation Week. It is a celebration of the culture and diversity in the courts and community. “There are many families as well as single individuals who are struggling financially and need a helping hand. This drive is our way of supporting the communities we serve and live in," said Carmen Gomez, Deputy Commissioner- Pretrial Services. Bins for non-perishable foods and supplies such as toiletries are set up at courthouses and Community Justice Support Centers across the state. Cold weather gear such as coats, sweaters, socks, hats, gloves, and mittens also will be collected. The Trial Court Cares drive is organized by the court’s Cultural Proficiency Champions, who participate in diversity and inclusion training and assist court users in navigating the court system. The food and supply drive launched during the pandemic when a champion introduced the idea of helping those experiencing “food insecurity.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as "a lack of available financial resources for food at the household level.” Thirty percent - 1.6 million - of adults in Massachusetts do not know where their next meal is coming from. One in five children in the state lives in food insecure homes, according to Feeding America. #MassachusettsTrialCourt #MassachusettsProbationService #foodinsecurity #fooddrive

GIving back is so important