For our most recently concluded fiscal period of July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006, the Foodbank distributed 8,176,494 pounds of food, representing an increase of 163,510 pounds, or 2%, over the previous fiscal period.
Community nonprofit organizations withdrawing food from the Foodbank increased by 4 501(c)3 agencies this fiscal period, growing from 215 to 219. These agencies comprised a total of 460 programs assisting the Virginia Peninsula's needy and hungry.
The number of participants utilizing the Nutrition Education Self Sufficiency Training Program grew by 29% this fiscal year, providing nutrition, food safety and basic living skills training to 25,873 low income, at risk individuals, empowering them to strive towards meeting their own nutritional, financial and self-actualization goals.
The Kid’s Café Program has grown to 24 sites with 184,754 meals or nutritious snacks served in FY 2005 – 2006. Kids Cafes provide nutritious afternoon meals or snacks to under-privileged school children in a safe, caring and learning environ-ment.
Through partnerships with six Title I elementary schools, (defined as schools with a population of greater than 50% of the children receiving free or reduced price fed-eral school meals), our Food For Kids Program provided weekly throughout the school year nutritious bags of food for over 380 children. These distributions con-sisted of a variety of produce, bread and other kid friendly, yet nutritious food items, and amounted to 93,307 pounds this fiscal year, a 31% increase over last year.
This past year our Prepared and Perishable Foods Program rescued 66,093 pounds of food that would have otherwise been discarded, a 20% increase from last year.
Our Community Gardens Program continued promoting nutrition, self-reliance, and ur-ban beautification by our participation in the Plant A Row for the Hungry Program.
A total of 41,106 volunteer hours (including 25,050 hours in the SHARE Program) were contributed from throughout our service area, saving $741,552 in salaries (based on a value of $18.04/hour as determined by the Independent Sector) in support of the Foodbank and its hunger relief programs on the Peninsula in FY 2005 – 2006.
Functional expenses for support services (management and general as well as fund raising) amounted to only 22.68% before the value of donated food distributed is considered. Correspondingly, 77.32% of our expenses were devoted to program services which go directly to our neighbors in need on the Peninsula. When the value of donated food distributed, which amounted to $10,911,808 is taken into account, over 97% of our expenses are devoted to program services, with less than 3% being utilized for support services of fundraising and management and gen-eral.
Total Functional Expenses (excluding the value of donated food distributed and the cost of goods sold for purchased food), were 15.30 cents per pound of donated food distributed. This represents a 3% decrease from last fiscal year. For less than 20 cents, which is much less than the cost to mail a first class letter, the Foodbank can provide enough donated food for a meal. For every dollar contributed, the Foodbank provides nearly $10.00 worth of food. This same dollar is also an amount sufficient to supply close to five meals.
2005 - 2006 Highlights