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K A L A M A Z O O L O A V E S A N D F I S H E S

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Business Office 269-488-2617 Food Request Line 269-343-36

Fax: 269-343-3669 Email: info@kzoolf.o

May 2008

Were All In This TogetherANNUAL MEETING

HIGHLIGHTS 2

UPCOMING EVENTS 2

CONTRIBUTIONS

ROLLIN IN 3

GREEKS DONATE CANS 3

WISH LIST 3

DONATION COUPONS 3

CELEBRATIONS AND

MEMORIALS 4

In the month of

March alone,

KLF distributed

Approximately

2,300 boxes of

macaroni & cheese

More than 970 jars

of peanut butterand

Nearly 900 loaves

of bread

to 1,771 households

in Kalamazoo

County.

Things in Michigan are tough rightnow. Were talking about theeconomy almost as much as the

weather. Ensuring food security for al lKalamazoo County families and individuals

has never been needed more or been such abig challenge.

Food costs are rising Steadily risingfood costs arent just causing groceryshoppers to do a double-take at the checkoutline theyre also changing the ways wefeed our fami lies. At $., the averageprice of a loaf of bread has increased %since January . In the past year a lone,the average price of a carton of eggs hasincreased a lmost %.Kalamazoo Gazette, April ,

he reality of rising food prices ishitting every one of us, ever y day, in ourpocketbooks. For the most vulnerableindividuals and families in our communitiesthe challenge of feeding themselvesatallincreases with each rising cost.

Fuel costs are risinghe averagehousehold has paid $ for heat this winter,% more than la st year, forcing familiesto make difficult choices between heat

and food. For many of Michigans workingfamilies, it means turning to local foodbanks to fill the gap, according to the FoodBank Council of Michigan.Grand Haven ribune, March ,

Local food pantries are feeling thecrunch Across the st ate and country,rising costs in many basic areas of dailyliving frame the work at local food pantries.Most are seeing h igher volumes of peopleseeking emergency food resources while,at the same time, lower levels of food and

money donations. Sources of no-cost andlow-cost food also continue to decrease,meaning more food has to be purchasedoutright to meet requests.

KLFs experience We continue to

struggle to keep up with the demand,particula rly for items such as pea nut buttetuna fish, canned and boxed dinners, fruitand juice. Despite generous local food drivKLF has to spend significantly more moneto secure the food resources needed tostock our pantries, says Marvin King, KLWarehouse Director. Service levels, a lreadat record highs, continue to grow steadilyand rapidly, adds Ar t Cole, KLF Ser vicesDirector.

Food Security: Access by all people toenough food for an active, healthy life. hvision and our missionto increase accessto emergency food resourcesfocus ourefforts. We know it will take all of us toensure food security is a rea lity for everyonin Ka lamazoo County, especially in todayeconomic environment. We hope you willwork with us to identify ways K LF canengage the whole community in makingfood security a reality here, even in thesedifficult economic times.

FAST FACTS

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KALAMAZOO LOAVES AND FISHES Page 2

Our Annual Meeting was held on April 21. Here is anoverview of the evenings festivities.We said goodbye to retiring Board members im Charron andBill Goodrich, and welcomed new Board members Patricia Carlin,Robert Ezelle, Chris Kenney, and Martha Simpson. In addition,

Board terms were extended for Leatta Byrd and Donna McClurken.KLF also recognized several of the particularly outstandingvolunteers who, as individuals or groups, have made uniquecontributions to the organization.

Golden Loaf Group

Ronald and Sheryl VanderRoest and children Daniel, Hannah,Benjamin, Rachael, Stephanie, and Rebecca have volunteered as afamily for more than years at Bethany Friendship House, sharingtheir time and resources with people in need.

Golden Loaf Individual

Dan Jeska, whose dedicated service, first as a volunteer and then the

Food Director and Warehouse Manager, has given his time, energy,and friendship to many. Hes been missed since his recent retirementbut continues his support of KLF by mentoring new staff and settingan excellent example of giving.

Willie Webster Outstanding Volunteer Award

Roy & Delores Leftwich have been regular faces around KLF foryears. Delores, a recently retired call center worker, and Roy, afaithful bread gleaner, have demonstrated compassion, caring, anddedicated service, which is the essence of this award.

Marcia Jackson Hunger Advocacy Award

Judy Markusse served as the director of partner agency Ministrywith Community for more than years, and also served on theKLF board. Trough all of her roles, shes been a committedadvocate to ensuring food security for every member of ourcommunity.

5 Year AwardsKim Ameluxen, Ginny Bauhof, Jean Bloch, Mary Carlson,Norm Carlson, Don Flesche, Grace Flesche, Gerhard Fuerst,Marilyn Graber, Dorothy Hudson, Chris F. Ishida, Jim Ishida,Dorothy Larkin, Mark MacCarron, Mary Melzer, Marilyn Mizsak,Marilyn Parthun, Lucy Sellin, Victor Siemers, Katie Stevens,Susan Weng

10 Year AwardsRodger Bengston, Nancy Broomell, Ellen Frisinger, GeorgeGeissel, Bob Gustafson, Eileen Kelly, Jay Kelly, Dorothy Klepper,Bob Klesert, Nancy Klesert, Philip Lyon, Arlynne Reiman, BernieRodee, Beverly Roschek, Helen Sellis, Bernita Tompson, FayWoolrich

15 Year AwardsEmerson Eidson, Dick Tomas

20 Year AwardsMargaret Brigman, Pearl Doom, Joyce Kelly, Janet Kesterson,Delores Leftwich, Bill Neff, Helen Neff, Edna Sipsema, Carol Vail

25 Year AwardIrene Evans

Annual Meeting Highlights Upcoming Events

May 4: Annual CROP Hunger Walk

Registration begins at pm at BronsonPark. Both the . mile WALK and. mile WALK will then begin at p.m. Donations are also accepted

as a substitute for walking. Ifyoure interested in donating orneed more information, visit www.kalamazoocropwalk.org or ca llSue VanderMeer at -, ext. .

May 10: NationalAssociation of LetterCarriers Food Drive

Help Kalamazoo Countysurpass the , lb. mark

on May by donating fooditems during this years LetterCarriers Food Drive.

Tis marks the th year forthe event and it has neverbeen more important to donate food. In alone, KLF saw a %increase in demand for emergency food and it is expected to increaseven more this year. Tis summer is expected to be a very difficulttime for many people, and you can help fill our warehouse.

arget food items for this year are: canned meat, tuna, peanut buttebeef stew (and other main dish items), macaroni & cheese, %fruit juices, hearty soups, and canned fruit.

If youd like to volunteer and lend a hand at the KLF warehouse onMay , please contact Jennifer Johnson at -, ext. , or wrto info@kzoolf.org.

July 5: Baseball, Food, and Funds at this yearsIndependence From Hunger with the KalamazooKings

Te holiday weekend is sure to be an exciting one as KLF and theKalamazoo Kings join forces to promote an evening of Independenfrom Hunger on July during their game against the

Chillicothe Paints.

We will begin to pre-sell tickets to thegame in May/June and are seekingindividuals and organizations thatmay be interested in helping. Apercentage of the ticket sales willgo to Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes.

Please contact Jennifer Johnsonat -, ext. , for moreinformation.

e

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MAY 2008Page 3

WISH LIST

Buy: Your gift of food continues to be essential to our grocerypantry program. As you shop this spring, be sure toinclude KLF in your shopping list. Please consider thefollowing items as part of your list:

May: Beef StewJune: una

Save: Save your pocket change and add it to the Share theDough canister next time you eat at Panera Bread.

All proceeds support Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes.

Do: Help fight hunger while you shop! Enroll in a localrewards program and designate your dollars to KLF.Hardings eScrip - # and Meijer CommunityRewards - #.

Tax rebate checks are being sent out in May.Consider donating part of your tax rebate to help hungry

people in Kalamazoo County.

Please send your contribution by May 26.

KLF Spring Giving CouponX

Amount $ XX

Many children who rely on subsidized meals during theschool year rely more on KLF during the summer.

You can help by contributing food items and dollarsover the summer months.

Please send your contribution by June 23.

KLF Spring Giving Coupon

Amount $ XX

Greeks Donate Cans fromSculpture Competition

The WesternMichiganUniversity GreekCommunity, viathe Panhellenicand Intrafraternity

Councils, helda can sculpturecompetition as partof a communityservice event during the annual Greek Week celebration inApril. he theme was I Love the 90s and 8 teams createdsculptures of various shapes and sizes including the itantic(the film), a Beanie Baby, and video games from that era.

All of the cans from the competition were then donated toKLF. In total, lbs were delivered by Greek members viaa donatedand very fullU-Haul t ruck (see above).

hank you, Greek Community, for your service to t his

community!

Contributions Have BeenRollin In For 26 Years

Dedicatedis a wordthat might begin

to describe AmyWright, owner ofRollerworld, onStadium Drive inKalamazoo. She hasorganized a weeklyfood drive, everyyear, since KLF began in 1982.

As Amy considered ideas to draw people to the rink on one ofthe slower nights of the week, she decided whatever it was alsohad to help the community. So, she began accepting food dona-tions instead of an entrance fee on uesdays, and there began

a lasting commitment to helping hungry people of KalamazooCounty.

Each month, all year long, Amy consults the KLF website forthe latest wish list items and creates a ca lendar that includesa specific Can of the Week or C.O.W. Skaters who bring inthis par ticular can (or jar, or box) on uesday nights between: p.m. : p.m., get free admission.

What began as a way to get people to roller skate on one of theslowest nights of the week has developed into one of the busi-est and most anticipated nights of the week. And best of al l, it

keeps the momentum of giving going strong throughout theyeareven years later.

Volunteer OrientationOrientation sessions for anyone interested in volunteering at KLF

will be offered at KLF Administrative Offices on May and June from a.m. to p.m. Questions? Call Sue VanderMeer at -ext. , or email Sue@kzoolf.org.

Call Center Volunteers Needed!We are seeking individuals with multi-line phone experience andsome computer familiarity who can commit hours a week everymonth. Own transportation required.

Call Sue VanderMeer at -, ext. , or email Sue@kzoolf.or

Panhellenic Council s Jamie Nichols and Joe Semma

Rollerworlds Amy Wright and KLFs Lou Hoekstra

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www.kzoolf.org

913 East Alcott

Kalamazoo, MI 49001

Business Ofce: 269-488-2617

Food Request Line: 269-343-3663

Fax: 269-343-3669

Email: ino@kzool.org

N o n-Pr o

Or gani zat

U. S . Po sta

P A

Kal am azo o ,

Permit No. 16

Gifs were made in honor o: Marcia Barney . Joan Colgrens children & grandchildren . Mary Dobranskys 100th birthdaySharon Foster . Fran & Dick Glasss 50th wedding anniversary . Martin Glista . Amy, Buf, Peter & Ella Grace

Hugh & Crista Grahams 30th wedding anniversary . Marta Gulbis . Shadia KanaanJef Laing & John Bauckham 55-year members o the Round able . Delores Lewichs many years o service to KLF . Mike McMinn

Dick & Pam Nivala . Lula Palmer . Ava Plaszczaks birthday . Linda Powells birthday . Linn Robisons birthdayHappy 12th birthday to Grace, Joe & Andy Santamarias . Eris Smiths birthday . Dr. Gary Wegenkes 70th birthday

Sara Wilson . John Wunderlichs birthday

Gifs were made in memory o: Robert Amrhein . Garrett Andrews . Harold Bahlke . Joe Efrice Barbee . Ron BarinkaBettie Bartells . Mrs. Cecil Beach . Alex Beauchamp . Carlton W. Bradley .Tomas Brucks . Cathy Bryant & Elizabeth Dorbin-Bryant

Richard Burlington . Bruce Burrows . Karen Christopher . Robert Cleland . om Crooks . Steve Dalla . Marguerite Day . Veronica DeBack

Marcus DeRuyter . Nelson Eager . Don & Viola Essink . Jeanne Maltby Fahrenbach . Kay Ferguson . Rhonda Gloede .Vicki HaanDr. Clayton Holaday . Te Holysko Family . Dorothy Horan . Larry Jolife . Marguerite Kolb . Lance Lambert . Virginia May LyonsVern McIntosh Jr. . Edith Morrison CSJ . Jaime Oorbeck . Patricia ORourke . Kusumba Patel . Ruth Peet . Delvin Powell . Ann Raup

Violet Reor . Edna Ring & Esther Ring . Willis Roon . Frances Russell . Fred R. Russell . Peter J. Ryskamp . Almore SchneiderSara Scramlin . Joani Siwik . Bill & Mary Smith . Pat Sommereldt . Dorothy Spencer . David Edward Steere . Anne Oas Szalkowski

Dale VanAntwerp . William VanDalson . Marcia Veld . Dick Voissem . Carl Vonnegut . Nick C. Yicol . Tomas D. Yonkers

Tank you to all those who decided to honor their loved ones with gifts to KLF.Te following gifts were received between February , and April , If your gift arrived after April , it will appear in the next newsletter.

Board of DirectorsJan BrownLeatta ByrdPatricia CarlinGeorge ErickcekRobert EzelleBruce GelbaughMartin Glista

Lynn Jessel

Staff/Business Office: 269-488-2617 ext.Dick Anson, Warehouse Assistant 211Art Cole, Services Director 207Toney Duckett, Call Center Team Leader 201Linda Fitzgerald, Administrative Assistant 206George Geissel, Bookkeeper 206Kathy Gernaat, Operations Director 212

Phyllis Hepp, Project Planner 210

Chris KenneyCheryl KnappSam LealofiDonna McClurkanHarvey MeyersHelen NorrisMaija Petersons

Martha Simpson

eLou Hoekstra, Warehouse Assistant 2 Jennifer Johnson, Communications Coordinator Deb Josephson, Services Coordinator 2Marv King, Food Director 2Anne Wend Lipsey, Executive Director 2Bobbe A. Luce, Com/Dev Director 2Shelley Markle, Warehouse Assistant 2

Sue VanderMeer, Volunteer/Events Coordinator 2