Fundraiser for Hunger Abatement Programs

Alpha Omega Life Care, Inc. is a community-based, non-profit, broad-spectrum social service agency, with, among their missions, a deep and abiding commitment to Hunger Abatement. To this end, the agency manages six community food programs:

1. Partnering with the Fairbanks Community Food Bank providing local administration and distribution for the Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP).
2. Administers a small grant from FEMA/United Way providing for food vouchers to be used at the local market.
3. In season, manages locally for the state of Alaska, the Senior Nutrition and Farmer’s Market Coupon Program.
4. Serves on the advisory board for the local Farmer’s Market.
5. Maintains a community-based Food Pantry by means of donations to allow emergency issues of food when necessary.

Six plus years ago when the Board of Directors made a resolution regarding hunger abatement, the corporate mini-van sufficed to serve our fledgling efforts. Today, bringing to Delta Junction from Fairbanks nearly 5 tons of food per month, and serving 150+ families and seniors each month, the van no longer serves.

Since that time, we have added by means of grants and good stewardship, an insulated wired, heated, 16’ X 24’ building, industrial shelving, commercial refrigeration, and large chest freezer to house our hunger abatement programs.

However, we are (glad or sad, we’re not certain) to say, that our Hunger Abatement programs have outgrown the floor space available. When our CSFP and TEFAP consignments arrive on Saturdays, they must be off-loaded from the truck and stored until the following Monday, distribution day. Some boxes end up being temporarily stored, because of the 65 – 85 families and individuals we serve with each program, some of those recipients do not arrive to pick up their boxes during distribution. Storage consumes floor space and interferes with emergency issues and administrative functions.

Therefore, we are seeking funding through a major fundraiser to build an additional building to the present facility exclusively for storage of food boxes.

Service Area and Target Populations
Our hunger abatement programs presently serve low-income seniors and families, also those with urgent/emergency needs in the Greater Delta Junction area, and a few individuals and families in Dot Lake and Tok.

Goals, Objectives, Impact
1. Expanded storage capacity
2. Eminently suitable and task adapted single purpose building
3. Practical project for high school construction trades program

Monitoring Success Measurement
The programs as they exist are successful; this is an effort to reduce or alleviate a limited storage capacity state. Monitoring will be done by Alpha Omega staff, who now operate the programs and will continue to do so.

The fundraiser to be held July 18, 2009 at the Moose Lodge will be a social gathering and will include a live auction, live music and dinner. Dave Stancliff and Susan Grace have agreed to perform for our event. The fun begins at 2:00pm. Look for the flyers and listen for the announcements on local radio stations.

You can call 895-4104 for more information.

Some of the items up for auction will be: A quilt made by Mary Beth Miller and Jackie Becker, creations by Jane Oliver, Helga Wagenleiter, Ruby Hollembaek, Mark Bynum and others, photos by Carol Watkins and possibly Dwight Phillips, gift baskets, a gliding rocker and matching ottoman, leather jackets, a counter top wine rack, a yard hammock, Walmart gift certificate, Sam's Club and many more.