It was the best of time and the worst of times but we pressed on for our united mission to offer food, friendship and hope to improve health and wellness for low-income seniors/disabled in Guilford County. Each month 450+ seniors and families receive food. This is accomplished with the help of many community volunteers, over 150 each month. These volunteers comprise a varied selection of ethnic, financial, and social economic backgrounds which adds a rich eclectic mixture of community volunteers.
When a local agency contacts FAI we set up in home interviews with each person. This initial phone interview quickly establishes eligibility for the program. The in-home interview gives further information about the applicant’s situation. They receive information about community offers which may be of use to them in situations not covered or handled by FAI. The in-home interview takes the welfare stigma out of the offering and it becomes friend helping friend.
We love to tell the stories of participants and volunteers! Remembering one of our FAI senior participants, Hal Sieber (80) died in July from heart problems. Native of WeeHawken, NJ. He was a friend of Mayor Keith Holiday’s. Served as public relations director of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce from 1966-1973. Speechwriter for John F. Kennedy and worked for social justice in Greensboro. His passion was to recruit black members to the Chamber. He wrote Holy Ground, a history of African Americans in Greensboro. He served as an editor of Carolina Peacemaker. He was a man of great compassion. In 2002 he received the national Peace prize of St., Francis from the Secular Franciscan Order of the USA. He was a catalyst for change. (newspaper article in today’s paper)
I first met Hal Seiber on 6/30/07 when I went to his place for a Food Assistance interview. His African American wife had just died 3 weeks before. He was in great mourning but also celebrated her life. He had many health issues but still had a passion for change. He was an engaging conversationalist and I stayed much longer than my normal visit. Because his stories were so fascinating and he enjoyed the conversation. When he went into assisted care, his volunteer was very concerned. Hal had a way of making you feel very special and of great worth. He was totally a man of great vision and heart. We miss you already, Hal.
July Service Learning Guilford County Schools. July was a busy month for FAI. We were selected to host for of the four Service Learning Teams (from many schools) of Guilford County schools for the summer. This team focused for four weeks on producing marketing and promotional materials for FAI. These eight selected students and one teach really gave of themselves and had a united desire to address issues of poverty ion GC. Many have expressed interest to continue serving with FAI.
International Visitors from Africa. FAI was also host to 14 selected international visitors from Africa through the State Department in July. These leaders from many regions in Africa were here to learn and volunteer. They blessed us by their focus on working and helping at the warehouse. We are hopeful that they received ideas and practical applications they could take back to implement in their regions in Africa. FAI went global.
Volunteer teams come to the warehouse each month to help with the monthly distribution. It is a fun, organized chaos and the teams love it. We encourage company, civic, congregational teams to sign up for a month to help with the Groceries on Wheels (GOW) monthly distribution. Groups can also sign up to help with the Christmas or Easter gift bags and is a great holiday project for a team looking for something beyond the office party. Giving of ourselves never gets old and has been proven to keep us younger.
A true win - win situation. Bottom picture is volunteer Kenneth Laird talking with someone at the 9/11 Memorial at the Amphitheater at the Greensboro Coliseum. Kenneth and his son Eric have been a long-time volunteer with FAI. Hear it in Kenneth’s on words the impact FAI has on both of them. “I want to personally thank your organization for adding a new spirit of giving in my life.
Food assistance has allowed me to realize just how blessed we are by God to live in a country where people care so much for those in need. Food assistance has allowed me to see poverty, poor living conditions in a whole new light and forced me to appreciate what God has blessed me with on a new spiritual level. My spirit of giving was motivated by the loss of a large income job about nine months ago. I felt compelled to understand my circumstances by helping others in need. I found your program online thru Angel Food Ministries that your group also provides. After my first meeting with you I wanted to get involved. Delivering food is now a monthly highlight as my seven year old autistic son and I go from home to home in High Point hugging and shaking hands with those in need of food. Over the Christmas Holiday my family and the Deep River Church of Christ (thru God's good graces) was able to aid one of the most needy on my delivery route. Christmas was completely bought for her grandchildren as well as much needed warm clothing for the children. Another simply wanted a big holiday ham which I was able to deliver on Christmas Eve. God has blessed me more than ever before and to Food Assistance I offer a sincere thank you.”
This year FAI participated in the Human Race and used it as one of our fundraising focuses. It was a learning process and we collected $1,500. This year we will have more participating teams to walk and run with teams from some of the local universities and businesses. Tannerbaum-Sternberger Foundation, St. Francis Episcopal Church and Food Lion Foundation were grant funders. Lincoln Financial was a major grant funder and also donated funding for the purchase of a cooler. This cooler is used for the produce and eggs we distribute to our participants. It maintains a temperature at 40 degrees and holds a large amount of items. Just being able to add a functional piece to the freezers and refrigerators allows the addition of more nutritional produce to the foods distributed. It helps to be able also have these items to deliver more nutrition to some of the crisis situations which we address from some of the referrals we receive. Some of our referrals are people who do not fit our senior criteria but are still in need of temporary assistance.
North Carolina ranks 6th in food hardship in the nation (23.5%) and one in four Triad residents does not have enough money for food. 2010 statistics point to 19.5% of seniors live in poverty. With many budget cuts our senior population are the most vulnerable to have the advances made to provide services to them cut. 30 % have had to choose between paying for food and paying for medical care. Over the next ten years the number of Americans aged 65+ will increase by one-third, reaching nearly 55 million by 2020. The projected food insecure seniors are projected to increase by 50% in 2025. Many seniors are relying on nutrition food programs and food distribution programs to get by each month.
This year one of our long-time participant seniors turned 101 and she is very precious to us as a reminder of why we do what we do. We continue to help these seniors be more food secure and nutritionally healthy remaining independent and functioning with a high quality of life. Helping community volunteers make connections breaks down social, economic and racial barriers and helps us all realizing that only by the grace of God go us.
Volunteers are teaching their children to be community minded and always be ready and willing to help their fellow neighbors. Teaching us all to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. High schools and universities are becoming more pro-active to address the issues of hunger.
It is important that people contribute donations monthly, quarterly or yearly to help FAI continue to offer assistance to those least likely to be able to help themselves. Our budget is trim and lean but accomplishes the desired outcomes. Consider making a donation. $100 purchase 526 pounds of food. $1000 pays a month’s rent on the warehouse and small steps make the impossible possible by opening many doors for building relationships. Be a part of making a difference and bring good changes to your community.