February 2002 - CVC Member Companies Challenged to Increase Minnesota FoodShare Donations by 10%

By Anne Mazurowski (3M)

Your employees" participation in the 2002 Minnesota FoodShare Campaign will help countless people. People like Sheldon who contracted ALS in his 30"s; or Wilma who"s in her 70"s and raising three grandchildren under 10 years old; or Gail, a former professor whose lupus symptoms make it difficult to work. People who are in the growing number of homeless in outstate Minnesota, like the twelve families who live in cars in Richfield so their children can be near schools.

CVC members learned these stories and more at the 20th Anniversary of Minnesota FoodShare Corporate Kick-off on January 24. Coordinated by Dot Belstler, RBC Dain Rauscher, and hosted by Kris Kewitsch, US Bancorp, members pledged their companies" participation.

It"s not too late for your company to be involved! This is the tenth anniversary of CVC's involvement, and the challenge is on to raise 10% more than last year"s CVC total of $677,000. Christine Jones, new CVC President, announced that CVC companies are encouraged to help raise $744,000 in cash and pounds. All CVC companies that participate in the challenge will receive recognition in the E-Hotsheet and on the CVC website.

Sue Kainz, Minnesota FoodShare; Paul Noreau, Senior Food Shelf; and Dave Enghusen, Groveland Foodshelf, shared the following stats and ideas for corporate drives:

• Your company"s donations can go directly to your local food shelf partners, and they"ll be counted as part of the overall Minnesota campaign. Or, your cash donations could go to Minnesota FoodShare, which allocates the dollars to all foodshelves across the state quarterly. See the Minnesota FoodShare website for more details.
• A $10 donation to a foodshelf can often buy $100 of food, which could total 250 pounds! When has your $10 ever stretched that far at the grocery store?
• Have a WCCO radio or TV personality kick off your company"s campaign!
• Volunteers also needed!
  • Check with your local foodshelf or foodbank to see how teams or individual employees could volunteer.
    Minnesota FoodShare phone bank shift workers needed March 26 - 29.
  • Collect food donations at Timberwolves games.
  • Minnesota FoodShare has a wonderful website where you can find pledge forms, posters, hunger statistics, volunteer information, nominate volunteers for awards, and much more. http://www.gmcc.org/MFS/

Thank you to Sue, Paul and Dave for their important work, and to you for pledging your company to meet the challenge!

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