Annual Report 2017 : simplebooklet.com

4 A Letter from Land of Promise 2 0 17 A n n u a l R e p o r t OUR PRESIDENT Dear Friends During the 2016 2017 school year I had the opportunity to speak with the children that participated in our Nourish the Need Food Backpack Program They expressed in their own unique ways what the program means to them There were three sentiments that were consistent with all of them the children were extremely grateful to receive the food they shared their food with their family or VERONICA MOUNT President Land of Promise a family member and the food made them very happy I was honored to hear their opinions Their voices move us to continue bringing awareness inspiring hope and developing programs that address food inequities The students testimonies made us realize we must find means to get more food to the children on a consistent basis without adding weight to the children s backpacks Our solution is to intentionally focus on implementing a cluster of schools a high school and all middle and elementary schools that feed into it This is to ensure that each child in the family has the opportunity to receive food As we celebrate our 3rd year of providing food backpacks to students of Fulton County Schools the accomplishments of this past school year have been most gratifying and rewarding The number of schools we serve has doubled the number of students participating in the program has tripled and we are delivering twice as many backpacks of food for the children to eat Our first fundraiser was the 2017 Hunger Walk Run These gracious donors gave us a jumpstart to the 2017 2018 school year To my surprise as I walk to my office at College Park Elementary School often the children ask me Can I help This question sparked the idea to give students an opportunity to learn about the importance of volunteer service and expose them to the operations of a food pantry Some loved volunteer service and others not so much Nevertheless their satisfaction of helping students in need allowed them to serve until the last day of school The support of schools individual donors and corporate and community partners are the reasons for our growth Because of your generosity we were able to reduce our wait list of students in need of food Our partners truly understand that a child cannot learn if they are hungry While we reflect and celebrate we are also focusing on the future an aggressive threeyear strategic growth plan In the coming year we will continue to be faithful to our mission develop new partnerships and impact the lives of more food insecure children Our growth plan includes addressing the hunger needs and bringing awareness to two other groups who frequently experience food insecurity our seniors and college students We cannot do any of this work without you I am grateful for the steadfast support of our board donors schools and dedicated volunteers who support us to help our children break the cycle of food insecurity Just like the students expressed when they receive their backpacks we must continue the commitment to spread the joy of eating food our most basic need on a consistent basis to those in need Willing to serve

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REVIEW OF OPERATIONS Mission The mission of Land of Promise is to bring awareness inspire hope and develop programs to address food inequities nationally and internationally Vision Eradicate food insecurity Values We value collaboration with a community s most valuable assets its residents churches businesses schools government nonprofit organizations and corporations The entire community is better and more informed when all work together We value bringing joy to the recipients of our services We appreciate the volunteers that give us their time financial assistance and talents We value advocating for our clients understanding their needs and caring for their welfare W e believe in excellence in our efforts and returning the promises of the fruitful land to all people especially the ones that are in need

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8 Land of Promise Program Highlights Nourish the Need Food Backpack Program began in 2014 after the founder worked on the 2014 United States Hunger Study The data revealed that food insecurity is in the Atlanta community A partnership with Fulton County Schools gracious donors and food insecurity awareness campaigns launched the model of our food backpack program Nourish the Need In this program the school administrators select the children to participate in the program The school administrators are aware of the children who don t have sufficient food and can benefit from weekend supplemental food In 2015 we partnered with schools in the Fulton County Schools Achievement Zone This is the area that experiences high rates of mobility poverty crime risk and a lack of intensive support for struggling students The students that attend these schools were our first cluster of schools resulting in an increase of households served Our partnerships students and schools expanded in the 2016 2017 school year 14 40 Banneker High School McClarin Success Academy Camp Creek Middle School McNair Middle School Woodland Middle School Bethune Elementary Brookview Elementary College Park Elementary Feldwood Elementary Love T Nolan Elementary Randolph Elementary Seaborn Lee Elementary Wolf Creek Elementary Woodland Elementary INDIVIDUAL DONORS 2016 2017 STATISTICS 5 321 Backpacks delivered 69 858 Pounds of food served 348 31 926 Number of food items served Breakdown of Donations to Land of Promise in FY17 30 2 0 17 A n n u a l R e p o r t Children served CORPORATIONS Schools served 30 BOARD MEMBERS 165 Households served

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9 Land of Promise 2 0 17 A n n u a l R e p o r t Building Trust Every decision at Land of Promise is based on the needs of the children Our food distribution system is implemented in a manner which allows us to remain transparent reducing the shame associated with food insecurity We went a step further to ensure transparency by appointing school liaisons to be the only point of contact between us and the children This year was our third year in Fulton County Schools three years of building trust with the children and schools We hosted a pizza party to meet some of the children and allow them to provide feedback about the program and expose the children to you our donors Our unveiling revealed that the students were already familiar with us and our program because they ate and shared the food with loved ones We earned their trust by delivering their backpacks every week without fail We satisfied their curiosity about the wonderful people who donate the food More important students can take advantage of direct communication opportunities For example the children don t hesitate to give us a big hug and smile when they see us in the hallways Some say I really like the food you gave us last week Others wave and yell Thank you A few students have even recommended other students to the program that they believe might benefit from the service The transparency opened the door to meet parents and develop a stronger relationship with the children We believe that focusing on the students needs first has proven to them that they can depend on us Our Emerging Priorities Hunger can affect people from all walks of life Many Americans are just a job loss or a medical crisis away from food insecurity There are some demographics that are at a greater risk of hunger than others and have emerged as our priority to serve This is summarized in the data to the left 5 MILLION Senior citizens are hungry 5 MILLION College students are hungry 15 3 MILLION American children are hungry

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12 Our Cheerful Land of Promise 2 0 17 A n n u a l R e p o r t SCHOOL LIAISONS SHERRY POWELL Feldwood Elementary School Fulton County Schools The 2016 2017 school year in Fulton County marked my first year at Feldwood Elementary School When the opportunity presented itself to assist with the Nourish the Need Program at Feldwood I thought it was a chance to be of service to the students while representing the school and helping the community I wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of others What I did not know was this experience would also make a difference in my life Prior to each weekend our students came to the pick up area to get their food items Soon we developed a routine Some came with a smile eager to find out what treats they would receive for the weekend I looked forward to this time with the students because it provided a little time out of the day for one on one interactions I got to know them better Several of the students check their bags for new items or to see if some of their favorites are inside Sometimes there are discussions about food preparation using some of the items We have such a fun time One student told me she spends many weekends with her grandfather When she talks about him her face lights up and I could tell she loves her grandfather and looks forward to spending time with him Sharing her Nourish the Need food items with him has become a part of their special time together I have enjoyed my experience working with Veronica Mount our representative with Nourish the Need this school year It is always a pleasure talking to her because it increases my knowledge of the program The students are excited to receive their food items each week Some of them came to the pick up area for their bag early in the week This is a wonderful program and I am very happy to assist the students and Ms Mount in fulfilling this need Another student was out of school for a few days and missed the weekly distribution Mom walked the student into school the day she returned When I told Mom I had the student s items from the previous week she hugged me and said Thank you so much We really need this she hugged me and said Thank you so much We really need this Sherry Powell

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13 Land of Promise 2 0 17 A n n u a l R e p o r t Our Happy STUDENTS Ohnastajha is a determined teenage mom and student with children When she is hungry the days are long They are extremely long when her children are crying because they want something to eat Ohnastajha shares My life was so unstable I was living from pillar to post and did not know when we were going to eat again Due to life circumstances I was several grade levels behind and my hope was fading fast I knew I had to make school my priority to provide a better life for my children OHNASTAJHA AND HER KIDS A Student and Mother We are happy to report that Ohnastajha graduated this May She is waiting for college acceptance letters and has secured stable housing When Ohnastajha enrolled at the McClarin Success Academy her life began to improve McClarin Success Academy is an open campus non traditional high school with a supportive faculty and staff Ohnastajha reminisces I knew this type of school with the wrap around services flexible schedule and teachers committed to help me get to grade level was the answer Nourish the Need Program removed the obstacle of food insecurity and allowed me to focus on what matters my children and my education Ohnastajha The food from Land of Promise was a blessing We were able to take food home to eat I was able to stretch it to last longer because the program supplied baby food for my children This was a tremendous help My children were introduced to new foods that I initially though they would not like To my surprise they did especially the fruit pouches something I never had the opportunity to purchase for my children Also because of your donations instead of buying food I was able to purchase much needed diapers and wipes for my children I am truly grateful for the Nourish the Need program and all the sponsors who provide the food As a teen mom I am still trying to find my way to accomplish my goals and dreams McClarin Success Academy and the Nourish the Need Program removed the obstacle of food insecurity and allowed me focus on what matters my children and my education

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Our Grateful PARENTS LaToya a caring parent contacted us via Facebook to confirm the date her children would begin receiving food Our founder Veronica Mount recalls My LATOYA motherly instincts A Grateful Parent kicked in and urged me to call and have a conversation with LaToya rather than just sending the standard reply LaToya told her I just moved from Miami with my children and we really need to start receiving food now We are going through a tough time right now and I do not want my kids to be hungry over the weekends I am appreciative of the schools free breakfast and lunch However on weekends I never have enough food to feed my four children When the school informed me about the Nourish the Need Food Backpack Program I knew it was an answer to my prayers Veronica was really happy she followed her instincts and called LaToya She was able to assure her that her children were already scheduled to start receiving food on Friday More importantly Land of Promise referred her to community resources where she could immediately begin to receive emergency food for her family LaToya shared I ve never heard of a program like this and I did not know that people cared this much about my family not having food to eat This program has helped me so much financially and I no longer have to worry about my children being hungry over the weekends My children enjoyed everything and so did I I would recommend this program to every school in Atlanta I ve even called my friends in Miami and asked if there was such a program Their response was no Ms Veronica along with the food backpack program and the crew has been such a blessing to me and my family over the weekends and holidays A month later the program started serving the students at the middle school where her son attended and he enrolled in the Nourish the Need Food Backpack Program Land of Promise is committed and honored to provide hunger relief to help people in need put food on the table

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16 Land of Promise 2 0 17 A n n u a l R e p o r t Our DONORS Joni Barber Michele Davis Brian Jones Michael Robinson Tomeeka Beaver Edward Donaldson Debbie Ann S Lawrence Winston Robinson William Beck Fonda Dowl Kornesia Lee Dana Rose Kelley Amber Belle Johnny Edwards Lela Logan Sheena Saydam Bridgette Berry Smith Leslye Froe Sims Anthony Mack Marie Shockley Monique Bessick Palmer Davina Gage Mamie W Mallory Don Simons Paquita Bradley Christie Gardner Jackie Malone Penny Smith Allyson Brannon Newton Gentry Linwood Malone Shelley Stiaes Sheila Brewster Carol Gutierrez Vicky Martin James Sulton Takisha Brown Emily Hagen Angela McCullough Carmen Taylor Esther Bryant Marsha Snulligan Haney Shelly Mlakar Ndia Terrell Marie Burnette Davis April Harvey Steve Meeks Lauren Turner Clarence Butcher Kalya Harvey Sue Meeks Preston R Twyman Lisa Caldwell John Hendrix Richard L Misrach Constance Vincent Jackie Cathey Darien Henry Angela Monteilh Jeffrey Vincent Sharyn Charnas Vanessa Hobson Theresa Mount Anona Walker Anita Marie Chatman Alyce Hood Fleming Veronica Mount Vickie Watkins Anjal Coleman Delena Hubbard Dr Patricia Newberry Georgia Wiley Bridgette Collins John Hurt Robert Owens Roxanne Williams William Cound Pat Hurt Dana Paskins Teresa Woods Kim Curry Asia Hunter Henry A Pettway Lora Darrisaw Ron Jennings Ralph Randall Dorothy Davis Shelby Jennings Laverne Rayford Thank you

Annual Report 2017

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