MINUTES

Neighbors Helping Neighbors (Food Pantry)
2:30 p.m. August 24, 2009
Boonville Daily News Meeting Room
(Click Here For Print Friendly PDF Format) 

Present:  Virgil Goodin, Tom Priester, Jeanne Pascale, Marsha Goodin, Louise Bolin, Joyce Roach and Art Schneider.  

Not Present:  Hazel Stone and Randy Richards. 

Excused Absences:  Wanda Vonderahe. 

Open Bible Praise Center not open. Meeting moved to Boonville Daily News meeting room. 

Meeting called to order at 2:52 p.m. 

Tom opened the meeting with a prayer.

Any Items to be added to the Agenda?  Virgil added servicing of truck. Consensus to approve.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Minutes from July Board Meeting
Tom noted Virgil, not he, is applying for $3,000 food pantry grant. Jeanne moved minutes be approved with correction. Marsha seconded. Passed.

Treasurer’s Report
Tom distributed bank statements and monthly report. There is $1,256.01 in the checking account. Savings has $4,538.29. Immanuel Lutheran and Emergency Food and Shelter Grant (EFSG) brought in $2,500 income. CD as authorized by board last month was purchased. Virgil noted that with stimulus funds there should be an additional $800 to $900 that the pantry will receive.

The pantry received $54.18 in interest on CDs -- much more than it was securing before Tom’s C.D. initiative was acted upon.  It was announced that the pantry will receive $3,000 from Wal-Mart and $429 from Rotary. Tom suggested that the $3,000 donation from Wal-Mart be placed in a C.D. After discussion about unknown expense of truck repair, this was tabled.
 

Cash Income July: Tom said donations totaled $499.53.

Cash Expenses July:  Tom said expenses totaled $1105.95

Gas Credit Card Status:  Tom said he has not received word on the credit card application. He plans to apply for AT&T Visa card and possibly other cards for the food pantry truck.

Donated Food Weight Reported in July:  Jeanne reported 3320.4 pounds donated.

Total Hours Donated in July:  Jeanne reported 328.75 hours donated. She also noted that a sheet was missing from the log so there should be additional hours.

NHN Food Distribution in August:  Virgil reported:

  • Total families assisted 332   Total people served 967

  • Thursday distribution 117  families

  • Tuesday distribution 118  families

  • Saturday distribution 37  families

  • Seventeen families with a handicapped member, 38 senior families and five families in emergency also were assisted.

  • Total families on Supplemental Nutrition Education Program (SNAP) formerly the food stamp program 149 families

  • Total families receiving TANF 16 families

Marsha noted that there likely will be a drop next month. USDA food requires Social Security card, bank statement or employment stub/copy of check/ and photo I.D.  This is not required for non-USDA food.  In August the pantry notified recipient families of this requirement starting in September. She was concerned about what to do when families show up without the information. This identification information is a common practice at other food banks. Marsha noted that the families would only need to bring in the Social Security cards once because the pantry would then have a record. Marsha said the books with this information are locked in a safe at Harvest House. Families without proof of income and photo ID would be eligible for non-USDA foods.

Art suggested this is an issue that needs to be board policy and after discussion moved and modified his motion for the board to adopt the following policy: If families that received food in August come for food and do not have the Social Security cards and other requisite information that they be denied food pantry services and those families that did not come in August and do not have all the information be allowed to access the food pantry in September. He further moved that the person verifying the information be given the authority -- in extenuating circumstances -- to provide services. Tom seconded.   Approved.

Marsha noted an instance of a family having a newborn and the child not having yet received a Social Security card. Art suggested that the pantry have one or two boxes on hand that provide for infant needs (excluding disposable diapers unless some have been donated.) Virgil said he would purchase baby food.

 

Update on New Free Computer Program Provided by Sedalia Open Door Food Pantry -- Art reported that it has been installed on laptop and desktop computers. Robert Stinnett, who installed the programs, is on vacation. Should be back this week or next, Art will contact to set up trial run.

 

Cross-Training and Records of Where Things Are, People Contacts:  Art reported still not done for Virgil and Tom.


Food for a Spell Fundraiser:  Virgil filled the board in on “Make A Difference Day” and the Food For a Spell fundraiser that is held that day.  It is October 24, 2009. Open to those age 16 and older. Virgil has organized the task events and needing board members to chair them:

Responsibilities to date:

  • Get prizes:  Joyce accepted this assignment. Minimum of 20 attendance prizes, typically $10 to $20 in value.     

  • Setting up at Country Mart:  Virgil to contact Boy Scouts. They also have tents.

  • Set up spelling questions: Sue Burns

  • Sending letters to potential participants:  Virgil (Joyce also will draft a letter and send to Virgil for editing and to fill in missing information and deliver to the potential donors.)

  • Food pick up:  Marsha and Virgil. It also was noted that the Boonville High School may undertake a door-to-door drive the 24th for the food pantry.

  • Advertising:  Art (Includes mailings. Virgil will provide address list.)

  • Entertainment:  Tim

  • Thank you’s:  Jeanne.

Art requested board members keep detailed logs to be put in the “What if…” file for future years.
 

Barron Fuller—Isle of Capri (Board Member): Virgil said he has called three times and the man has not responded to his calls. He will try again. He reiterated the need to recruit board members.

 Lorraine Hemphill Double Sided Freezer Donation:  Virgil reported the freezer was picked up. It is not a double door.  

NEW BUSINESS


 Wal-Mart Shelving, Refrigeration Equipment:  Virgil & Tom reported it will be October before store furnishings are made available to outside organizations. Other Wal-Mart stores will have an opportunity to secure the furnishings first.  Shopping carts will not be available. They are provided other Wal-Marts or are sent to a Wal-Mart center for repair. No decision has been made on shelving or whether the pantry will seek any shelving. Tom was asked to keep contact with the manager for updates.  Refrigeration will not be available. Tom will check periodically with the manager for the status of store furnishings. It is expected that the equipment will be auctioned. Louise and Virgil prefer to maintain the table arrangement currently in place. Ideally, the food pantry would have an eight by 12 or larger walk-in cooler.

 Meeting Dates -- Response from Board Discussion:  Art reported only four board members responded to his mailing on meeting dates. Two supported the third Monday instead of the fourth Monday. Two did not mark a preference. No change in meeting time was suggested. After discussion Art moved and Louise seconded the following:

  • Meeting date: Third Monday of each month.

  • Meeting time: Continue to be at 2:30 p.m.

  • Meeting location: To be moved to Boonville Daly News meeting room.

Approved by the board.
 
Servicing of Truck:  Virgil reported that there is an electrical short in the truck. It has resulted in him being called at unreasonable hours because the truck turn signals spontaneously started, constantly having to jump the battery to get the truck started, and not being able to pick up food one date because of the breakdown. It was “repaired” at Rick Ball, but continues to short out. Randy had talked with Virgil about bringing the truck to Potter Trucking. Virgil was authorized to do this.

Super Wal-Mart Update: With the opening of the Super Wal-Mart in Boonville, there will be no need to drive the food pantry truck to Sedalia each month. Virgil has arranged with the food pantry to receive excess food every Wednesday. Marsha noted that the food (meat) is frozen for pick-up. It still has a shelf-life at the time of freezing.

Meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, 

Art Schneider
NHN Food Pantry Secretary 

 

    
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