Seeking Efficiencies All the Time

Here at the Foundation, we are always looking for ways to stretch the impact of every dollar spent and every volunteer hour served. One good example: for the first time we are bidding out Food Pantry purchases. In addition, we are implementing a daily financial aid budget to spread the dollars and the client services we provide out more evenly throughout the week.

A third change the Foundation is implementing this fall is a break from tradition. Because of sharply decreased attendance over the past several years at our Night Before Thanksgiving Dinner and an increase in other holiday meal options, the Foundation will not be offering the pre-Thanksgiving dinner at the Park Place. The $2,000 normally spent on the dinner will be redirected to the financial assistance, helping families with true emergencies. Our volunteers voted and felt this was a more meaningful use of Foundation resources in these difficult times. We believe the small number of community members who might have attended this event will enjoy a meal at one of the other dinners.

Food Drive Nets $50,000 in food and $2,500 cash

Father Fred Foundation announced receipt of over $50,000 in food and $2,500 in cash from the Father Fred Foundation/Spartan Stores Food Drive during the week of October 4-10.

Father Iakovos Greets Faith Reformed Church Volunteers at the 8th St. Store

“These donations will help us keep up with the 57% increase in demand our pantry has been experiencing this year,” said, Norm Bamberg, Operations Director.  “A big thanks goes to all the Toms, Olesons and Glens stores in the Traverse City area.  They were very helpful calling us to come and retrieve donation carts when they got full during the week and accommodating volunteer teams on Saturday as they gathered and boxed donations all day Saturday.  Corporate support from Spartan Stores in Grand Rapids was also critical.  Signage and sale pricing all week gave donors an extra incentive.

Another key to success was volunteer leadership and their teams;  Julie Green and Bay Pointe Community Church, Suzanne Fox and Faith Reformed Church, Jim Feiker and The Presbyterian Church, Mike Kruger and the St. Francis Youth Group, St. Joseph Youth Group, St. Francis High School tennis and other sports teams, Tanya Finney and Huntington Bank, Tamela Rubin and Team Bob’s Heating and Cooling, Pete Currie and staff from BP Energy, Jane Cavender and Hagerty Insurance, Sandra Saunby and volunteers from the United Way Day of Caring.

A big boost to the drive was also received from a parishioner food drive at St. Joseph and St. Francis parishes.  Youth group members handed out and received back over 700 bags of food for the drive.  All were delivered on Monday morning via St. Francis school bus.”

For shoppers who missed this drive, you can always donate on-line.. fatherfred.org or mail a check to the Father Fred Foundation at PO Box 2260, Traverse City, MI 49685.