Thursday Drivers are a core of our Ambassadors who load and
deliver foods each week to our locations at Section 8 Apartments, Title One
Schools, Head Starts, Gap Schools, Pools, Parks, Rec Centers all year round.
Leadership
Team for Drivers/Deliveries Logistics
Don and Jeanette Polotto –
A couple who are a team. Don has a background in Electrical Contracting
and Jeanette provides communications and planning talents.
Deanna Kahn – A retired commercial real estate broker. Back
up leader for Delivery Schedules and order logistics. Plans out snacks and
produce for each driver and location weekly.
Core Drivers – come almost every week and are the foundation
of our ability to consistently and with care and professionalism bring foods
every week year round to our program families. Our team is also community members who
volunteer once of few times a year to help us have a solid team. We use Helping
Habit platform for signing up to volunteer on Thursdays.
Bill Graf – Attorney in private practice and proud member of
Rotary Lakewood Foothills. Southern Methodist Dedman School of Law.
Ed Mast – President of Lakewood Foothills Rotary. Retired engineer.
Trish and Duane Hermanson – Driving foods and packing foods
each week is said to be their very favorite part of the week. Trish is an author and has amazing blog site
for inspiring people weekly. They serve at their church which feeds high school
children pizza weekly and more.
Chair of Advisory Board – Paula Redig – Adams 12 Five Star Retired Principal. Owner of A 1 Rentals Wheat Ridge with Russ Redig. Student teacher supervision Regis College. Taught Social Studies.
Advisory Board Ed Diez DeMedina – Senior Vice President of Human Resources/Director of Diversity & Inclusion at FirstBank. Aba Stonier School of Banking/ Wharton School. University of Utah School of Business.
Advisory Board – Peter Freitag Operations Leader for Friday Packing
Senior Director of Retention, College of Arts and Sciences, Interim Assistant Dean College of Arts and Science university of Colorado Boulder. Volunteer at Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Eye Clinic. Stony Brook University Doctor of Philosophy Sociology.
Ambassadors Leadership Team
Volunteer Coordinator Leader – Tara Sawinski Business Operations Sr Manager Accenture. Civilian Personnel Management U S Department of Defense. University of Maryland. Government and Politics and Public Administration and Politics .
Operations – Friday Packing – Peter Freitag – Senior Director of Retention, College of Arts and Sciences, Interim Assistant Dean College of Arts and Science university of Colorado Boulder. Volunteer at Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Eye Clinic. Stony Brook University Doctor of Philosophy Sociology
Finance/Accounting/Forecasts – Tina Cowles . Corporate accounting and finance for over 30 years. Tina earned her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Butler University and her MA in Counseling from Colorado Christian University. She helped build and continues to support the Ray of Hope Home orphanage in Kenya in memory of her late husband. She also supports the Foothills Animal Shelter by serving as a foster parent.
Operations – Thursday Drivers for Deliveries – Jeanette and Don Pallotto Don is semi-retired project manager for a local electrical contractor. He specializes in security systems.
Policy and Collaboration – Laura Boggs Director of CDBE Enterprises. Consultant to Benefits in Action, University of Michigan BA Business Administration. Strategic Business Process Improvement.
Operations – Produce and Special Foods – Thursday Delivery operations – BS in Business from Regis College and MS in Finance University of Colorado. 30 Years in Commercial Real Estate . Fund raiser for children’s Non Profit Ralston House and Brent’s Place.
Non Profit Formation Coach – Rusty Collins – Denver County CSU Extension Director. Was Executive Director of Bohemian Foundation. Executive Director of Neighbor to Neighbor Affordable Housing. Colorado State University MS BS Consumer Science and Housing.
Sandy Pederson Neumayr – School Relations – Retired Advanced Practice RN, volunteer at Camp Wapiyapi each summer. Was Hospital Director and Supervisor in Virginia.
Jeremy Ravitz – Operations leader for Driving Foods From Food Bank Rockies to Site – Owns POME short for Product Of My Environment, is an Earth-conscious apparel & lifestyle brand that offers top quality men’s & women’s apparel & accessories. The idea was cultivated outside of Detroit, Michigan where we still claims our roots, although HQ has transplanted to Denver, Colorado.
Olivia Madrid – Social Media and Communications – Student at Colorado Christian University.
Stephanie Lind Bitzer – Larry Miller Auto Group controller – Financial Projections and Events – Comptroller for Larry Miller Nissan at 104th. Married with two children and grew up with food needs so she is compelled to help us.
Breaking Barriers to SNAP Benefits Will Help End Hunger
By Alejandro Garcia Posted on June 2, 2011, 9:00 am
Latinos are becoming a national presence and will represent a crucial segment of our nation’s future workforce. They accounted for more than half of the nation’s growth from 2000 to 2010 and will be a third of the overall population by 2050. Latino children currently make up more than one in five children in the United States. They are the youngest and fastest growing population in the nation.
Ironically, Hispanic children are also more likely than their non-Hispanic white peers to be overweight or obese. Obesity and hunger are interrelated because low-income families may be forced to buy cheaper, higher calorie foods in order to make their food budgets last. And 38.2 percent of Hispanic children are overweight or obese compared to 35.9 percent of black children and 29.3 percent of white children. Furthermore, Hispanic families are less likely than non-Hispanic white families to live in neighborhoods where healthy foods are available and sold at affordable prices. Obese children often become obese adults, and are increasingly at risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
The promise of SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is the nation’s largest antihunger program. When our nation experienced a large spike in unemployment between 2008 and 2009, increased SNAP benefits put in place by the Obama administration in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 helped prevent a corresponding increase in hunger. Increased money for food stamps not only helped families, it boosted the economy through increased spending.
Hispanic children and their families, however, are less likely to receive help from SNAP than non-Hispanic white or African American children. Today, only 39 percent of eligible Latino families receive SNAP benefits compared to 65 percent of African Americans and 74 percent of Caucasians. Latino families have a particularly low participation in SNAP because they face various hurdles.
A survey conducted by Children’s Health Watch found that more than one-fifth of SNAP eligible families reported barriers to applying for SNAP. Mothers of SNAP eligible families reported lack of information about the program and immigration concerns as obstacles to SNAP participation. Because SNAP requires a five-year residency requirement, even adult legal immigrants who have not resided in the country for that long cannot access SNAP benefits. About 52 percent of Hispanic children are native-born children of immigrants. This lack of awareness of emergency feeding programs, the confusion or complexity of the application process, and the stigma associated with asking for help puts Latino children at greater nutritional and health risks.
Certain actions must take place to eliminate these hurdles and increase SNAP participation.
Increasing awareness. Public awareness about hunger in the Latino community and further outreach to Hispanic communities on the importance of SNAP should be on the agenda of major grassroots organizations. Congress should invest in outreach and education projects for eligible populations with low participation rates, including the elderly, low-income working households, and immigrant households.
Simplify application processes. Simpler pre-screening tools should be implemented to facilitate the process of determining eligibility. States and counties can use a categorical eligibility option, where families eligible to receive services by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF program, will be “categorically eligible” to receive SNAP benefits without the need for asset or gross income tests.
Reconsider eligibility of immigrant families. Congress should lift the bar that prohibits legal immigrants from accessing SNAP in their first five years in the United States.
These steps will help break down the barriers to SNAP participation and increase Latino participation in SNAP. Latino children will gain access to more essential nutrients, better physical and mental health, and better academic performance.
Ending child hunger
As the debate about our nation’s budget deficit continues, we must fight against proposals that would exacerbate child hunger. The GOP budget proposal for FY 2012 would convert SNAP into a block grant, cutting the program by $127 billion over the next 10 years. Cutting SNAP benefits would increase hunger and poverty. According to the Census Bureau data on disposable family income, SNAP helped lift 4.6 million Americans above the poverty line in 2009, including 2.1 million children.
Instead of cutting SNAP benefits, Congress should consider reducing or eliminating high tax breaks to companies and people who don’t need them. Donna Cooper from the Center for American Progress shows that billions of dollars are spent on unnecessary tax entitlements. Oil companies such as Exxon Mobil benefit from more than $9 billion in tax breaks for oil exploration and large biofuels companies, such as Archer Daniels Midland, benefit from the ethanol tax break that now costs nearly $5 billion a year. Are we willing to accept cuts aimed at programs such as SNAP that help the most vulnerable while leaving in place special interest subsidies for oil companies with record-breaking profits? Reducing the budget deficit is important, but it must be done in a way that doesn’t exacerbate conditions for hungry and poor people.
Hunger’s root cause is poverty. Families below the poverty line do not have enough income to purchase nutritious food for their families. If we want to address hunger, we need to address poverty. In 2009, poverty was at its highest level for Latino children since 1997. 33.1 percent of Hispanic children were below 100 percent of the poverty line compared to 11.9 percent of white children. CAP’s recent paper, “Feeding Opportunity: Ending Child Hunger Furthers the Goal of Cutting U.S. Poverty in Half over the Next Decade,” argues that we need to invest in our federal child nutrition programs and strengthen other income and work support programs to reduce hunger and poverty for all Americans and close racial and ethnic disparities.
During his campaign, President Obama set out a national goal of eliminating childhood hunger by 2015. With only four years left to reach that goal, our nation should focus on strengthening antihunger programs, not hindering them. Because poverty and hunger are interrelated problems, the steps we take to eliminate child hunger will ultimately reduce poverty in America.
Anyone concerned with our long-term economic growth and productivity should care about Latino poverty and hunger. Over the last decade, the number of Latino children grew 39 percent. As Congress considers cuts on programs that assist Latino communities, it should remember that the growth and development of our Latino children will help secure a strong economic future for the United States.
Alejandro Garcia is an Intern with Progress 2050 at American Progress.
Jeffco Eats is an approved agency express member and provider with Food Bank of Rockies. We are also in the Totes for Hope Program and PUSH produce program. We get 90 percent of our foods from Food Bank Rockies.
BBB ACCREDITED CHARITY bbb.org A Member of CHARITY NAVIGATOR What does Food Bank of the Rockies do? Food Bank of the Rockies (FBR) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. We feed the hungry through our programs and partner agencies in Northern Colorado, including Metro Denver and the entire state of Wyoming. How does Food Bank of the Rockies distribute its food? FBR distributes food directly through our Nutrition Network and Mobile Pantry programs and through our partner agencies. Any IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a hunger-relief program serving the ill, needy or children, may apply to become a partner agency. There is no membership fee. Shelters, food pantries, emergency assistance programs, child-welfare centers, senior nutrition programs, churches, synagogues, community centers, halfway houses and other similar organizations distribute FBR food. Who receives the food distributed by Food Bank of the Rockies’ agencies? Nearly half of those receiving food assistance are children under age 18. Seniors represent about 14% of our clients. We estimate only 10% of our recipients are homeless or living in temporary situations. 70% have incomes at or below the federal poverty level. More than 60% must make choices between buying food or paying for rent, medicine, transportation or utilities. Why do agencies use Food Bank of the Rockies to supply their hunger-relief programs? Collaboration with Food Bank of the Rockies is critical to the operations of many of our partner agencies. Food at our warehouse is handled safely, professionally and in accordance with all food industry, government agency, health and AIB sanitation standards. Our size and scope allow us to provide the most cost-effective way for agencies to access the greatest variety of food and necessities in volume.
Our team has national connections to secure the best product available, allowing partner agencies to stretch their funds and provide more food or additional services to their clients. Through FBR, not only do hunger-relief programs save significantly, they have access to a greater variety of high-quality items. In addition, we offer education, support and resources for our agencies, helping to enhance and expand their programs and funding. How much food does Food Bank distribute annually? In fiscal 2017 we distributed nearly 49 million meals (60.6 million pounds of food and non-food essentials) for hungry children, seniors and families. These numbers translate to more than 134,000 meals for struggling families every day. Where Does Food Bank of the Rockies Receive Financial Support? Contributions are raised through gifts and grants from associations, foundations and corporations, as well as gifts from individuals, bequests and proceeds from promotions and special events. Do agencies pay Food Bank of the Rockies for the food they receive? Agencies do not purchase donated products. To help cover our transportation and warehouse expenses, agencies do contribute a very small Agency Support Fee (ASF) for some items. The IRS permits this system if the fee is not based on the value of the product and food recipients are not charged. Last year, partner agencies contributed an average ASF of 2¢ per pound; according to Feeding America. To encourage consumption over spoilage, fresh produce, dairy and bread are distributed free. Last year, FBR gave away millions of pounds of food with no ASF. Products donated to FBR through food drives are always distributed without a fee. No fee is ever passed on to those receiving food assistance. Because we have no control over the type and quantity of products donated to us, and to provide consistency to our partner agencies, we also offer a Purchased Food Program. This program allows agencies to purchase staples such as peanut butter, pasta and sauce, rice, beans, canned meat, fruits and vegetables and kid-friendly items at our wholesale cost. Fresh produce is also purchased when additional funds are available and passed through to our partner agencies at no cost. Last year, we purchased almost 3 million pounds of fresh produce. (over ) F
Food myths debunked: When do canned foods really expire?
When does canned food really expire? Is it safe to eat canned food after the “best by” date? Here’s what we know.Jan. 9, 2018, 8:57 AM MST / Source: TODAYBy Katie Jackson
During the winter months, chances are pretty good that one night, you may be reaching for that can of soup in your pantry when it’s just too cold to go out — and you’re too tired to prepare a whole meal.
But while you’re opening it, you see the date stamped on the top and recoil. The soup expired two months ago! Or did it? When it comes to canned foods — and a lot of foods in general — it turns out many consumers aren’t always sure what those stamped dates actually mean.
Alamy stock
Sell by dates and best by dates are not actually mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Unless it’s for infant formula, the dates on packages are voluntarily provided by the manufacturers. Stores can even sell products that are weeks or months “past” their dates.
So, what do the numbers on the cans really mean? TODAY Food reached out to the Canned Food Alliance, whose spokesperson pointed us to their basic guide referencing expiration dates. According to their guidelines, canned food (when kept at relatively stable temperatures) will remain at peak quality for at least two years after it’s been processed. They note that while food in cans “retains its safety and nutritional value well beyond two years,” its color and texture may change after that time. Many factors affect how long a food will stay edible in the can, but food kept at “moderate temperatures [75 degrees or below]” may last indefinitely.
Does that mean you should be eating food out of a can found on the Titanic? Probably not.
Ron Giles, Quality Assurance Director of Goya Foods, Inc. says the canned food industry prefers to use “best by” dates as opposed to expiration dates.
“Canned foods do not expire on a certain date,” explains Giles. “One cannot say that the canned food is good on one day and not good the next day. Canned foods are under a vacuum. The absence of oxygen helps to extend the shelf life of canned foods.”
Goya Foods, Inc.
A “best by” date, on the other hand, indicates when a consumer may notice a decrease in quality. For example, the food’s color, texture or flavor may not be optimal. NBC nutrition consultant and registered dietician Bonnie Taub-Dix, author of “Read It Before You Eat It,” said that there may also be a decrease in nutritional value.
But even then, it takes years for that to happen. Goya canned beans, for example, have a best by date of three to five years from the day of production. Goya — which is one of the world’s largest food processing companies — determines a product’s shelf life by taking into account several factors. In addition to looking at industry standards and doing internal evaluations, the company uses insight from packaging material suppliers.
So which older canned food is safer to eat? In general, foods that are more acidic will actually expire sooner. Foods with a more basic pH level will last longer than most canned vegetables and fruits. This means good old Spam may actually outlive those canned peaches.
But storage quality is really the biggest determinant of canned food safety.
“When I think ‘zombie apocalypse bunker’ I think canned food!” says Emily Peterson, Chef Instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education. “Can something meant to feed us ‘forever’ in case of emergency ever really expire?” Peterson doesn’t tell her culinary students to focus on the dates on cans.
“I’m more concerned about the state of the can itself. Is it swollen? That’s a definite no-go. Is it dented or rusted? Throw it away.”
Pixabay
The problem with cans that are in less-than-perfect condition (think dents, dings and swollen areas) is that the hermetic seal and protective lining inside can be broken. Cans are coated with an interior lining that prevents the can’s metal from coming in direct contact with its contents. If the outside of the can is dented, there’s a good chance the interior lining is compromised as well.
Usually, this results in the can rusting or swelling up as the food reacts with the steel, tin or aluminum in the can. Bacteria can also grow and release gases that make the can bulge. (Botulism is a concern for goods improperly canned at home, but it’s not a concern for commercially canned food.)
If the can looks fine but you’re still uncomfortable with it being past the best by date, donate it to a food pantry. Many food pantries accept, or will properly dispose of, expired goods. To avoid getting into a tricky situation in the first place, implement the first in, first out rule. “When storing your canned goods, newer items should go towards the back while older items should be towards the front of cabinets or pantries for easier access,” says Mandy Enright, a registered dietician based in New Jersey.
If the can looks fine and you want to go for it, no problem. Just get a good whiff first. If something doesn’t smell right and it doesn’t look right, don’t eat it or serve it.
