ANNUAL REPORT

THE ISLAND FOOD PANTRY 2010-2011 SEASON REPORT
P.O. Box 1874, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 508-693-4764

Another record year! A record of 196 visits in one week in April. A record of 91 visitors on one day (times 3 bags each or 273 bags). A record income of $81,297 and a record of food expenditures of $90,311.

Rev. Helen Oliver inaugurated the Island Food Pantry as an outreach program of Christ United Methodist Church in 1981. In 30 years, it has expanded from a one-person effort to a ministry including over 70 volunteers. The Pantry has been supported by all the faith communities on the island, the Vineyard Committee on Hunger, by islanders, schools, businesses, summer visitors and organizations. Several youth and adults have asked people to celebrate their birthday by supporting the Pantry by bring food or money in place of gifts; one gentleman in his 80' s thereby enabled a jeep full of food and over $1000 in funds. It is a wonderful and effective effort of cooperation and caring. We receive no government food or money.

Our income has increased by $62 over last year. We spent $20,205 more on food than last year. Nine out of the past thirteen years, we spent more than we have received. Our Endowment Fund covered the shortages. These funds were given in memory of Kevin Kennedy, Daniel Alisio and Sayan Kasem. Our goal is to maintain the original gift and use the growth in the endowment for income shortages or special projects as we did in making our entry way handicapped accessible. Hopefully, others will include the Island Food Pantry in their wills so we might meet future difficult periods for our island neighbors.

In our efforts to communicate to both English and Portuguese speaking friends, we have a translator most days we are open and we maintain a web site: <islandfoodpantry.org> which includes our documentary created by Joshua Bernstein and his family.

Visits to the Pantry have increased this year from 2650 to 2739 visits. We assisted 640 families representing just over 1,000 people on the Vineyard including at least 200 children. In addition, Granola bars were provided to all the public schools for breakfast supplements.

Of the 640 families, 162 came only once or twice (last year 188) and 227 came 6 or more times (last year 203). 50 indicated they were employed. 160 stated they were unemployed. 293 gave no answer regarding employment. We averaged 105 visits a week - also a record.

Persons can come to the Pantry once every two weeks on Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 2-4 P.M. from mid October to mid April. emergencies are responded to throughout the year when people call the Pantry number.

The Pantry has no paid staff. All gifts provide food for the island community. A contribution is made to the Church to help with the cost of heat, light and garbage removal. We have an advisory board and our books are audited each year. For the wonderful cooperation of the Church and the community, I am sincerely thankful. Best of all, our volunteers have worked hard and kept a positive attitude. I am grateful to be a part of such a caring community.

Armen Hanjian, Coordinator
April 30, 2011