SHEBOYGAN COUNTY FOOD BANK INC

EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM/FOOD + FOR NEIGHBORSOUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED OF EMERGENCY FOOD INCLUDE CHILDREN, INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS, SENIORS WITH FIXED INCOMES, WORKING FAMILIES AND PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS. UNEXPECTED EXPENSES OR INCOME CHANGES CAN CAUSE ANYONE TO FACE HUNGER. SHEBOYGAN COUNTY FOOD BANK (SCFB) IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING SUPPORT TO OUR NEIGHBORS SO THEY CAN OVERCOME CHALLENGES THAT MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR DEPENDENCE ON EMERGENCY FOOD.FOOD+ FOR NEIGHBORS IS SCFB'S PRIMARY PROGRAM THAT ENSURES SHEBOYGAN COUNTY RESIDENTS FACING CHALLENGING TIMES HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHY, EMERGENCY FOOD AND ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF THEIR HUNGER. SCFB ACCOMPLISHES THIS BY DISTRIBUTING EMERGENCY FOOD, FREE OF CHARGE, THROUGH A NETWORK OF FOOD PANTRIES, FREE COMMUNITY MEAL SITES, SHELTERS AND OTHER SHEBOYGAN COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS, WHILE COORDINATING A DIGNIFIED CLIENT INTAKE PROCESS AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM. "FOOD+" REFERS TO THE EXPANSION FROM THE TRADITIONAL FOOD BANK MODEL (I.E., GATHER, STORE AND DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO A NETWORK OF REGIONAL PARTNERS) AND AMPLIFIES THE BENEFIT OF THE FOOD SCFB PROVIDES BY USING A FRAMEWORK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CLIENTS' CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEN CONNECTING THEM WITH APPLICABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES.SCFB HAS BEEN SUPPLYING FREE, HEALTHY FOOD TO FOOD PANTRIES, COMMUNITY MEALS, SHELTERS AND OTHER SHEBOYGAN COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS FOR MANY YEARS. WE HAVE WORKED WITH SOME OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS FOR JUST A FEW YEARS AND OTHERS FOR THE ENTIRE SCFB HISTORY. THE DISTRIBUTING OF EMERGENCY FOOD TO FOOD PANTRIES, REFERRED TO AS OUR EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, IS OUR PRIMARY PROGRAM.SCFB DISTRIBUTES FOOD TO EIGHTEEN FOOD PANTRIES THROUGHOUT SHEBOYGAN COUNTY. ALL OF THE PANTRIES, EXCEPT THE SALVATION ARMY, OPERATE EXCLUSIVELY BY VOLUNTEERS. THESE VOLUNTEERS ORDER DIRECTLY THOUGH OUR ONLINE ORDERING SYSTEM AND SCFB DELIVERS THE FOOD TO THEM (AS WELL AS PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS). THERE IS NO CHARGE TO THE PANTRIES FOR THIS FOOD, OR FOR DELIVERING IT TO THEM. SOME OF THE PANTRIES ARE OPEN WEEKLY AND SOME ARE OPEN MONTHLY. ALL PANTRIES SERVE PEOPLE IN NEED OF EMERGENCY FOOD WHO MEET CERTAIN INCOME REQUIREMENTS. THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO RECEIVE THE FOOD INCLUDE PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, VETERANS, ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING OFF FIXED INCOMES WHO ARE UNABLE TO BE EMPLOYED, WORKING FAMILIES WHO CANNOT PROVIDE ENOUGH FOOD FOR THEIR ENTIRE FAMILY, PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS AND PEOPLE GOING THROUGH FINANCIALLY STRAINED TIMES AS A RESULT OF INCOME CHANGES, MEDICAL DEBT, ACCIDENTS, ETC.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR KIDS PROGRAM (WEEKEND BACKPACK PROGRAM) MAKING SURE CHILDREN HAVE FOOD WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SCHOOL MEALS IS VITAL. FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR KIDS TARGETS STUDENTS WHO ARE RECOGNIZED BY SCHOOL COUNSELORS, PRINCIPALS OR TEACHERS AS NEEDING EXTRA FOOD SUPPORT PARTICULARLY ON THE WEEKENDS SO THAT THE STUDENTS ARE NOT COMING TO SCHOOL HUNGRY ON MONDAY MORNING. FOOD FOR THOUGHT FILLS THE GAP BETWEEN THE FEDERALLY-FUNDED SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAMS AND FOODSHARE.CHILDREN WHO ARE HUNGRY STRUGGLE TO CONCENTRATE IN SCHOOL, ARE LIKELY TO FALL BEHIND ACADEMICALLY, ARE AT RISK FOR ILLNESS AND POOR ATTENDANCE, AND OFTEN SUFFER LOW SELF-ESTEEM AND LACK OF ENERGY. CHILDHOOD HUNGER AFFECTS LIFE OUTCOMES AND QUALITY OF LIFE. FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR KIDS OFFERS FAMILIES SUPPORT SO THAT THEIR CHILDREN CAN GROW AND THRIVE BY PROVIDING CHILDREN NUTRITIOUS BAGS OF FOOD EACH WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR TO NOURISH THEM ON THE WEEKENDS.