February At Just Food
Households Served - 1,958
Individuals Served - 4,196
New Shoppers - 386
Number of Volunteer Hours - 1,597
Number of Volunteers - 153
Average Hours / Volunteer - 10.4
February 2023 Food Purchasing
In addition to all food donated to Just Food through food drives, food recovery, and through other means, Just Food also purchases food for our pantry each month. Currently, we have budgeted $40,000 for purchasing food (up from spending just $2,300 per month as recently as February 2020). Soon, we anticipate that number to increase to $50,000 per month or more due to rising food costs, reduced access to donated food, and the increased need across our county.
Transparency in how we are spending that budget it important to us and we know it's important to our supporters and donors. In the spirit of that transparency, we will be sharing our monthly purchasing breakdown in each month's The Dish. We welcome your questions about how we acquire our food, any partnerships for food purchasing you may be able to help us leverage, and, of course, your donations to help us fill this ever-growing need.
Please reach out to our Executive Director, Brett at brett@justfoodks.org with any questions or connections you may be able to share.
Shopper Advisory Committee
We want to hear from our shoppers! We’re relaunching our “Shopper Advisory Committee” and we’d love to have your input. If you are a current Just Food shopper and are interested in serving on this committee, to provide input, insights, feedback, and general comments about the services Just Food provides, and opportunities for improvement, please email our Executive Director, Brett, at brett@justfoodks.org.
As emergency food aid comes to an end, Just Food braces for impact
Last week, the Lawrence Journal World visited to discuss the impact we're facing as pandemic-era emergency food aid comes to an end. We anticipate this will have a significant impact on low-income families and individuals who rely on Just Food for support, and we will likely see families who did not previously need to utilize our services.
We expect to serve more than 20,000 shoppers this year - a significant increase from the 16,000 shoppers we served in 2021.
Throughout 2023, we will be working to expand our partnerships with local organizations to address food insecurity and to promote access to healthy, nutritious food for all members of the community.
You can read the full Lawrence Journal World article HERE.
Budget Recipe of the Month
Creamy Coconut Curry Lentils with Spinach
This creamy coconut curry lentils with spinach recipe is a delicious and nutritious dish that is easy to prepare.
The dish is made with brown lentils, which are cooked in a flavorful blend of coconut milk, curry powder, and spices. The addition of spinach adds a burst of color and nutrients to the dish.
Estimated Cost: $6.29/recipe - $1.57/serving
Volunteer of the Month - René Kaufman
René Kaufman is our March Volunteer of the Month, and we couldn't be happier to highlight René's contributions to Just Food!
She moved to Lawrence six years ago, and was previously volunteering with Meals on Wheels in Wichita. She and her husband moved here to be closer to their daughters and friends (and KU basketball). When arriving here she was interested in volunteering, and wanted to continue to be involved in increasing food access & justice. René volunteers every week at check-in, the first line of contact with shoppers who enter our doors. She enjoys interacting with people and getting to know them over time. One of her favorite things to do is interact with the little kids and hand out candy around the holidays (with parent permission, of course!)
René has been a staple volunteer at Just Food since 2020, and is always eager to fill in and cover shifts when needed. One of her favorite things about Just Food is how welcoming of an environment it is, for shoppers as well as volunteers. She is the mother of 3 and loves to travel and snow ski with her husband. She also enjoys Pilates and long walks outside.
Food Justice Partner of the Month - 1900 Barker
This month we recognize the team at 1900 Barker! Since they opened, in 2015, 1900 Barker has partnered with Just Food to donate their excess loaves and pastries four times per week. In 2022, they donated 6,081 pounds and have already donated 1,566 pounds in 2023.
Since our Chop Shop opened, we have been using their loaves and baguettes as the base for many of the sandwiches we produce.
Thanks so much to our 1900 Barker friends! We're grateful for your partnership!
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