...hunger for one is a problem for all. Billy Tatum

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1 Our M ission: Responding to God s love, WAFER p rovides food and wor ks to eliminate hunger...hunger for one is a problem for all. Billy Tatum 50 Million Americans 1 in 4 children don t know where their next meal is coming from. A Place at the Table, a movie released this year, tells the powerful stories of three Americans, who maintain their dignity even as they struggle just to eat. In a riveting journey that will change forever how you think about the hungry, A Place at the Table shows how the issue could be solved forever, once the American public decides as they have in the past that ending hunger is in the best interests of us all. Though this video tells the story of three everyday Americans from a different city, these three stories are the stories of all those dealing with food insecurities. This story could be your neighbor, the child down the street, or the elderly man out for a walk. This is everyday life for many and yet we each have the power to do something about it. For more information you can visit: aplaceatthetable/ #sthash.5heym7xg.dpuf Board of Directors Taylor Haley, President Mike Voss, Vice-President Lee Bluske, Treasurer Don Smith, Secretary Sally Friend Nell Noack Jerry Saterbak Judy Siefert Rev. Mark Solyst Dorothy Stroschein Administrative Staff Erin Waldhart Executive Director Susan Clements Operations Manager In this Issue: From the Director WXOW Summer Ad Campaign Wish List Gifts In Kind Weekly Donors Meet Angie Food Collections Volunteer Spotlight Senior Share

2 Page 2 The first half of 2013 has been exciting at WAFER! We have been very busy feeding hungry families and yet we have made time to explore some new ideas to do a better job. I can t wait to share all the details with you once we have finalized the plans. As I near my first year anniversary as Director there are many things that I have reflected upon. First, I am so grateful to have the opportunity to put my talents and passion to good use, advocating for individuals and families struggling with food insecurity. This past year has provided growth for me personally, but also incredible growth for WAFER. Secondly, watching and working alongside staff and volunteers, who share the same passion as me, is such an unbelievable experience. Together, the volunteers, staff, and board members work so incredibly hard making sure every need it met. Their hard work is a testament to the commitment each one has for our local communities and the people that live in them. Third, the saying, It takes a village to raise a child can be adapted to apply to this organization. It takes a village to feed a family, but more like 1000 s of families in our case. The village of generous donors, offereing support financially or by giving food, make it possible to provide Food for those in need. One thing is abundantly clear; there are so many people who care about what is happening to people in their own neighborhood. I am so honored to be a part of the work we are all doing. Erin Waldhart, Executive Director The busyness of summer, vacations, and long days spent outdoors donations ten d to result in less donations coming in to the food pantry. However, hunger knows no season, it is present each day. In fact, families struggle just a bit more during summer break since there are more mouths to feed more often. Nearly 50% of local school children qualify for free and reduced meals, Awareness about hunger and WAFER s needs are shared through a commercial created by WXOW and supported by these businesses: Brown & Brown Endodontic Specialties of La Crosse Agri-Mark Cass Street Pharmacy Mayo Employees Credit Union Marine Credit Union Dairyland Power Coulee Bank Did You Know? During the first half of 2013, WAFER. * distributed 9196 food packages. * helped 386 new families. * gave out 666,600 pounds of food. * volunteers gave 4899 hours.

3 Page 3 Thank you to our faithful weekly donors! Aldi Kwik Trip Linda s Bakery Panera Sam s Club Starbuck s Target Walmart Thank you for your Gifts In Kind: The Parenting Place -for office dividers and a file cabinet CBS Graphics -for organizational business cards Ann Brice -for maintaining and updating our database Kate Gerrard, Dan Schmitz, Channel One, and Kwik Trip -for providing freezer space Kwik Trip, Viking Supply, Wisconsin Building Supply, and First Supply -for providing a truck and a driver to collect and deliver food collected at Rotary Lights. Ryan Richardson, Copper Moon Marketing -for donating City 10 discount cards Wish List In addition to food items, we could use: Can Openers Office Supplies (such as copy paper, tape, sheets to print labels-avery 8160, etc. Baby Formula, preferably GoodStart To receive WAFER updates simply contact us with your address or sign up electronically on our website: newsandevents/newsletters Z93 and ZCare Fundraiser Thanks to Brittany Styles and Jen O Brien who organized and promoted the event! You can make electronic donations on our website or through these websites (processing fees vary): www1.networkforgood.org

4 Page 4 Ace Hardware Brice Cohey Consulting, Inc. Channel One Food Bank Chapter #23 Order of Eastern Star Check into Cash Christ Episcopal Church Congregation Sons of Abraham Coulee Region Kiwanis Club DuraTech Industries Ecopark Earth Fair English Lutheran Church First Baptist Church First Congregational Church First Congregational Church First Presbyterian Church First Presbyterian Church Fishes & Loaves Fowler & Hammer, Inc. Gateway Area Boy Scouts Good Shepherd Lutheran Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Goodwill Industries Grandmas Gone Wild Great Lakes Cheese Gundersen Health System Hedge Hog ATV Holiday Express Thank you to the following organizations for donating food from February through June. Holmen Park & Recreation Holy Trinity Catholic Church JC Penny La Crosse Concert Band La Crosse Public Library Lax Ch. Of Ashrae Macy's Marine Credit Union Melrose Garden National Association of Letter Carriers Neighbor for Neighbor Food Pantry North American Squirrel Assoc. North Presbyterian Church North Presbyterian Church Olivet Lutheran Church Onalaska Church of Christ Onalaska Emergency Food Basket Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Our Savior's Lutheran Church Our Saviors WELCA Parenting Place PEO Sisterhood Chapter CR People's Food Cooperative, Inc. Potato King Quillin's IGA Island English Lutheran Church Red Balloon Roncalli Newman Parish Sara Lee Bakery Southern Bluffs Elementary School Sprint St. James Catholic Church St. John's United Church of Christ St. Joseph Cathedral St. Luke's United Methodist Church St. Paul's Lutheran Church Sunray Farm The Company Store The Cvikota Co. Three River Waldorf School Trinity Lutheran Church Trinity United Church of Christ Troop A UWL Villa St. Joseph Walgreens Warehouse Night Club Wesley United Methodist Church West Salem Middle School Wettstein's Willow Creek Ranch Women of the Moose WTC SHRM Meet Angie Angela Garavalia, born with Spina Bifida, hasn t let her disability affect the amount of involvement or positive impact she can have within her community. Though she has struggled with many health challenges over the years, she never struggles to bring her positive and caring attitude with her when she volunteers. A volunteer-aholic, Angie works three days a week for WAFER and two days a week for another non-profit in town. She is quick to tell others about the positive experiences she has at WAFER. Angie loves WAFER, the employees, the regular volunteers, and the feeling of joy she receives by helping to make a difference for others. Angie is just one of the tremendous volunteers who give so generously of their time day in and day out. Together, with the board of directors and staff, we are making a difference for 1000 s of families each month.

5 Page 5 Spotlight on VOLUNTEERS Every month volunteers give more than 1000 hours to WAFER, valued at nearly $20,000. The day-to-day labor they provide gives client families a much more enjoyable visit. There are many things that need to be done on a daily basis such as stocking shelves, repackaging food, unloading trucks, cleaning, filing, sorting, labeling, picking up donations, working special events, and working directly with the clients. The regular volunteers are here because they want to be, enjoy their time here, and are a joy to be around. It would be wonderful to honor each and every volunteer we have, but the following were chosen as the top hour donors from February through June. Lo-Ken Chang (166 hours) Tomee Genz (145 hours) Sam Hill (127 hours) Tiffany Buckner (93 hours) Lou Wuensch (78 hours) Thank you! Behind the Scene; Senior Share At the beginning of each month, volunteer Jim Baus is very busy. Jim packs food boxes for each of the seniors who participate in the Senior Share program. Participants receive a box of canned goods, bread, eggs, a milk coupon, and frozen meat. Preferences and dietary restrictions are taken into account when packing the food package. Volunteers from WAFER and RSVP along with WAFER staff deliver these food packages to a number of senior housing units, meal sites, community halls, and individual residences for the ~200 seniors who utilize this service. How important is the Senior Share program? Extremely! One morning in May, Operations Manager Susan Clements, received a phone call from a 93 year-old man still living in his own home. He called inquiring about the program stating he hadn t eaten in days and the cupboards were empty. Susan packed him a box of food, including the Senior Share application, and dropped it off at his house on her way home from work. This story isn t uncommon and yet it is the very reason that WAFER offers a variety of programs in addition to food pantry services.

6 WAFER 403 Causeway Blvd La Crosse, WI waferlacrosse.org NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID LA CROSSE, WI PERMIT NO. 103 WAFER is a United Way agency