Free Meal Program + Perishable Food Pantry

In Search Of A Designer

Scott — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:04:31 +0000

Have you ever designed a brochure? Do you have a few minutes to spare, in order to do a LOT of good?

Food At First is launching its “Friends of Food At First” campaign, and one thing that we need is… a brochure! We already have the content, and it will be a standard tri-fold, full-color piece. We just need for someone to add a bit of creative flair to it, making it easy to read and fun to look at. Naturally, our budget for this is the same as it is for everything… pretty much zero. Your reward will be the wonderful feeling of knowing that you made a real impact on this important ministry! If you’re interested, please send a sample of anything you’ve done to scott@FoodAtFirst.com. And as always, if you know someone who might be interested, PLEASE pass this information on to them! Thanks for your continued support.

Burning a hole in your pocket?

Scott — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 00:46:08 +0000

I wonder where that expression came from – money “burning a hole in your pocket”? In any case, we don’t want for anyone to be uncomfortable at this time of year, so if you’re finding that you DO have a little extra money warming your pocket… or your checking account… we’d LOVE to give you a nice tax write-off! Just get your check into the mail today (P.O. Box 87, Ames, 50010), or since you’re reading this on an electronic device, just click over to www.FoodAtFirst.com and you can finish the whole process in less than three minutes! (Look for the orange “Donate” button on the right side of the page.) If you have any questions, just email scott@foodatfirst.com. Thank you for considering this wonderful use of your hard-earned money!!

Several Announcements!

Scott — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:30:31 +0000

Wow – SOOOO much has gone on over the past few weeks!! Here’s a quick recap, along with some exciting announcements…

Our annual Pass-Along Party happened the week before Christmas, and was better than ever! We had about 45 individuals get a fantastic assortment of gifts (yes, we ended up with PLENTY!!), the facility was awesome (thanks to The Tribune), and we got a nice write-up in the Ames Patch.

This year’s Christmas Day Meal was another massive success. The food was exceptional (and there was a LOT of it!!), and we served around 300 people! We had plenty of volunteers, including some who spent so many hours that no one will ever know about. Kudos to Chef Chris Martin and everyone who sacrificed their time for this important event, which made the front page of the Ames Tribune.

We also kicked off our “Friends of Food at First” Drive a few weeks ago. You’ll be hearing more about, it, but if you haven’t already become a Friend of Food At First, we hope you’ll consider doing so.

By the way, we’ve been receiving reports that our emails are not going out in a timely manner, so we’ll be switching to a different mechanism for sending them out in the future. Sorry for any hassles that this may have caused.

Finally, and MOST exciting of all, Food At First has a new Coordinator! Candy Hay had served the program with inimitable style for a year, but moved down south a few months ago. After a great deal of searching, and with almost 20 candidates to consider, we finally selected our new Coordinator. Her name is Tasha Pettit, and if you haven’t already met her, you probably will soon! You can email her at tasha@foodatfirst.com to welcome her or ask her any questions.

So yeah, it’s been a pretty busy time for Food At First. I (Scott) am humbled by the quality of people who are associated with the program (yep, I’m talkin’ about YOU!), and profoundly thankful for the impact that we’re able to have on those who are struggling more than you probably can imagine, right down the street in beloved Ames, IA. We look forward to seeing you in the kitchen, or at the market, sometime soon!

Christmas Day Meal

Scott — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:01:32 +0000

Exhausted from all of the rushing around during the Christmas season? Wondering what you’ll do after the presents are opened on Christmas day? How ’bout enjoying a meal, and letting SOMEONE ELSE do the dishes?! We’d love for you to joing us for the community-wide meal from 11:30 to 1:30 on Sunday. And if you’re feeling guilty about not cooking, just throw a few bucks in the free-will offering (all proceeds will benefit Food At First!) It’s in the Fellowship Hall, where the miracle of Food At First takes place throughout the year. We really do hope that you’ll join us, and that you’ll bring a friend (or 10) with you! Maybe you’ll start a NEW Christmas tradition this year…

We need more!

Scott — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:06:32 +0000

Donations are down!! In the past, we’ve had TONS of toys, appliances, Christmas decorations and wrapping paper, etc. donated to our Pass-Along Party – BUT NOT THIS YEAR! It may be the short notice, or just coincidence – but if YOU have some gently-used items that would make fun gifts for a child or adult, please consider bringing them to our drop-off location (see http://foodatfirst.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/oh-what-fun-it-is-to-give/ for details).

Also, WE’VE ADDED ANOTHER DROP-OFF TIME – this Saturday, December 17th, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM. How convenient is that?! If you have any questions, just email scott@foodatfirst.com. Please pass this email on to anyone who may want to help! Thanks so much!

Oh, what fun it is to GIVE!

Scott — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:19:41 +0000

Have you noticed how much fun it is to give gifts at Christmas? Do you recall times when you had to settle for a less-exciting gift, because you just couldn’t afford to buy what you wanted to buy? Maybe so, but do you recall a Christmas when you had absolutely NOTHING to give, to your family, your friends, or worst of all, your children?

That’s the reality for some members of our community – every dollar is going to basic necessities, and they simply have no way to feel the joy of giving at Christmas. That’s the reason for the Pass-Along Party, an event sponsored by the Food At First free meal program.

We’re accepting new and gently-used merchandise – just about anything, though we particularly need toys, books, small appliances, and winter coats. (No regular clothing, large appliances, or furniture, please!) On the day of the event (THIS Saturday, December 17th), we’ll lay it all out, and let our Guests select items for themselves, as well as items to give as gifts (“passing it along” to someone else.) This is “re-gifting” at its best!!

So… do you have some nice items that you’d like to donate? Drop-off times are as follows:

Tuesday, December 13th @ 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Wednesday, December 14th @ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Thursday, December 15th @ 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Just bring them to the building between The Tribune (317 5th St) and Pyfferoen Pediatric Dentistry (301 5th St) – it’s a building owned by The Tribune, but currently empty. We’ll have a sign on the door so that you know that you’re in the right place. And yes, your donations are tax-deductible – please provide us with an estimate of the value of your contribution, and we will send a letter acknowledging receipt, for your tax records.

This Christmas, you have a chance to make some special memories for someone you’ll probably never meet, making your own Christmas Day a little bit sweeter as well.

P.S. Please forward this information on to anyone else who might be interested!

Available this week

Scott — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:23:35 +0000

We currently have the following available at the Free Market, for use in the meals:

-20 pkgs. Teriyaki chicken
-18 pkgs. Pork sausage
-25 boxes Brat patties
-8 pkgs. Chicken breasts
-Ground beef
- instant potatoes
-proscinttini ham
- frozen corn( 14 bags)

Please email cjcorn@iastate.edu or stop by prior to 3:30 PM this Monday to “claim” the food. Otherwise, we’ll be giving it out to our Shoppers! Thanks!

Great food, great cause!

Scott — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:27:49 +0000

You’ve probably heard of the Boy Scouts’ Pancake Day / Bake Sale that happens every year around this time. This year, the proceeds of the Bake Sale are going to Food At First! So if you were looking for an excuse to eat some yummy food, and help the Scouts AND food At First, stop by the downtown Elks Lodge tomorrow (Saturday) from 7 AM to 1 PM! More details here!

Making a list, checking it twice!

Scott — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:14:44 +0000

UPDATE ON 12/3/2011: We have selected a “short list” of folks whom we’ll interview, so for now, there is no need to contact us. But if we have any needs in the future, we’ll notify everyone subscribed to our website (as well as our Facebook page), so be sure to enter your email in the box to the right if you haven’t already!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We have a list of amazing people who are interested in the Coordinator position for Food At First. (Yes, we’re FINALLY ready to hire someone!) But we don’t want to leave anyone out of the process… so if YOU (or anyone you know) has an interest in applying for this very unique job, please email scott@foodatfirst.com *immediately*, so that we can get the info that we need from you! And please keep the hiring team in your thoughts/prayers, as we make a challenging and important decision…

The Free Market

Scott — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:24:34 +0000

Food At First needs your financial support. We realize that many of you are volunteers that make the meals at FAF happen but perhaps there may not be an awareness that we have expanded our operations to a Perishable Food Pantry that distributes the “gleaned” foods from local businesses and Iowa State University to 60 to 80+ families each Monday and Thursday afternoon at 116 N Sherman Ave. This is a rented space. In addition to the rent, there are taxes and electrical bills that must be paid for the operation to continue. Our total costs for the program are approximately $4,000 per month, and that is why we need your help.

Please consider contributing by clicking the donate button to the right, or sending a check to:

Food At First, P.O. Box 87, Ames, IA 50010

Thank you for your support!