MINUTES
NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS (NHN) FOOD PANTRY
BOARD MEETING
Open Bible Praise Center
Boonville, MO
1:30 p.m. October 6, 2008
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Present: Virgil Goodin, Randy Richards, Tom Priester, Louise Bolin, Jeanne Pascale, Wanda Vonderahe and Art Schneider.
Not Present: Marsha Goodin, Bobbie Bauer, Hazel Stone and Joyce Roach.
Rev. Randy Richards opened the meeting with a prayer.
September Minutes: Randy moved minutes be approved. Tom seconded. Passed unanimously.
Treasurer’s Report: September 1 balance was $1,652.27. Five expenditures totaling $1,052.61:
- Pantry utilities: $600
- Telephone: $70.30
- Postage: $8.40
- Trash pick-up $303.61: (More than one month. Bills had been sent to the wrong address.)
- Telephone: $70.30
September 30 balance: $599.66
Tom also noted that the food pantry will receive $4,000 from the city gaming funds now that the handicapped entry to the pantry has been repaired.
The treasurer also said $4,692 has been approved by the city for food, gas and insurance. This will be reimbursed when the pantry provides receipts. Grant funds are to be used between September 2 and March 13.
Art asked about food purchases. Tom, Randy and Jeanne
noted that much of the product donated by the Central Missouri Food Bank
does not meet fundamental nutritional
needs. Some of the product is toilet paper and candy. This requires
$700 to $800 a month in food purchases. Local grocers have been very
helpful in selling bulk boxed food
at discount prices.
The reimbursed $4,000 from the city will be used most immediately for food. When the money is received, additional food will be purchased for October distribution.
It also was noted that several downtown businesses are providing discounts on merchandise when residents bring in donated canned foods.
Louise moved and Jeanne seconded accepting the treasurer’s report. Unanimously approved.
NHN By-Laws Change: This modifies the mission by stating a food pantry is part of the mission and places the previously adopted conflict of interest policy within the by-laws.
Tom moved this be accepted and Jeanne seconded. Passed unanimously.
Logo Status: Pat Hanna donated 22 hours to develop and recommend art work for the NHN logo. This is valued at $1,650. Board recognized the generosity and quality of work provided by Pat.
A sample of the logo with red heart and black letters and stick figures was circulated. Wanda asked if there will be a border. None is planned.
The work was accepted per previous board action.
Randy suggested that given the tight finances the pantry order three magnetic signs (two for truck and a back-up which also could be used for other purposes) and a magnetic sign for the entrance to the food pantry. The logo for the food pantry door will include -- in addition to the approved logo -- the words “food pantry entrance”.
Tom asked if the words Boonville or Cooper County, MO. are required. Art called his office and asked the office manger to check with the licensing office. She was told that the location was not required by licensing.
Randy made his recommendation a motion and Tom seconded. Unanimously passed. Randy will work with Pat to arrange for the magnetic signs to be ordered.
T-shirts have not been ordered. Randy was concerned about financial assets. Previously the board approved up to four dozen t-shirts.
A logo on both sides of the shirt will require a $16 set-up fee per side ($32). Randy noted we are going into winter and t-shirts are not as beneficial. It was noted volunteers of the quarter will each receive a free t-shirt.
Agreement that Tom and Randy will get together October 21 when the gaming fund check from the city is received and make a decision on how many t-shirts to purchase. T-shirts also will be sold as a fundraiser. No decision on price. The cost will be less than $6 per t-shirt.
Food for a Spell: Virgil went ahead and initiated this fundraiser. He has worked closely with Tim Fairley. NHN mailed out 200 letters soliciting sponsors and teams for the October 25 event. Sponsorship is $20 for one or two spellers age 16 and older. The goal is 20 teams. Teams will compete at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. At 1 p.m. the winners from the four heats will compete.
Tim has contacted Boy Scouts. The scouts will set up tents for the spelling competition at Dave’s Country Mart. The Scouts also will set up tents at C&R grocery to accept donated food at the same time the spelling event takes place.
The Post Office as part of the October 25 Make A Difference Day will pick up cans at homes that are missed by volunteers.
Virgil said at least five teams would be needed -- a driver and two people to pick up the donated foods -- 15 people total. Ideally 30 people and 10 teams would be formed. The teams start at 9 a.m.
For the spelling bee people are asked to donate three cans of food. Food donors will fill out a ticket for gifts. Tickets will be drawn throughout the day. Individuals must be present to win a prize.
Wanda agreed to work on securing gifts for the drawing. Said least 10 prizes will be needed. Value would be $10 to $20 each.
It was suggested that Linda Lacey be contacted for community service volunteers to assist on October 25.
Virgil will arrange for plaques for the winning teams.
Volunteer spellers also are needed for those businesses or organizations sponsoring a speller or spellers but not designating a speller or spellers.
The president also noted that Newman’s Own (founded by philanthropist Paul Newman) enters in a drawing all organizations that participate in the October 25 Make A Difference Day. The winning organization will receive $10,000.
Donated Food Weight: Figures are incomplete, but NHN did have 370 pounds donated by First Baptist Church, Nelson Memorial Church, Ss. Peter & Paul and donations from a business in Pilot Grove. Six box fans were provided from Prairie Home Methodist Church. Food also was donated by First Presbyterian and First Christian before the scale was purchased. In addition, six box fans were provided from Prairie Home Methodist Church. According to America’s Second Harvest, the national food bank of which Central Missouri Food Bank is a member, donated food has an average value of $1.69 per pound. Based upon the national average, the 370 pounds in contributions would be valued at $625.30.
Earlier this past summer Immanuel Lutheran Church and its vacation Bible school directly purchased more than $700 in food. Last March Midway Locust Grove United Methodist Church donated 112.5 pounds of ground beef. These donations are not included in the total.
Total Hours Donated: Jeanne reported documentation for 1,581.75 hours. This does not include board time or that of many volunteers who worked to prepare the NHN distribution center or who worked at home and office on NHN business.
Using Independent sector 2007 data for Missouri the hourly rate is $17.19. http://www.independentsector.org/programs/research/volunteer_time.html
The value of volunteer time presented here is the average wage of non-management, non-agricultural workers. This is only a tool and only one way to show the immense value volunteers provide to an organization.
This translates to a value of: $27,190.28!!!!!
NHN Food Distribution: Virgil gave the following report for September 2008
- Total families assisted: 361
- Total people served: 1016
- Thursday distribution: 120 families
- Tuesday distribution: 126 families
- Saturday distribution: 63 families
- Total families on food stamps: 160 families
Direct Deposit: Art has not been contacted by Citizens Community Bank to finalize arrangements for direct deposit. He will contact Gayla Smith.
Volunteer and Needs Committee: Randy said that he needed to remove the old concrete to make a pour for handicapped accessibility. This took much more time to break up and remove existing concrete and five bags of concrete to set the walkway.
The Boonville Daily News would like to put an office in its portion of the NHN food distribution center. It has offered to buy the materials and take $400 off rent if NHN volunteers do the work. Randy will work on this.
Fundraising Committee: Virgil said that while it is appropriate for Tom to be a member of the Fundraising Committee, it is unfair to request that he chair the committee and also follow through on all the duties required of the treasurer. A new chair will be appointed at a future date.
Nonetheless, Tom brought forth some ideas that he is pursuing. One is the collection of Best Choice UPC bar codes. He noted that there is a process in which an organization receives money for bar codes selected.
He also noted that Dave’s Country Mart has a program in which a registered not-for-profit gets $10 for every $1000 in Country Mart receipts.
He also suggested cash cans at local businesses where people can be asked to donate their coin change from purchases to the food pantry.
He also noted the Missouri Department of Conservation Share the Harvest deer season program. Hunters donate their deer and processing at a certified station is paid by a statewide organization. The meat is ground into one pound packages.
He said last year 261,000 pounds venison was donated.
Tom will follow-up on his ideas and report back to the board.
Wanda suggested participation in the holiday parade in Boonville. The NHN truck could be in the parade and collect food donations from those coming to watch the parade. This is the first weekend in December and sponsored by Jaycees. She will follow up on this.
Randy will check with local schools to encourage their participation in food fundraisers.
Legal Forms Committee: Art said he needs information about earlier board meetings and information on the Ministerial Alliance 501c3 to submit the application. There also is a $750 fee to go with the submission.
He also distributed a sheet for board members to sign reporting that they have read and understand the conflict of interest that is part of the by-laws.
Resignation -- Leslie Stock: Virgil reported that Leslie has resigned. Board agreed to thank her for her services.
Next Meeting: It was requested that meetings be changed to 3 p.m. from 1:30 p.m. Virgil needs to be back at Harvest House by 4:30 p.m. After discussion, consensus to start meeting at 2:30 p.m. at Open Bible Praise Center.
Meeting adjourned at 3:24 p.m.
Red minutes’ corrections/clarification as result of November 3 board approval.