A Truckload of Hope

On Tuesday, August 10th at 10:30 a.m., Smithfield and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union delivered 150 thousand servings of protein (a truck load of frozen pork) to FBR as a continuation of its ‘Feeding The Hungry’ coast-to-coast tour to donate a total of nearly 20 million servings of protein over the next three years to Feeding America food banks. Smithfield’s longstanding retail partner, Safeway, and a dedicated supporter of FBR, also participated in the program.

Smithfield Foods Public Affairs Director, Dennis Pittman, speaks about their dedication to fighting hunger on a national level.

“Smithfield Foods is committed to hunger relief,” said Dennis Pittman, Public Affairs Director, Smithfield. “We felt the need to help shine a spotlight on an ever-increasing problem for American families. Providing hunger relief will continue to remain a priority.” Smithfield and the United Food and Commercial Workers will continue this work across the nation in an effort to donate and deliver more than 1,600,000 pounds of protein, or more than 6,400,000 servings each year, to help families and individuals become more food secure.

“The UFCW is committed to ensuring that families across the country have the relief and the opportunities they need to weather the current economic crises,” said Joe Hansen, UFCW International President. “All across the country UFCW members are on the front lines of efforts to improve and strengthen their communities, and this new partnership reflects their unwavering commitment to protect and advocate for families during tough times. This partnership is about bringing together organizations with the resources, the relationships and the know-how to ensure that vulnerable communities across the country have access to well-supplied food banks. Our goal is simple: Get good, nutritious food to as many families, in as many communities, as possible.”

We're grateful that we were able to be a recipient of Smithfield's generous donation! Our agency partners greatly appreciate healthy options for their clients on the front lines of hunger and this truckload of food provided just that! Many thanks to Smithfield, Safeway and the UFCW!

The truck door opens, revealing countless pounds of frozen pork being donated to FBR partner agencies.

An assembly line quickly unloads the truck.

FBR's Kevin Seggelke and Dennis Pittman lead the pack in emptying the truck.

Dedicated Safeway folks show their support for the donation.

Chase, Driving Out Hunger

At a time when more families in Colorado face the threat of going hungry, FBR announced at a recent press conference that Chase has donated two state-of-the-art refrigerated food delivery trucks to supply Colorado and Wyoming's hungry with fruits, vegetables, dairy products and other fresh food.

FBR & Chase employees proudly pose outside of one of the donated trucks.

Channel 4's Jim Benemann drove up during the conference in the second truck, horns blazing. As if the donation of two trucks weren't enough, Chase also donated funds to operate each of these trucks for the first year. "We are deeply grateful for this generous donation from Chase," said FBR President, Kevin Seggelke. "Having a new refrigerated truck on the Western Slope will allow us to rescue and distribute more nutritious food that would otherwise be discarded by retailers and wholesalers in the region. The donation, valued at more than $250,000, was announced with the surprise arrival of Jim and the second truck, called a mobile pantry.

FBR's Kevin Seggelke speaks to the crowd about the generosity of Chase and the importance of the donated trucks for our neighbors in need.

Chase President, Todd Munson, points to the surprise donation driving toward them.

Enter Mr. Jim Benemann. He hands the keys to to truck to Kevin.

"This is FBR's first mobile pantry, which will provide us with the means to distribute food to rural and urban food deserts - places in Colorado where we don't have enough partner agencies to meet the needs of our struggling neighbors," Seggelke said. "Thanks to Chase, this gift will provide hope to many who worry where their meal will come from." The donation from Chase, part of the JP Morgan Chase & Co., is a component of the year-round philanthropic program that addresses economic, education and cultural issues facing Coloradoans.

"At JP Morgan Chase, we focus our giving on the local, under served communities in Colorado, particularly when our efforts can enhance their quality of life," said Todd Munson, President of Chase in Colorado. "These refrigerated trucks better equip FBR to deliver nutritious food to our community and we could not be more proud to be part of this hunger relief initiative."

Tamara Door, President of the Downtown Denver Partnership speaks about their dedication toward fighting hunger in our city.

Our friend Dom from the Dom and Jane show showed his support at the press conference.

Following the press conference, FBR was invited to join Chase at their booth at the Downtown Denver Employee Appreciation Week celebration. FBR was able to talk to downtown Denver employees about our services and our partnership with Chase. And as if that all wasn't enough, on the Tuesday evening following the press conference, nearly 50 Chase employees volunteered their time at FBR's warehouse, packing and sorting food.

Can we say enough about Chase? No, we absolutely can't. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts!

Chase employees staff their booth on the 16th Street Mall and help solicit donations for FBR.

When folks donated at the booth, they signed their name on our banner. Chase President, Todd, Munson, is the first to autograph the keepsake.

Food and donations were loaded into one of the new trucks each afternoon.

The Chase volunteer group poses during their 4 hour shift at FBR.

Chase announced its donation in Denver as part of a $5 million national grant to Feeding America and its nationwide network of food banks. This donation marks the largest single corporate donation that Feeding America has received from a corporation to date. The national donation will support hunger-fighting initiatives, supplying 34 trucks to 20 food banks in communities hit hard by the recession. The trucks’ destinations include Feeding America network food banks in 19 cities and local communities nationwide. With the new trucks, food banks can transport up to 1.5 million pounds of food -- the equivalent of 1,171,185 additional meals -- annually.

Teeing off to Fight Hunger

FBR’s Young Associate Board (YAB) kicked off their” fun”raising efforts with a bang this July. In conjunction with our upcoming Joe Sakic golf tourny, the YAB organized their own unique golf experience, and it went off without a hitch.

On July 31st, Event Co-Chairs, Ryan Good & Whit Patterson, and a crew of others met at Denver's Harvard Gulch Golf Course for an afternoon and night full of golf, food, an ample supply of beverages, live band entertainment, more golf, bagpipers extraordinaire, more food, more beverages, contests, awards and socializing. Over 100 golfers and volunteers showed up to enjoy the day and partner together in the fight against hunger. And that they did. Nearly 13,000 meals were provided as a result of the efforts of everyone involved - outstanding!

Special thanks to Ryan Good, Whit Patterson, Scott Einberger, Chad Lisowe, Lynn Scherler, Maria Carabajal, Buck Seggelke, Angela Coleman, Megan James, Harvard Gulch Golf Course, Jackson Lamb & his crew of volunteers for doing the cooking and donating the much appreciated food, Jacob’s Creek Sparking Wine and Uptown Brothers Brewing Company. Special congrats to Grant Patrick who won the tournament, gifting him a spot in the Sakic tournament next week.

Can't wait to see what next year's tournament brings!

Event Co-Chairs, Ryan Good (left) and Whit Patterson

ConFunkcius donated their time and talents for the length of the tourny.

Most of the participants ponied up for the many contest holes offered throughout the day. Nearly every hole had something to entertain the golfers.

Special thanks to Jackson Lamb and his crew for feeding the masses!

Our friends, Mile Highlanders, brought special energy to the day while they paraded around the course.

Thanks to Jacob's Creek Sparkling Wine, a toast was given and $1 per glass was donated to FBR.

FBR's Kim Ruotsala, board member Creigh Behnke and Ryan Good.

Awards were given to those who "dressed up" for the event. This foursome showed up in their Sunday best.

Board Treasurer, Lynn Scherler, lugged around his clubs, keg style.

Board member, Chad Lisowe's, sixsome donned hats with "FBR" engraved across the top. Love it.

This hole contest included throwing your club as far as humanly possible.

Buck made his presence known wherever he went.

We were pleased with the even representation of both men and women at this tournament.

The "not at all tacky" trophy was coveted by all.

The golf committee handed out awards toward the end of the day.

Candace Roper won the prized Sakic jersey.

FBR's Kim and Kristina worked hand in hand with the committee for a successful day of fighting hunger and feeding hope. As always, great work ladies.

Your Help is Needed for America's Kiddos

This email was sent to us from Feeding America. Spread the word! Collectively we can try to ensure that America's kids are provided with a basic human need...food. It's really that simple. Kids need to eat. We can assist in reaching this important goal.

The Senate just passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (S. 3307). Unfortunately, the Senate made a last minute change to pay for the new investments in the bill by cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (formerly known as food stamps). There may be strong pressure for the House to pass the Senate child nutrition bill next Tuesday when the House returns to take a vote on a bill to provide emergency funding for Medicaid and teacher funding. While we support completing Child Nutrition Reauthorization this year, the Senate-passed bill does not make as robust of an investment in program access that the House bill would make and it is paid for by cuts to SNAP benefits, nearly half of whom are children.

This is not an acceptable child nutrition bill for the House to approve, and so we are urging the House to move its version when Congress returns in September. Feeding America supports the stronger House version because it includes additional investments that help Americans struggling with hunger.

We are now calling on all of our anti-hunger advocates to stand up and tell their Representative to pass the House version of Child Nutrition Reauthorization (H.R. 5504) when Congress returns in September. We need to show our leaders in Washington that our nation's children need a strong Child Nutrition bill that puts us on the path toward ending hunger! Help us deliver that message by taking action today! Calling your Representative is easy, and your voice will make a difference. You can help us get a better Child Nutrition bill. To make your call, just follow these simple steps:

*Dial the toll-free number---866-548-0332
*When prompted, enter your PIN---(for Colorado) 154284#
*Listen to the instructions, and you will be patched through to your first Senator's office automatically.
*Inform your Senator's office that you are a constituent and deliver this message:"As my Representative I urge you to pass the House Child Nutrition bill (H.R. 5504) when Congress returns in September. It's critical that Congress enact a robust Child Nutrition bill that increases access to programs and improves nutrition without cutting SNAP/Food Stamps benefits."

Rachael Ray and Childhood Hunger

Celebrity foodie extraordinaire, Rachael Ray, has something to say about childhood hunger. Something worth reading. Taken from the August 4 "Statesman Journal."

For most, "hunger" is a metaphor for a list of wants rather than needs. We hunger for more — more time, more money, more of what the next guy has. Even when we use the term in reference to food it becomes hyperbole. If we go more than five or six hours in any busy day without a meal, we declare, "I'm starving!" just before we bite into our super-sized sandwiches.
Imagine the physical and emotional distress of true hunger. Now imagine suffering that pain as a child. An empty stomach makes a child feel empty emotionally, overlooked and forgotten. Even worse, it stunts their growth, harms their school test scores, spurs behavioral problems and increases school nurse visits.


Nearly 17 million American children struggle against hunger. For these children, school food programs are sometimes the only access they have to food. At the same time, one in three American kids is overweight or suffering from childhood obesity. Hunger and obesity are strange yet constant neighbors. In many cases, our kids are overweight or obese because their families simply cannot afford or physically do not have access to fresh, nutritious foods. School food systems are one of the only level playing fields we have to provide good nutrition to all of our kids.


Every five years or so, Congress reviews and revises the Child Nutrition Act through a process commonly known as Child Nutrition Reauthorization (CNR). This process sets rules and funding levels for the major youth food programs, including the School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program and a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Rather than passing a new bill last year when the old one expired, Congress passed a one-year extension, which is set to expire at the end of September.


To truly end child hunger and reduce obesity, nutrition advocates estimate that a new bill would need an additional $4 billion per year. That would go toward improving meal quality by boosting reimbursement rates and reducing child hunger by increasing the number of kids fed by these programs. President Obama proposed a significant down payment towards this goal, requesting an extra $1 billion per year in his budget for CNR improvements.

Read more... Go to the next page for the remainder of the article.

Feeding Our Future

For many kids, summer is vacation at its finest. Free time, swimming, sleeping in, hanging out with friends etc. But for many Colorado kids, summer is a time when they're not quite sure where their next meal will come from. The free lunches they receive at school aren't available, Mom and Dad still have to go to work and they're often left to fend for themselves. In fact, out of every 100 kids that ate a free lunch last year, only 8 were receiving summer food.

The USDA has previously maintained regulations that a non-profit can only sponsor 25 summer food sites, so FBR was capped on the dent we could make for these kids. Through the hard work of our friends at Hunger Free Colorado, we recently received a waiver from the state of Colorado, enabling us to grow this program up to 50 sites! And that we did.

In 2009, FBR sponsored 21 USDA approved sites with an average of 978 meals served per day. This summer, we’re sponsoring 48 USDA approved sites with 2,773 meals requested per day.
We couldn't afford to do so without the support of partners like Sodexo. This generous company has partnered with FBR for 3 consecutive years in funding a host of these sites. They currently sponsor 11 sites and have provided 38,385 meals in their 3 year partnership with us!



In celebration of the growth of the program and their partnership with FBR, Sodexo organized and sponsored the 1st Annual "Feeding Our Future BBQ" for more than 250 low income Colorado kids this past Friday. The festivities took place at St. Anthony Central Hospital and included music, face painting, clowns, food, autographs from former Nuggets, Ervin Johnson and Walter Davis, free bike helmets and fittings, ambulance tours and on and on and on. The kids arrived hungry and went home full of good food and tons o fun.

MANY THANKS to Sodexo, St. Anthony Central and all our valuable volunteers for donating your time and your talents. The faces of these kids definitely prove the day a success. Without all of you, that wouldn't have been possible!

The Sodexo gang set up the food stations and served our guests in style.

Mix 100's Jeremy from the Dom and Jane show (right) offered up his serving talents, along with Channel 2 News and Fox 31's Natalie Tysdal (far left).

Former Nuggets, Ervin Johnson (left) and Walter Davis (right) signed autographs for adoring young fans.

FBR Board Member David Patterson, his wife and fellow US Foods co-workers volunteer to serve the kiddos.

Fellow FBR Board members Mike Hall and Seth Patterson also join the serving ranks.

3 volunteers from Senator Udall's office graciously donate their time!

City Council Representative, Paula Sandoval, speaks to the crowd about the importance of fighting childhood hunger.

2 staffers from Senator Bennet's office also volunteer their time to help serve the kids.

FBR's Janie, Kevin and Kim (left to right)

Laurie, a loyal FBR volunteer "decorated" kids faces for 3.5 hours straight.