 |
 |
|
|
| PRESS RELEASES |
 |
| |
|
| |
| San Diego Food Bank announces new programs, board members
|
| By ELIZABETH MALLOY, The Daily Transcript |
| |
Friday, October 5, 2007 – The San Diego Food Bank announced two new government food contracts and new supply agreement with Vons grocery store Friday, along with a new slate of executives.
The state contracts include access to the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost, has been officially awarded to SDFB as an independent organization in agreement with the California Department of Social Services, Neighborhood House Association and SDFB.
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program, or CSFP, works to improve the health of low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, new mothers up to one year postpartum, infants, children up to age 6 and elderly people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA commodity foods.
Combined, these two programs account for 6.8 million pounds of food that support San Diego’s hungry each year, according to the SDFB. Both agreements are expected to be in place by Nov. 1.
With over 130 distribution sites, these programs serve 43,000 individuals each month. Both contracts are for three-year terms, according to SDFB.
In a new partnership with Vons, the SDFB will now be receiving food weekly. Every Thursday, Vons will be delivering a truckload of non-perishable food items to SDFB, which the food bank will then distribute among its 260 charities and distributors. The partnership increases SDFB’s food supply by an estimated 1.5 to 2 million pounds of food each year. In addition to food supply support, VONS and SDFB also have joint plans for various fundraisers and food drives to be held throughout the upcoming months.
SDFB announced a new slate of board members as well. The board will continue to be led by Chairman Eugene “Mitch” Mitchell, Regional Vice President of External Affairs, San Diego Gas & Electric, with Stephen Cushman, President, Cush Enterprises as SDFB Board President.
“We are working diligently on course as reflected by our achievements shared today,” said Mitchell. “I am confident that the new leadership under the direction of Steve Cushman and the executive slate will continue this positive momentum to guide the organization to a more stable and positive future.”
The new slate of executive officers is led by Steve Cushman as president. His fellow executive officers include: Larry Cleary, vice president and general manager for construction equipment at Qualcomm Inc. as SDFB Board Secretary / Treasurer; Mitch Berner, president of Public Solutions and Marlyn Denter, director of public affairs for Vons as SDFB board co-vice chairs; and Richard Friedlen, president and chief executive officer of SYSCO Food Services and Jennifer Perkins, director of marketing for Eat Drink Sleep as SDFB board members at large
In San Diego County, more than 813,000 individuals will experience some form of food insecurity this year. As the central repository and distribution point for 30 years, SDFB is a critical component to the welfare of a large population of San Diegans.
|
|
|
|
