Through their Associates in Action program, Kohl’s of Mentor provided the Center with $1,000 to purchase reusable shopping bags. Tuesday, July 13th, the Kohl’s volunteer team, led by captain Pat Cobbs, was at the Center from 4:30 p.m. through 6:30 p.m. stuffing bags with vinegar and baking soda along with a list of how to use these products as household cleaners.

Also provided will be 156 copies of The Green Book. According to Cobb, The Green Book offers hundreds of ideas for living in a more environmentally friendly manner. Each client will receive the stuffed bag while supplies last. “Kohl’s has a commitment to helping and requires each Associate to volunteer at least three hours,” said Cobb. “Five associates sign up to volunteer at the Center every month.” Along with their time, Kohl’s makes a financial donation.

Kohl’s Associates have been volunteering at the Madison Food Center since 2006. “It is wonderful to offer our clients these environmentally friendly items,” said co-director Chris Van Dusen. “Not only will they have a bag that they can reuse each time they shop, but they will get tips for helping the environment using cleaning items that can also save them money.” By distributing the reusable bags, the Center will also be limiting the number of plastic bags being used, another “green” benefit.

During the month of June, the Madison Food Center served 281 households, 18 of those were new families who had never received food from the Center.

The Madison Food Center is growing in response to more families in need and Madison residents are rising to the occasion. “Curves in Madison and Northwest Bank along with four local schools had food and cash drives for the Center in April. The Postal workers led by letter carrier Cindy Lutz brought in 4,500 pounds of food from their drive on May 9th,” said Chris Van Dusen, co-director. “We will be getting more food from the United Way of Lake County’s Harvest for Hunger and Pike’s Carstar Collision next month.”

While cash donations allow the Center to purchase staples, food drives bring in special items to help clients round out their menus. “We can certainly order a good deal more food with cash donations because we can purchase food from the Cleveland Food Bank for around 14 cents a pound,” said Laura Keeney, the Center’s inventory purchaser, “but food drives bring in more specialty items like crackers, baking mixes, and box meals.” Those participating in food drives are encouraged to donate canned fruit, spaghetti sauce, egg noodles, cereal, condiments, dish soap, toothpaste, deodorant, and laundry detergent. These items are in high demand.

One thing that Van Dusen and co-director Pat Cz-Stafford have both learned since volunteering with the Madison Food Center five years ago is that people in Madison will go the extra mile. “If you live in this town count yourself among the lucky,” said Cz-Stafford, “you have the best neighbors and most caring businesses around.”

In March, the Center served 255 households, with 16 new families who had never received food from the Center. In April, that number increased to 299 families including 27 new households.

 The Madison Food Center is growing in response to more families in need. As a result, we have created a few new programs and volunteer positions. Joining us this month is Dick Turkenburg. Dick was appointed to the Advisory Board of Directors and will serve as a Community Liaison, keeping businesses informed about the Center. Dick is a retired Madison business owner who donated his time to building the accessibility ramp at the new location

Also joining our team is Shelly Damm. Shelly is a Madison resident with a lifelong commitment to improving the quality of life for her neighbors. She will coordinate a food delivery program serving Madison's homebound elderly. Stacey Marlow will serve as the Volunteer Coordinator, scheduling groups to help with food distribution as well as filling other volunteer needs. She is a Madison resident and a busy stay at home mom.

Aimee Orogvany, a member of Chapel United Methodist Church, will be heading up efforts to provide food recipients with economical and healthy recipes that make the best use of the food items distributed by the Center. The Madison Food Center is grateful to have these new volunteers as well as the over 150 others who volunteer their time to keep Madison's families from going hungry.

In the months of January and February, the Madison Food Center served 1505 Madison residents living in 478 households. Each received an emergency supply of food. There were 35 new households served.

Friday March 5, 2010