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FOUNDERS' MESSAGE - Jennifer Van Bergh & Jill Johnson-Tucker

It comes as no surprise to anyone that we are in the middle of the biggest and deepest recession of our generation. While this has a significant impact on us all it has a much more catastrophic impact on the poor in our community. Unemployment has skyrocketed to disastrous levels. Over four million people have lost their jobs since the start of 2008. The request for food from the Second Harvest Food Bank has increased by 40% this year in Orange County. Most of the requests are from families that never anticipated needing food assistance. The new demands are coming from families that have lost their jobs, have been forced out of their homes by foreclosures or facing pay reductions at work. The urgency has been compounded by a reduction in food donations and a reduction in donors who have also been adversely impacted by the economy. We need you! Every one of you! We know that the economy has touched all of our lives in some way. It is the hardest to give when we may feel more financial insecurity than we ever have in the past. Savings and investments have shrunk and incomes have fallen. But it is now more than ever that the Food Bank needs our help. We very respectfully ask all of our faithful donors to support our efforts in this time of great need. We know that we can rise to this challenge to help those in our community who are hungry and worried about feeding their families. A huge thank you for your generous support in the past. We need you now more than ever!

OUR PURPOSE

Founded in 1983, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County currently serves nearly 400 member charitable organizations reaching 200,000 individuals each month. The Food Bank’s efficiency rate is 94.2 cents from every dollar donated which goes directly to hunger relief programs for those in need. With 20,000 volunteers, the average monthly distribution equals one million pounds of food. More than 2,600 seniors on low and fixed incomes are missing meals due to the rising costs of living and medication. These seniors receive relief through the Second Harvest Food Bank’s Brown Bag program. These seniors rely on the two bags of groceries the program provides twice each month. The budget for this program is approximately $97,000 per year. The Brown Bag program has 27 locations around the county. The Harvesters have been very involved in the funding for the Kid’s Cafe program at the Food Bank. The 32 Kids Cafes provide after school and summertime snacks, meals and nutritional education to 1,700 school age children in our community. In some cases, this may be the only healthy meal a child receives in a given day. We are committed to continue as major supporters of the Cafes.

A SPECIAL FUND

Every year, the Harvesters go to the Food Bank asking for a specific “highest need” requiring urgent funding as the focus of our Special Fund. This fundraising program of the Harvesters was established for donors and family foundations who are either restricted from event underwriting or prefer to donate directly to a specific capital expense of the organization. The Food Bank’s highest need continues to be new, refrigerated trucks to go into the community to pick up prepared food from restaurants, caterers, hotels and amusement parks and deliver it directly to non-profit agencies and Kids Cafes. This year’s Special Funds will be directed to the purchase of handheld computers to allow drivers up-to-the-minute information on receiving, routing and inventory control, adding more flexibility to “double the harvest.” The new technology will save hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Food Bank by reducing the number of trucks needed in its fleet. This equipment is estimated to cost $25,000. Sponsorship levels of the Fund are $5,000 and greater and, if requested, donors will receive all of the benefits of Harvester Underwriting at the participating level. For more information on the Special Fund, please call Harvester Teddie Ray at 714-267-4680.

OUR GENEROUS SUPPORTERS

Our heartfelt thanks to our 2008 supporters. A record number of underwriters and other donors stepped forward this past year, both longtime supporters and those who participated for the first time. In spite of the shaky economy, you generously opened your checkbooks or donated your time and services. Those on the economic fringes of the county are most affected by the economy and we thank you, on their behalf, for your empathy and generosity. A special thanks to underwriters Moira and Fred Kamgar and to Fendi South Coast Plaza for hosting the fabulous underwriting party in Shady Canyon. We are also most grateful to Harvester Heidi Ambe and husband Miland for supporting the Brown Bag for Seniors program. And last but not least, thank you to chairman Suzan Paek and co-chairs Jennifer Condas and Connie Dinsmore for the countless hours put into making this event among the most successful in Orange County. Cartier champagne flowed during the reception while models wearing fabulous Cartier jewels circulated among the guests as they bid on the famous Harvester silent auction featuring wonderful packages from our friends and donors who share our concern about feeding the hungry in our community. The funds raised from the silent auction had a tremendous impact on our bottom line and we thank our many, wonderful donors. We thank South Coast Plaza for underwriting and producing a blockbuster fashion show showcasing fashions from Chanel, Chloe, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Marni, Roberto Cavalli, Saks Fifth Avenue, Valentino, Versace and Yves St. Laurent.