Wrapping up this year's "Gives Back" tour were stops in Boise, Idaho and Omaha, Nebraska.  In Boise, John Miele and Doug James drove over to the Idaho Food Bank in a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro that matched the model given away at HR Technology, as thanks for the long partnership Workscape has shared with GM.

Representatives from two other Workscape clients, ConAgra and First Data, were on hand to present the final donation of the 2009 tour at the= Food Bank of Omaha, Nebraska.  This operation, like each one visited before it, was home to a number of creative, inspiring, and highly effective innovations aimed at ending hunger.

One clear example of these creative solution is the "Food Bank Fresh" program, now in its 2nd year.  "Food Bank Fresh" involves a simple concept with a potentially powerful impact on health and eating habits.  Food Bank employees and volunteers load up a cargo van with fresh fruit, vegetables, and yogurt, and take them directly to poverty-stricken parts of the city to be given out freely among the people on the streets.  This makes it very convenient for people to get free, healthy snacks, and can help to shape healthy eating habits for people who may not be able to afford fresh produce on a regular basis without such assistance.

In the first six months of 2009, the "Food Bank Fresh" van handed out 40,000 pounds of produce, an astounding figure.  This has been further supported by farmers of local commmunity gardens, many of which whom have set aside a plot for the food bank, to help ensure that "Food Bank Fresh" can continue to provide healthy alternatives to the most needed of the population.

On the first day of the program, a young girl was handed a pear, and she didn't know how to eat it... this was a strong signal to the food bank team that the areas they served were "produce deserts", and that this proactive offering of fresh fruits and vegetables could significantly improve health and positively affect eating behaviors.

The Food Bank also participates in the Backpack Program, a widespread solution to the widespread problem of poor children being fed while in school, but going home to an empty pantry over the weekend.  Through this program, schools receive a number of backpacks loaded with 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches/dinners so that they are able to hand these out before the weekend to the children most likely to go without a meal during that time.  In 2008, the Food Bank served 16 schools and supported more than 1,100 students through the Backpack Program... and that number continues to climb.  In 2009, they serve 28 schools, and approximately 2,300 hundred students!

The growing Backback Program need is unfortunately not an anomaly in Omaha.  Consistent with other food banks that we have visited, a Feeding America study of the area found that need had increased 30% in 2009, and one major agency has reported a spike of 73% as a result of unemployed people seeking help for the first time.

One thing that we took away from this trip is that people and local organizations are incredibly generous... and often all it takes is highlighting the need and asking for help.  In 2009, the Food Bank has seen a 10% increase in donations, which suggests that supporters are digging deep to continue the fight to alleviate hunger.  And monetary donations are big component of this because the Food Bank, through partnerships, bulk purchasing, donations, and volunteers, can stretch $1 of donated funds to $14 of supplied food.  Even in these challenging times, organizations like the Food Bank - along with their partners and sponsors - continue to provide exceptional service to their communities that has unmeasurable value.  What a trip!

Each time we visit a Food Bank on this tour (and on the 2008 trip) we expect to be inspired, and Food Gatherers was no different.  A small operation that serves Washtenaw County, Michigan, Food Gatherers has different challenges and opportunities than some of its larger partners.

As perhaps the smallest member of the Feeding America network, Food Gatherers has access to truckloads of food that are distributed across the network, but has to be careful not to waste.  Whereas in a larger food bank like Gleaners (headquartered in Detroit), truckloads of fresh produce will be immediately put to use to serve the local community, Food Gatherers serves a smaller area and does not convert deliveries to meals in the same timeframe.  Fortunately, the team at Food Gatherers is well connected to nearby food banks, and the partners are able to barter to ensure that Washtenaw Country's hungry population gets access to fresh produce and other perishables, but in a quantity that can be effectively used.

The organization also broke ground this year on a new farm plot that has produced nearly 20,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to date!  This on-site farm provides a predictable (weather permitting) supply of food, which is particularly important in this difficult time when demand is up.  In addition, it directly supports another component of Food Gatherer's mission: increase the amount of nutrient-rich foods that are available to those in need.  It's an incredible thing to alleviate hunger in a region, but to also address the startling stastic that only 13% of food bank visitors get their daily nutritional requirements is quite a goal.

On Monday morning, we stopped into the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank and were given a wonderful tour by Director of Operations Barbara Grandowicz.  Toledo Food Bank serves 8 counties through a network of more than 300 agencies, and does so with astounding efficieny and passion.  A full 96% of all donations go directly to programs supporting those in need, and as they've seen a 26% spike in visitors over 2008 already, this efficicent system is vital to alleviating growing hunger demands.

In addition to being astoundingly lean and efficient, the small team that manages Toledo Food Bank also shows great creativity in programs to educate agencies and functions to solicit additional funds and food donations.  For example, they host a conference for their network of agencies that provides an opportunity for the various civic and religious groups to get together, share ideas, and celebrate their successes at new ways of providing food.  Part of the agenda of this conference is to identify and discuss any emerging trends in terms of hunger causes, relief efforts, fund raising, etc, and this collaborative approach surely benefits the agencies in the surrounding counties - which empowers them to lend even more support to those in need.

Fun, community-based programs like the annual "Scouting for Food" program that involves Boy Scouts collecting donations at residential homes and then dropping them off at local partnering grocery stores so that the food bank's trucks can operate a quick pick-up, also help to sustain support for hunger relief.  As is the case at every place we've visited, volunteers also perform the lion's share of the work, and it's something to appreciate that there are so many people willing to get involved.  The video clip provides more details on the programs and people involved, but suffice it to say this was another incredible stop on the 2009 tour!

As we made our second stop on the Workscape Gives Back Tour – our second visit to the Greater Chicago Food Depository – a few things jumped out at us:

• It takes an army of volunteers (and dedicated staff) to make operations of this size and scope work efficiently and effectively… 130 employees and 14,000 volunteers work at the Greater Chicago Food Depository
• The multiples involved in the donation-to-meal ratio is impressive… each dollar contributed translates into roughly four meals at this location
• Individuals and organizations consistently rise to the occasion… despite increased demand and rising challenges in meeting the needs of the community, donations are keeping pace with demand
  

And speaking of donations… Workscape would like to thank LRP Publications, the organization behind the HR Technology Conference, Human Resource Executive and other great publications and events, for their contribution of several hundred bags and backpacks. The Greater Chicago Food Repository will use these bags for their after school and weekend programs, helping to ensure that children have nutritious food to bring home.

Thanks for following our 2009 Workscape Gives Back Tour. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our next stop on the trip.

News of the recession has been dominating media cycles for over a year and each day we’re confronted with new reports or a fresh batch of economic indicators that range from cautiously optimistic to prolonged cause for concern. Witnessing the impact of the economic recession first-hand, however, sheds a fresh and important perspective on the realities behind the numbers. 

The first stop on the Workscape Gives Back tour brought us to “Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin.” From an impressive 84,000-square-foot facility in the heart of Milwaukee, Feeding America helps to feed some 235,000 people annually across 36 counties. Of those supported, some 87,000 are children.

One of the most staggering statistics is that roughly half of those who currently receive support from Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin are currently employed. This statistic, when combined with the fact that unemployment is approaching 10% nationally, underscores the fact that we still have a long way to go before reaching full recovery. To this end, financial donations are critical to the day-to-day operation of food banks and other similar organizations across the country. As highlighted in the above video, each dollar donated can be transformed into five meals… so every little bit helps.

Click here to learn more about Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin (which was previously known as America’s Second Harvest of Wisconsin) and learn more about how you can help. Or, to take action within your own community, run a Google search on food banks in your area.

Check back with us tomorrow as we post another video and provide coverage from our second stop on the 2009 Workscape Gives Back Tour – the Greater Chicago Food Depository. (Or for more information about the Workscape Gives Back Tour, click here and watch our kick-off video.)

Thanks for watching!

October 1st was a big day for Workscape at the 12th Annual HR Technology Conference, as that was the day we announced the winner for the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro. Check out the embedded video and see the excitement for yourself. We also set out for the beginning of the 2nd Annual "Workscape Gives Back" tour.

Members of the Workscape team literally drove the car of the show floor at McCormick Place in Chicago and set out for Milwaukee, WI. After making a donation at a local food bank in the city, we'll head back down to Chicago for a contribution there. The tour will then resume on October 5th with stops in Toledo, Ohio and Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Be sure to check back every day for new blog postings and videos as we continue the tour and raise awareness for these outstanding organizations. Or, better yet, contact your local food bank and see how you can help. Now more than ever, any help you can provide is needed and appreciated.

The team is in Chicago, the booth is set-up and the Camaro has arrived… everything is looking good at the 2009 HR Technology Conference. In addition to the solutions we’ll have on display at the show (click here for more information about Workscape’s offerings), Workscape is also accepting donations to add to the contributions we’re making to food banks at each stop during the tour.

Check out the video above for a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the booth set-up and day one of HR Technology show. And don’t forget to visit us again tomorrow for a look at Day 2 of the show… including footage of the winner of the amazing 2010 Chevrolet Camaro!

To say that the U.S. economy has hit a rough patch during 2009 is something of an understatement. Unemployment is high, in many organizations wage increases have been frozen and millions of Americans are having a hard time making ends meet. As a result, area food banks are experiencing increased demand, and the need for donations is greater still as sources of funding become harder to find.

Last year, Workscape set out to raise awareness and provide funds for food banks across the country… and this year we’re carrying on that tradition.  The “Workscape Gives Back” tour of 2009 kicks off this week, immediately after the HR Technology conference in Chicago. Click on the video above to learn more about it and, more importantly, how you can help.

And feel free to learn about, or revisit, our inaugural "Gives Back" tour through the archived 2008 posts. Thanks for helping to increase hunger awareness.