Joseph's Project Board of Directors

Meeting Minutes March 12, 2009

Attendees

• Mike Hakkarainen
• Steve Johnson
• Colleen Adams
• Karl Hakkarainen
• Erin Beardsley
• Rich Deneault
• Sheila Diggins
• Lynn Hakkarainen

• Karen Halley, Wachusett Food Pantry
• Carlene Smith

Discussion regarding Wachusett Food Pantry

Karen Halley met with the board to discuss the Wachusett Food Pantry. Established in 1995, the Food Pantry is a non-denominational service organization that provides food to the five towns in the Wachusett district. The Food Pantry distributes its food once a month, on a Friday to senior citizens and Saturday to the general public. During February of this year, the Food Pantry served 173 families, a number that has increased significantly in the past three years.

The Food Pantry obtains most of its food from the Worcester County Food Bank and is supplemented with food and cash donations from area residents and businesses. The food from the Food Bank is subsidized by state and federal funds. As a result, the Food Pantry is able to purchase as much as 3,700 pounds of food for $30. (The amount of food is based on the number of people served and the ZIP codes of the communities that the Food Pantry supports.)

Families are able to choose their own food from a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, cheese, and meats, as well as canned and packaged foods. (A supply of pet food is also available.) The food offerings are based on the USDA Food Pyramid.

The Food Pantry maintains emergency food boxes containing enough non-perishables for a family for three or four days. Emergency boxes are kept at the Police, Fire, Council on Aging, and Checkerberry Village buildings.

The Board agreed to continue discussions with Karen and the Food Pantry staff to see how each organization can best help each other and the community.

Report on donations and deliveries

We are continuing to support 6-8 families. (The number varies from week to week as the families' needs change.)

The Board discussed storage facilities for fresh and frozen foods. We will need to coordinate fresh food purchases with deliveries. In addition, several of the Board members offered refrigerator and freezer space for short-term storage.

Discussions and motions

The Board discussed a number of items, including the following:

• Erin reported on her initial contact with the Holden Board of Health regarding our food storage area. Initial review is favorable. All food is off the floor and in a dry, protected area. Erin will followi up with the Board of Health regarding a certificate. (This will be helpful when we apply for grants.)
• The Board agreed to provide $100 to assist students at Mountview School who may not have lunch money. Carlene Smith will assist.
• A number of youth organizations are looking for group projects. They may be able to assist in rotating stock and holding fund-raisers, such as car washes.
• Continued discussions regarding a booth at Holden Days, giveaways, such as pencils, Frisbees, or the like. Rich to follow up.
• The West Boylston American Legion Post 208 will hold a meat raffle on March 21. Half of the proceeds will go to Joseph's Project. (Update: we received $2,000 from the Post.)

Action Items

Next Meeting

April 16, 2009, 6PM, at 53 Raymond Street.