MINUTES
Neighbors Helping Neighbors (Food Pantry)
2:30 p.m. September 21, 2009
Boonville Daily News Meeting Room
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Present: Virgil Goodin, Tom Priester, Jeanne Pascale, Randy Richards, Louise Bolin, Joyce Roach, Wanda Vonderahe and Art Schneider.
Not Present: Hazel Stone.
Excused Absence: Marsha Goodin
Meeting called to order at 2:33 p.m. Randy opened the meeting with a prayer.
Any items to be added to the agenda?
Old Business
· Minutes from August Board Meeting: Tom moved and Joyce seconded that minutes be approved.
·
Treasurer’s
Report: As of
August 31 there was $2,028.43 in the checking account and $4,542.44 in
savings account and $16,554.18 in CDs. The pantry has not received
$3,000 from Super Wal-Mart.
Cash Income August: Tom said donations totaled $911.
Cash Expenses August: Tom said expenses totaled $138.58
Art moved the treasurer reports be accepted. Jeanne seconded. Passed.
· Gas (Debit) Credit Card Status: Tom said no action. Virgil suggested that the pantry secure a debit card instead of a credit card. Discussion on number of credit cards and purchasing limits. Following discussion Art moved that the pantry secure two debit cards -- one with Virgil to be stored in the Harvest House safe and one with Tom. Purchases greater than $100 would need to be approved by Tom to assure there were adequate funds in the checking account. Wanda seconded. Passed.
· Donated Food Weight Reported in August: Jeanne reported 658.11 pounds donated.
· Total Hours Donated in August: Jeanne reported 351.25 hours donated. At October 19 meeting noted that 73.75 hours were missing for August report.
· NHN Food Distribution in August: Virgil reported it last month with July’s report. Here was the August report.
o Total families assisted 332 Total people served 967
o Thursday distribution 117 families
o Tuesday distribution 118 families
o Saturday distribution 37 families
o Seventeen families with a handicapped member, 38 senior families and five families in emergency also were assisted.
o Total families on Supplemental Nutrition Education Program (SNAP) formerly the food stamp program 149 families.
o Total families receiving TANF 16 families
Virgil noted that many families reported fewer family members. 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. Some forgot their Social Security card. They were not turned away, but reminded they would need the card in October.
· Update on New Free Computer Program Provided by Sedalia Open Door Food Pantry: Art reported that it has been installed and that when Virgil is able a test run will be conducted. Virgil will get back with Art on times that he has available.
· 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 noted October 24 is
“Make A Difference Day” with the Food For a Spell fundraiser. The
spelling is open to those ages 16 and older.
Update on Responsibilities to Date:
o Get Prizes: Joyce said this is going well. She has made several contacts and is using a flyer developed by Darlene Kraus of the Extension Center to promote donations and a second flyer the businesses can post noting that they donated to Food for a Spell.
o Country Mart: Virgil said it has been cleared to hold the event at Dave’s Country Mart. He has arranged to use the Boy Scouts’ tents. The Boonville High School student council will handle setting up and taking down the tents. Newt McGuire will be in charge of this. They also have tents.
o C&R Table for Food on October 24: Virgil will arrange for this. Wanda will secure volunteers to staff the table at C&R.
o Set Up Spelling Questions: Sue Burns is handling this.
o Sending Letters to Potential Participants: Virgil has worked with Extension office manager Darlene Kraus and completed the letters. He will provide Art with the addresses for mailing.
o Food Pick-Up: The Boonville High School is to undertake a door-to-door drive. Students will take the food to the pantry truck at Dave’s Country Mart. At the end of the contest the truck will stop at C&R Market to pick up donations there.
o Advertising: Art (includes mailings and news releases). Virgil will provide address list.
o Entertainment: Tim Fairley has made arrangements.
o Thank You’s: Jeanne.
o Plaques: Virgil will order for Bee winners. Joyce asked if a plaque was an unnecessary expense. Virgil said that they are popular with the contestants. Cost will be about $45.
Art reminded board members keep detailed logs to be put in the “What if…” file for future years.
Virgil will be on KWRT to promote the adult spelling bee.
Board lauded praise on Darlene Kraus for work she has done on the flyers and the letters to be mailed.
· Homecoming Parade: Not originally scheduled for discussion or officially added to the agenda. Randy and Virgil reported that driving and loading the pantry truck in the parade was itself a fulltime job and that many people along the route had questions. Randy requested a brochure that could be handed out. Art noted there was one prepared for last year.
· Barron Fuller -- Isle of Capri (Board Member): Virgil said he has called and the man has not responded to his calls. Art will try. Joyce said she could give him a tour of the food pantry.
· Update on 8 x 12 or Larger Walk-In Cooler: Nothing done locally on this. Will be addressed below in New Business.
· Sedalia Super Wal-Mart: Virgil reported that 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. He said the gas expense probably was greater than the value of the donated food in Sedalia.
· Boonville Super Wal-Mart: Virgil reported that the pantry received several hundred pounds of meat and the freezers are full. He said he does not expect so much meat in the future as the store makes adjustments to its ordering based on customer preferences.
New Business
· Servicing of Truck: The electrical short has not been repaired. Randy said Potter Trucking agreed to handle this for the food pantry at no charge provided the truck was brought in on Saturday. Randy said the short may be the result of a moisture problem.
· Assistance at Chamber Booth: Jeanne had received a last minute call for assistance from the chamber for assistance in putting up tent and general assistance. A food pantry volunteer did go to the chamber booth to provide help, but no one was there September 17. Jeanne has worked the booth. Unclear whether there will be a need September 24.
· Walk-In Cooler or Freezer: Art distributed sheets noting costs for a new and used freezer and a new or used cooler. He also distributed a sheet on the energy costs. Virgil would prefer that a walk-in be donated. He said the food bank has one donated. He also suggested that there be an effort to buy locally rather than out-of-state. The Boonville used restaurant supply business was suggested as a possible contact.
Virgil said the pantry is not quite ready for this yet. Art asked what the criteria was for being ready.
Tom suggested if there is a cooler or freezer or combination that there is a separate electric meter for this. Virgil suggested looking locally for opportunities. It appeared a need for a walk-in freezer was preference over a walk-in cooler. Board members were asked to look at possible sources. One Internet site suggested was Free Cycle. Issue was tabled until next meeting.
·
New Board
Member Proposed -- Robert Stinnett:
Art Schneider recommended
Robert Stinnett for the board. He noted Robert set up web site for
Internet donations on Mo-River.Net. He also said Robert has fixed the
pantry desktop computer and installed the new software program developed
by the Sedalia food pantry. Tom sad he would like to meet the candidate
before voting on him.
Board agreed to invite Robert to the next meeting, interview him and
then discuss election to the board.
· Volunteer for the Quarter: Jeanne suggested John and Phyllis Barnes be elected as Volunteer of the Quarter. Art moved and Joyce seconded. Passed. Virgil noted that previous quarter’s volunteer had not received a t-shirt and had not had picture taken for the newspaper. He will make the arrangements.
· KOMU 8 Cares for Your Community: Virgil added this to agenda. He received a letter today from KOMU about they’re wanting to feature organizations and individuals who make a difference. Lauren Whitney would do an interview. Virgil said he would follow-up and try to get this done with Food For A Spell.
· Printer Cartridge: Also added to agenda: Tom estimated he has printed 600 to 800 pages for food pantry business. He asked for permission to purchase a printer cartridge to offset the costs. No vote was taken but overwhelming consensus for him to do this. Joyce also suggested he be reimbursed for paper.
Meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Art Schneider
NHN Food Pantry Secretary