4.   Give to The Food Bank through a Charitable Rollover

5.   Thank you to our special events supporters

6.   Hungry Planet: What the world eats Committee

7.   Take Action!

8.   The 2008 Food Bank Gala: Party for a Purpose

Holiday Cards and Gifts

Florence Savings Bank's Customer Choice Give Away

Go online to www.florencesavings.com and vote for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

To the Florence Savings Bank customers, we thank you for your past support by voting for The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts in the Florence Savings Bank Customer’s Choice Community Grant. In 2007 we were one of 20 organizations to be awarded a grant.

The Food Bank depends on a variety of sources for revenue from foundations, corporations, civic groups, religious institutions and individuals. The grant from Florence Savings supported our mission of working with our community to decrease hunger and increase food security.

Please be sure to cast your vote again this year. Ballots can be found in the Hampshire Daily Gazette, on-line at www.florencesavings.com , and at each branch. There is one vote per customer. All ballots must be received by December 31st.

Plight of Food Banks around the nation highlighted in the New York Times

On November 30th, an article appeared on the front page of the New York Times that focused on the struggles of food banks this season as they face dwindling inventory and increasing need. Representatives from food banks in New England commented on a multitude of challenges, including a drop in federal supplies dependent on the Farm Bill, tighter inventory controls at supermarkets and retailers, rising food costs, and the presence of “secondary markets” or discount stores that are purchasing the goods that used to be donated to food banks. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts is working hard to keep food flowing to local pantries and meal sites, but we need your help!

Read the New York Times article and find out how you can help!

Give to The Food Bank through a Charitable Rollover

Deadline: December 31, 2007

Through the end of 2007, you have the opportunity to make a charitable contribution to The Food Bank from your IRA as an annual exclusion from gross taxable income. Thanks to the Pension Protection Act of 2006, any IRA owner or beneficiary age 70 ˝ or older can make a pre-tax rollover directly to a charitable organization of up to $100,000. This option is generally available to any holders of a traditional IRA or Roth IRA. Take advantage of this limited-time opportunity to make a tax-free rollover contribution to The Food Bank! Please contact your IRA provider, or call Megan Pete 413-247-9738 x117 at The Food Bank, for more information.

Thank you to our special event supporters!

Fighting Hunger Feeding Hope
Radiothons raise more than $15,000 for The Food Bank
WEIB 106.3, WRSI 93.9 The River, and WHAI 98.3/Bear Country 95.3 hosted on-air radiothons to support The Food Bank in November. The Fighting Hunger Feeding Hope radiothons helped The Food Bank share stories from our member agencies and raise awareness about hunger in western Massachusetts. All funds raised will go directly to The Food Bank's work to reduce hunger and increase food security in our communities. Many thanks to WEIB, The River, and WHAI/Bear Country – and all the listeners who gave generously to The Food Bank – for your invaluable support!

Arlo Guthrie Concert and Food Drive
Thank you to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and all of the concert goers who brought non-perishable goods to support The Food Bank at the November 17th Arlo Guthrie concert. The food drive raised over 1,000 pounds of food for our friends and neighbors.

We rely on the generosity of the community to fulfill our mission. The following are just a few of the dedicated groups who have helped us by hosting food drives, fund drives and volunteering this Fall.
A.W. Hastings
Amherst College MassPirg Food & Fund Drives
Community Service Club of Smith Academy
Cub Scouts – Pack 118 of Northampton
First Church of Christ in Longmeadow Youth Group
Hockey Harvest - Amherst Regional High School Field Hockey Team
Smith College: Athletes Advisory Committee, Smith To Do Knit-a-thon
Springfield Young Professionals Network
Tower Theaters
UMass-Amherst: Hockey Team, Lamda Phi Epsilon, Capture the Flag Club
Yankee Candle

Hungry Planet: What the world eats

In the book, Hungry Planet: What the World Eats, photographer Peter Menzel and writer Faith D’Aluisio chronicle the diets and weekly food expenditures of families from around the globe. The book explores how globalization, migration, and rising affluence are affecting how people eat in communities from Guatemala to Bejing. Each chapter features a portrait of a family with their groceries for one week and a breakdown of what they spend on different food groups, such as starches, dairy, prepared foods, and vegetables.

Read more and see excerpts from the book at npr.org.

Take Action!

Making a difference is easier than you think.

Host a food drive
Donate to The Food Bank 
Write a letterto the editor of your local paper 
Participate in a Food Bankevent
Contact your government representativesto advocate for better food policies outlined on our website 
Check-Out Hungerat your favorite retailer by adding $1, 3, or 5 to your bill at check-out.