Members Only

Today was the Shared Harvest Member Agency Conference. If I understand correctly, any organization receiving food from Shared Harvest was invited/required to attend in order to renew their USDA contracts and to receive updated information on intake policies and data tracking.

Community leaders from Shared Harvest's member agencies watch as the conference kicks off

Pina Jean Barcus, Program Coordinator of the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program in Ohio, giving a presentation on state food programs

After lunch, the conference participants selected two workshops to attend from the following topics: state food program requirements, food safety guidelines, the Virtual Case Manager program, Nutrition and Diversity, SNAP (food stamps) Outreach, and of course, the Ohio Benefit Bank. Alex and I gave the OBB presentation, which was our second of the week. (Our first presentation was on Monday, and of the 60 non-member agencies in Butler County invited, only 3 were able to attend.) Today we presented to directors and representatives from 8 of Shared Harvest's partner agencies in Darke, Miami, Preble, Warren, and Butler Counties. All expressed interest in the program, and we are excited to follow up with all of the organizations we have spoken to over the past week.

Today's conference was a great success for all involved. Personally, it gave me greater insight into the challenges many staff and volunteers face every day as they meet the needs of our region. And even though the conference was obviously geared towards the food pantries in Shared Harvest's member network, I learned quite a few things, as well. Here's my top 5:

#5--Food pantries are not required to get proof of a person's household size or income. They can ask their clients for this information, but the state does not require this information be obtained.
#4--Food pantries may NOT ask for clients' social security numbers, and cannot require them to attend other programs associated with the food pantry to receive benefits.
#3--Twenty-six percent of food pantry recipients in 2007 were disabled.
#2--One of every two babies born in Ohio is eligible for WIC (Women, Infants, and Children nutrition program).
#1--Nearly 1 of every 4 children under the age of five in Ohio live in food insecure households. That places Ohio 3rd in the nation just behind Louisiana and North Carolina.

Oh and one more thing: Tina Osso is Superwoman.

Tina Osso, Executive Director of Shared Harvest Foodbank, polls the audience on their years of service. Tina wins with [at least] 30 years of service. Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, Executive Director of the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Foodbanks, is seated at left.