I am deeply humbled to be writing my first Food for Thought as the new Executive Director of Emergency Food Network. Our previous Director, Helen, was with us for over a decade and has left a legacy of commitment, stewardship, and service that I am excited to emulate. I am also so grateful to each of you for sharing your time, treasure, and talents with our organization. Thanks to all of you, EFN is well positioned to step into the future.

We are asking all of you to join us in finishing 2018 strong! How can you do that? Please consider hosting an EFN Food and Fund Drive at your organization in the final quarter of the year.

Your food donations will be distributed to our 71 Partner Programs to supplement and add variety to the food on their shelves and will also be used in EFN’s Break Bag Program—which we run in partnership with the Food Connection—to be sure that 2,000 local students receive supplemental 30 pound food bags to help their families get through the Thanksgiving and winter breaks.

Your fund donations will be used as part of our Co-op Food Purchasing program. Through that program we buy rice/pasta, oats, beans, vegetables, fruit, lean proteins, and milk. Milk is a new commodity for us that started at the end of 2017. Our partners tell us that it is a welcome addition to their shelves and much appreciated by guests. With the rising costs of commodities, trucking, and fuel, your support is needed even more now than ever.

Can you or your organization partner with us by hosting an EFN Food and Fund Drive in 2018? Please contact Sam Cook, Volunteer and Activities Coordinator, to receive more information.

We appreciate all that you do for EFN. Thank you for joining us in feeding our neighbors in need.

In Gratitude,

Michelle Douglas
Executive Director