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OUR MISSION To help improve the food security and the nutritional value of food for Imperial County residents in need without regard to race, national origin, religion, gender, disability, medical condition or age, and to work as anti-hunger advocates at local, state and federal levels. WHO WE ARE Imperial Valley Food Bank (IVFB) is an independent, non-profit charitable corporation, created and operated for and by residents of Imperial Valley with the purpose of feeding those in need living in Imperial County. The food bank was established in 1991 after a college professor and his students identified the need for a food pantry in Imperial County and took action. The class began distributing food from a garage in 1991. Since then, and in response to the apparent needs of Imperial County residents, IVFB grew in size, structure, and purpose. Thanks to rural development grants from the United States Department of Agriculture in partnership with the County of Imperial, IVFB now operates a dozen unique programs within over 12,000 square feet of warehouse and office space at its facilities in the city of El Centro, serving an average of over 12,000 individuals in need each month. HOW WE DO IT IVFB’s primary functions are to resource nutritious food and allocate and distribute it to non-profit partner agencies in the Imperial Valley who distribute the food directly to local residents in need. Partner agencies operate in any of three forms: as a food pantry, which redistributes packaged food to its clients; as a congregate feeding site, also known as a soup kitchen, in which the food is prepared and served in the form of meals; and/or as a temporary shelter in which clients reside and are provided with prepared food by the shelter staff. Some of IVFB’s larger partner agencies include the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, Neighborhood House, Campesinos Unidos, Imperial Valley Housing Authority, the Sister Evelyn Mourey Center, and numerous faith-based organizations. IVFB also partners with local schools and government entities that exist to provide services to low-income residents. These community partnerships exist to ensure the best possible care and reach to anyone in need living in Imperial County. Click here to learn more about IVFB's food assistance programs. INTERESTING IVFB FACTS · For every dollar donated to the food bank, 96 cents goes directly into our food assistance programs. IVFB’s dedicated staff works hard to stretch its dollars to the full extent. By doing its own fundraising and through creative use of resources, IVFB is able to keep overhead and administrative costs at just 4%. · The food bank has a relatively small paid staff of seven individuals. Volunteers are absolutely critical to our operations. In 2009, volunteers provided the equivalent of two full-time employees. · IVFB is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code as a non-profit organization. It is an independent organization that is neither affiliated with nor endorses any faith or political party. · As a result, in part, of the increased demand brought on by the economic crisis and the resulting generous response by residents, organizations, the business community and the government, IVFB’s total 2009 distribution in pounds exceeded that of the two prior years combined. · In 2009, IVFB became a Partner Distribution Organization of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization. With help from Yuma Community Food Bank, a Feeding America “Member Food Bank”, IVFB receives bulk food donations from large national corporate donors such as Kraft, Dole, Kellogg’s and Quaker to name a few. Feeding America’s network of both national donors and food banks across the country enables IVFB to stretch its donated dollar to the fullest extent. · Local donors are absolutely vital to our ability to meet the needs of our clients. In 2008, Imperial Valley Food Bank saw a major increase in donated product with operational and financial assistance from its friends at Feeding America; the “Farm to Family” program operated by the California Association of Food Banks; a grant from MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger; and the local business community. Our small fleet of three trucks works to receive food from the local grocery stores, growers, packing sheds and from organizations, businesses and individuals that give of their own time and energy to conduct community food drives for the benefit of those we serve. · In 2009, IVFB distributed an incredible 750,000 lbs of nutritious fresh produce - three times as much as the previous year, thanks, in great part, to the kind and generous local business community. · Along with local national retail grocery chains Lucky, Walmart, Food 4 Less and Target, began receiving donations of safe, healthy food supplies that, due to strict corporate regulations, may no longer be sold at retail. Since the program’s commencement in July 2008, IVFB has received over 115,000 lbs of food from national grocery chains operating in Imperial County. · IVFB is the sole designated Imperial County distribution center for the Emergency Food and Shelter program, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, and administered by California Department of Social Services. The EFAP program, also commonly known as, “USDA Commodities” is IVFB’s largest program.
IMPERIAL VALLEY FOOD BANK EXECUTIVE BOARD 2009 - 2010
IMPERIAL VALLEY FOOD BANK STAFF
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