1

Lutheran Community Services provides emergency food for people throughout our community, and we would like local schools to show their support by conducting a Food Drive. We are aware that high school students (grades 9-12) who volunteer in their community gain a lot of benefits. They become more knowledgeable about what is happening in their surroundings and the experience they gain will go a long way on their employment and college applications. LCS continues to experience an increase in clients seeking emergency food assistance. (See 2012 Annual Report on page 3 of this insert.) In order to meet this demand, LCS relies on donations from both private and public sources; as well as donations collected from Food Drives. We are always looking for different venues to establish a Food Drive, especially ones that give direct benefits to those during a Food Drive. Last year we did a pilot program with Christiana High School in holding a Food Drive. The entire project from beginning to end was done by the students. We went out to the school to give them some startup tips but the students took the ball and ran with it! They collected over 1800 items and clocked over 250 volunteer hours over a three-week period. The success and feedback from the students made us all realize this was a win-win for both LCS and Christiana High School. Yes, we stocked our pantry; but we also realized that we were helping young people in several ways. They were learning skills that would be valuable to them throughout their adult life: Skills: Planning, organizing, marketing, communicating, and being accountable. Teamwork: Learning how to work in a team environment, whether they were the team leader or team worker Building volunteer hours: Every hour spent on the Food Drive, from the beginning to the end, goes toward credit for graduation.

We reaching out to high schools in New Castle County and asking if they would be willing to participate in a Food Drive. We are calling it "FEED THE NEED - Feed Your Community, Feed Your Mind. We will be happy to guide and offer advice to both the school and students throughout the process. Our only stipulation is that once a student signs on, he or she must stay involved from beginning to end regardless of how many hours they need towards finishing in order to receive their volunteer credit. This keeps the entire group accountable and responsible for the projects they take on and not leaving their team mates left "holding the bag." In this case...a grocery bag. I hope you will take the time to look over our Food Drive Kit and our blog post about the Christiana Food Drive. This may give you some ideas, or you can create your own. We would love to hear about them. http://www.lcsvolunteersde.blogspot.com/2012/04/fill-that-bus.html

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Cher Frampton Volunteer Coordinator (302) 654-8886 ext 107 cframpton@lcsde.org

2012 Annual Report to Congregations

ast year, the Lutheran Community Services (LCS) Emergency Food Program served more people than ever before substantially more. In 2011, our food program served 69,369. In 2012, our food program served 86,750. Thats an increase in food clients of 25 percent during 2012. Looking at the figures for all services combined, LCS served a total of 83,812 during 2011. During 2012, the total number served zoomed up to 102,715, and for the first time ever, LCS served over 100,000 people. That is an increase of 18,903 or 23 percent in 2012. This growth is part of a long upward trend. The table below illustrates how demand has grown at our three stationery pantries (Hope, St. Stephens and Zion) in the last 15 years. Keep in mind that these figures represent only 3 of our 13 separate food distribution sites. Individuals Served at Hope, St. Stephens and Zion LCS Food Pantries (1998-2012)

In addition to meeting the burgeoning demand in a quantitative sense, LCS is also committed to improving the quality of service, in all three core areas food, housing, and more. In the food area, we concentrated on nutrition, handing out thousands of printed inserts dealing with nutrition on a budget in 2012. We have also held well-attended nutritional seminars which is something that will continue in 2013. Also in 2013, we expect to continue our review of client choice options so that people have a role in what foods they receive. In the housing area, we streamlined our procedures dramatically so that while we helped about the same number of people in 2012 as the year before, we interviewed substantially fewer, which saved time and effort for other tasks. We also enhanced our housing follow up activities so that each client receives four follow-up contacts to assure that they are staying housed. Our emphasis on financial literacy continued in 2012 with a goal of helping people prepare to deal with future financial emergencies without jeopardizing their homes.

Lutheran Community Services

FOOD DRIVE KIT

n following its mission "Sharing God's Blessings by Helping Others in Need" LCS is committed to making improvements to the lives of its clients. In addition to emergency assistance, we provide nutrition education and financial literacy help that we hope will encourage long-term changes in people's lives.

Welcome
Lutheran Community Services (LCS) has been serving lowincome individuals and families in Wilmington and New Castle County with emergency food, housing, and other services since 1959. Originally founded to help senior citizens with their independent living needs, LCS has evolved into a multi-faceted social service agency with many different programs and locations for people of all ages. In 2011, Lutheran Community Services serviced 83,812 individuals in Delaware, a 19% increase from 2010. For more information, visit www.lcsde.org LCS's Food Distribution Program has 13 food distribution locations statewide including stationery and mobile pantries, fresh produce, and grocery clubs. Referral or pre-registration is needed or required for many of the programs. To stock the pantries, LCS purchases food from the Food Bank of Delaware, and relies on generous donations from individual and private sources, and donations collected from Food Drives.

Volunteers Fulfill Lutheran Community Services and Community Needs Simultaneously

Food Drive Volunteers fulfill very important needs for Lutheran Community Services and our Community.

First, they collect much needed food resources for LCS's 13 food distribution locations. (See Foods We Can Use on page 16 for a list of foods to collect.) Second, they tell LCS's story (marketing and outreach) to the Community. Lastly, volunteers directly help the Community because the food resources they collect are directly donated back to Community to benefit individuals and families.

Why Help with a Food Drive?

First, demand for food is at all time high due to our current economy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Delaware had an 8.2% unemployment rate in October, 2011. Factors like these have increased requests at the food pantries. Requests have grown each year in the past few years and are expected to continue to climb. Second, Lutheran Community Services is a big organization with 13 statewide food distribution locations and needs continuous resources to replenish the food inventories. In 2012, they served 102,715 individuals.

Third, because Lutheran Community Services does not have a dedicated Staff member to
run Food Drives, volunteers fulfill this special role. LCS needs and relies on volunteers to assist Lutheran Community Services by running Food Drives to collect food resources and donations for LCS food pantries.

The Role of the Food Drive Manager

The Food Drive Manager oversees all aspects of the Food Drive including acquiring the venue, overseeing the logistical details and delivering the food to the Lutheran Community Services Food Pantry locations.

The Purpose of a Food Drive Kit

The Lutheran Community Service (LCS) Food Drive Event Kit is designed to help aid the Food Drive Manager through the process of managing a Food Drive and ultimately build food pantry resources for Lutheran Community Services. LCS has 13 statewide food pantries and is in constant need to stock their food pantries due to the overwhelming demand. This kit is the event management process from start to finish and is owned by Lutheran Community Services. A detailed, generic approach was taken because the kit will be used by many individuals with varying levels of event management experience. Some information may not be applicable to every Food Drive. The sample documents are also located on the enclosed CD and are easy for editing. If you have comments, questions or suggestions, please contact Cher Frampton at the Volunteer Coordinators Office, (302) 654-8886, ext 107 or email at cframpton@lcsde.org. Thank you, in advance, for managing a food drive on LCS's behalf. Your support will bring in much needed food and help hundreds of your neighbors in our Community!

Getting Started
Managing a Food Drive is a series of steps. Heres an overall look at whats required:

FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE

1. Find a partner or two to help. Add some FUN. 2. Acquiring a Venue. 3. Determining the Length of your Food Drive, and Considering Food Collection Times. 4. Marketing your Food Drive 5. Items needed for Your Food Drive 6. To Do After the Food Drive Ends 7. Wrap-up

Step 1: Find a Partner or two to help. Add some FUN

Carrying out the Food Drive is so much easier and more enjoyable with 2 or 3 people. For starters, its safer at the collection site. And it's easier packing and sorting, and delivering the food to LCS. And when you are looking for a venue, you may receive a yes faster, if you are sharing the duties with others. Note: is not a requirement, a Food Drive can be managed by 1 person but it is a little more difficult so it's recommended that 2 or more share the task.

Teamwork divides the task and multiples the success.

~ Author Unknown

Step 2: Acquiring a Venue

1. Find a location (and receive permission, if necessary) where you can host a Food Drive. Take along a helper, you will more likely gain permission. 2. Select a safe location that you know well. 3. Places that are open to the public, busy and near other stores or businesses are good choices. 4. Grocery stores, churches, community centers, strip malls and areas near grocery stores are also good places. 5. Consider asking an organization where you are member or a business/store where you shop. 6. When thinking about venues, take in account venue characteristics (Is there an area where you can set up the Food Drive table so that is out of the way for people traffic yet the table can be seen and accessed?) 7. If it's outside, you'll need to dress and prepare weather including anchoring signage for wind.

WHEN ASKING FOR PERMISSION, PLEASE CONSIDER: If you need to ask for permission, ask for the owner or manager in person. Introduce yourself as a LCS volunteer and please be familiar with the LCS and its mission (see Appendix). Provide them a LCS brochure. When appropriate, state how you know the business, organization or store you are asking. Tell them you are a managing a food drive for LCS and would like to host it at their site. Talk about the increasing need for food due to the demand and our current economy. Mention how positive this would be for their store; they would be doing a service to the Community. Sample Request: Hi, my name is Carolyn. I am a volunteer with Lutheran Community Services, a local social service agency who provides emergency food, housing and other services to low-income individuals and families in DE. I would like to host a food drive outside your business next Saturday to benefit LCS. I shop here every week and thought of your store since its always busy and in a good location. I (and two other volunteers) will be managing the entire process and will work with you on details. Because so many people are unemployed and the demand for food is at an all time high. Everything we collect will be distributed at one of LCS's 13 food pantries. Your support will help 100s of your neighbors in our Community. Is this possible, could we please have your support to host a Food Drive at your Store? If you do visit and the manager is not available, consider making a general call in advance to ask when it would be a good time to visit the manager. Assure the owner/manager that you will manage the entire process. Answer questions and note question(s) you cannot answer. Follow-up with LCS for assistance with questions you cannot answer and be sure to follow-up to owner/manager. When you are discussing the collection area, is it inside or outside? Ask if it is outside and the weather is poor, can you reschedule the date? A YES REPLY Thank the owner/manager and confirm the details. Follow their wishes when you design your food drive. Discuss Food Drive collection times. Ask about their busiest times, that's the idea, to reach the most people. Discuss the location where you will set-up the collection table and bins. Discuss poor weather, illness, emergency, etc. in case the Food Drive dates need to change. Send a brief note of thanks including the details. A NO REPLY Thank them anyway. Leave contact information in the event they change their mind.

Step 3: Determining the Length of Your Food Drive and Collection Times
Single Day Food Drives are the easiest. However, two-day Drives, over a weekend or on a Fri & Sat, are fabulous opportunities to collect an enormous amount of food because you can capture many people shopping for the week.

Food Drive Collection Start and End Times

Consider the needs of the venue when you set your collection times but try to do what is convenient for you too. Ask the owner/manager for their busiest times so you can reach the most people. Generally the start of the established business hours is the best time to begin your Drive. If you are doing multiple days: Four hour increments may be a good stretch. Consider mixing your routine. You may want to do a morning one day, an afternoon or a late afternoon on another day to reach the most folks. For safety reasons, collecting after dark or late at night is not recommended. Consider your safety. Do not sit at a Food Drive collection site alone. Have a least 1 or 2 other persons with you at all times. Keep a cell phone with you. Do not accept cash. Accept checks made payable to Lutheran Community Services.

Step 4: Marketing Your Food Drive

Create posters with specific details about your Food Drive (date, time and place) and post them at the Collection Site a few days before your Food Drive. See the Marketing Flyer in the Appendix. Other suggestions to market your Food Drive: Distribute the flyer at your church, local community center, stores, dentist, doctor, hairdresser, etc. Email the flyer or the Food Drive details to your friends, family, coworkers, etc. Ask others to distribute the flyer along to their friends, family, coworkers, etc. Post the flyer on your local Craigslist Events Page.

10

Create a Facebook event on your Facebook page and invite your friends. Post where you are hosting the Food Drive location and include information about LCS, its Mission, the type of food you are collecting and the need for the donated food. Send reminders a few days and the day before the Food Drive. On Food Drive day, post pictures of people donating food (or of the donated food) and post comments while you are hosting your drive. this will encourage participation. And ask those who are helping you to do the same on their Facebook pages. Also ask everyone that donates to take a picture of your Food Drive and post it to their Facebook page stating that LCS is having a Food Drive with the event details. Have a big sign with the event details (date, time and place) in front of the table so they will be included in Facebook pictures. See the Appendix. Have a Twitter account with followers? Tweet about your event whil e its happening. Keep it current and exciting to encourage support. Note: Facebook is more effective.

11

Step 5: Items Needed for Your Food Drive

Lutheran Community Services has 2 chairs, a table, collection boxes and stats signs for you to use at your collection site. To check them out from the LCS main office, please call 302-654-8886, ext 107 and arrange for pick-up. The signs have statistics about LCSs services and are meant to encourage support and food donation. Please display them at your Food Drive.

Step 6: To Do After the Food Drive Ends

At the end of your Food Drive, please check the food expiration dates on all collected items and throw out all expired items. It's unlikely you will have expired items if your Food Drive was at a store but please check anyway. Then sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits/veggies, pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous. Count up whats collected and make note. Then pack-up food into boxes, plastic containers or sturdy bags. Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 to coordinate delivery of donated food and to return chairs, table and signs.

Step 7: Wrap-Up
Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input is important to the process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything go well? Did you experience any problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process. Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.

12

Hosting a Virtual Food Drive via FACEBOOK

Utilizing Social Media is an excellent and creative way to host a virtual Food Drive. You could use your home or church for the location and send the event from your Facebook account to your friends and family.

Facebook users..
Step 1: Create a Facebook Event and invite your Facebook friends. Set the Food Drive collection dates and times. Think of times and days when you will reach the most people. Many people run errands on weekend mornings so that may be a good time. For example: Saturday and Sunday, November 12 & 13, 2012 between 11 am and 2 pm. Include information about Lutheran Community Services, and its Mission, what you are collecting and the need for food to meet the community needs. Step 2: Send reminders about your Food Drive Event a few days before your Food Drive and on the day before. This will give people time to prepare. Step 3: Marketing your Food Drive event: During the day(s) of your Food Drive, to encourage participation: Send reminders about the Food Drive date, time and location including what you are collecting. Photos of friends making donations or donated food. Comments about Lutheran Community Services and its Mission. Comments about Lutheran Community current statistics. Comments regarding the need for food and how the donations would benefit the Community. Step 4: Please check the food expiration dates on all collected items and throw out expired items. Then try to sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits/veggies, pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous. Count up whats collected and make note. Then pack-up food into boxes, plastic containers or sturdy bags. Step 5: Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 to coordinate delivery of donated food.

13

Step: 6: Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input is very important to the process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything go well? Did you experience problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process. Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.

Hosting a Food Drive at Your Work Site

This option offers clear advantages for the Food Drive Manager - the ability to reach many people and the flexibility of a longer drive without having to sit at a table for collection the donations. It also offers the unique benefit for the Corporation, Company, Business or Organization hosting the Food Drive to perform positive community outreach; it's a great marketing and public relations opportunity. Step #1: Receive written permission from your Company. Initially, check with your immediate Manager but ultimate permission will likely to be provided by Community Relations, Human Resources or a similar department. Also check if your employer offers and Matching Donation Program. If so, you may want to collect monetary donations so that your company will match what's donated from the employees. If not, you can ask you company if they will make a contribution or donation in addition to employee contributions. Checks made payable to Lutheran Community Services or LCS/ . Step #2: If your company has multiple sites, its recommended the Food Drive Manager recruit assistance from other employee(s) at those sites to assist with the logistics. Step #3: Set the dates and times for the Food Drive. Within an organization or business, 1 to 2 weeks is a good time period to collect food donations. Step #4: Get collection containers for the Food Drive and label them Lutheran Community Services Food Drive. Small, sturdy, shallow boxes like the boxes paper reams are delivered in, work well. Deliver the labeled boxes to the site(s) and set out in a common area open to all employees. Step #5: Marketing. Posters, group e-mails, and system-wide voice mails are great vehicles to reach all employees but depending on company policies there may be restrictions for each. Inquire about displaying posters and sending e-mails when you receive permission to host the Food Drive. Also, if its a large company, there may be one individual responsible for sending groups e-mail or a systemwide voice mail, or you may need to contact an individual to learn how send the group e-mail, etc. Step #6: Please check the food expiration dates on all collected items and throw out expired items. Then sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits/veggies, pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous. Count up whats collected and make note. Then pack-up food into boxes, containers or sturdy bags. Step #7: Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 to coordinate delivery of donated food. Step #8: Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input is

14

important to the process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything go well? Did you experience any problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process. Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.

Creating a Food Drive Theme at Your Birthday Party, Special Occasion Party, or Holiday Event
At your next party ask your guests to bring food to donate. Youll likely see that your family and friends find the idea refreshing and generously contribute to the Food Drive. For best results, make note of your intentions on the Party Invitation. State you are hosting a Food Drive, list what type of food you are collecting, (see suggested food list on page 16) and that the drive benefits Lutheran Community Services. Include information about LCS, its mission, and why collecting food is important and how it will benefit our neighbors in our Community.

_____________________________________________________________________________________ Alternative and Creative Food Drives

Co- Host a Food Drive with a Business Organization Because you are not the employee at the business, store or organization, your first step would be to contact the Manager or Community Relations office to discuss a relationship and Food Drive. If agreed, you would work with an employee at the business on all steps of the Food Drive. Follow "FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE". This is an opportunity for Community Outreach for the business.

Ask your Dentist or Doctor to Host a Food Drive in their Office A busy doctor, dentist or orthodontist office would be a perfect place to host a food drive and excellent place to reach many people. Although people would not arrive prepared with donations on the day of their visit, they could return the day after or make a monetary donation to LCS* on the day of their visit. Follow "FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE. Please accept checks only, made payable to Lutheran Community Services. This is an opportunity for Community Outreach for the doctor, dentist or orthodontist. Likely, they will use this as a Marketing and Public Relations opportunity

Host a Food Drive at a Local School, College or University Students like to participate in causes and may offer to volunteer for your Food Drive. For permission, begin with the Dean's Office. Follow "FOOD DRIVE STEPS AT-A-GLANCE" (pg.7)

15

"Fill The Bag" Food Drive Provide empty grocery bags to your family, friends, co-workers, doctor, hair dresser, dentist, fellow church members and ask them to give them back to you filled within one to two weeks or a specified date. In the bag, provide your Food Drive flyer with the details about Lutheran Community Services, its mission, what type of food you are collecting, why collecting food is important and how it will benefit our neighbors in our Community. Prior to providing the bag, contact everyone and ask if they would participate in your Fill the Bag Food Drive. See the Sample Food Drive Flyer. You can market it making it a Facebook event and when you receive your donations, post photos and comments. Create a Theme for Your Collection items o "Pack it in for Protein" Collect for peanut butter and tuna fish. o "Bringing Up Baby" Collect diapers, formula and wipes. o "Italian Night" Collect pasta and sauce.
!!!

Pass it on After you've completed your Food Drive, ask a family member or friend
to host a Food Drive on behalf of Lutheran Community Services.

What to do with your donations.

The collected donations can be made to Lutheran Community Services in celebration or honor of the individuals birthday, graduation, communion, bat mitzvah, etc. After the party, please check the food expiration dates on all collected items and throw out expired items. Then sort the food into categories: tuna/canned meat, peanut butter, canned fruits/veggies, pasta/cereal/rice/beans, baby food/items, personal, and miscellaneous. Count up whats collected and make note. Then pack-up food into boxes, containers or sturdy bags. Contact Lutheran Community Services at 302-654-8886, ext 104 coordinate delivery of donated food. Thank you for managing a Food Drive for Lutheran Community Services. Your input is important to the process. Please write a brief summary of your experience. Did everything go well? Did you experience any problems or concerns? Please include suggestions to improve the process. Sometimes keeping a journal or notes as you go along helps, please consider this, it's very helpful.

16

Foods We Can Use Canned Spaghetti/Ravioli Soups/Stews/Ramen Noodles Canned Tuna/Salmon or Ham Rice Canned Chili/Pork & Beans Baby Food Spaghetti Sauce/Tomato Sauce Peanut Butter Canned Beans/Peas/Corn and Other Vegetables Pancake Mix Dry Pasta/Beans Boxed Macaroni/Cheese Hamburger Helper/Tuna Helper