Middleton Outreach Ministry... Connecting Neighbors for Good

Monthly Food Group creatively helps their Neighbors in Need

2010-03-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

Tell me about your Monthly Food Group. We call ourselves the Piggly Wiggly Club. We all attend Gateway Community Church on High Rd. in Middleton.

Each month we consult the top ten list on your agency’s website. Mid-month, I contact Joe, the Manager of the Piggly Wiggly in Cross Plains, to find out what items from the wish list are on sale. He then puts together a list for me with a case price and how many units per case and total price. I then choose how many cases of each item we want, add up the total cost and divide it amongst the members of our group, trying to keep the monthly cost between $25-$30 per member. I pay for the order the day I pick it up and send each member a copy of the order with the cost breakdown and they bring me their checks the following Sunday. At the end of the year, I send them all a spreadsheet with their total expenditure for tax purposes.

How many pounds of food have you donated? We donated 3,170 pounds of food for the MOM Pantry in 2009!

What would you say to other groups interested in setting up a group such as yours? I would highly recommend this type of food drive to any church or group! There is not much time involved in doing this each month and it feels great to deliver all of the food each month. I would be delighted to help any church get club started!

Tell me about your Monthly Food Group. We call ourselves the Piggly Wiggly Club. We all attend Gateway Community Church on High Rd. in Middleton.

How does the concept of a monthly food group work? Our church has a food barrel in our narthex, and people from the church bring in food to donate to the pantry. We wanted to go one step further, by pinpointing the specific needs of the Middleton Outreach Ministry Food Pantry. Each month we consult the top ten list on your agency’s website. Mid-month, I contact Joe, the Manager of the Piggley Wiggly in Cross Plains, to find out what items from the wish list are on sale. He then puts together a list for me with a case price and how many units per case and total price. I then choose how many cases of each item we want, add up the total cost and divide it amongst the members of our group, trying to keep the monthly cost between $25-$30 per member. I pay for the order the day I pick it up and send each member a copy of the order with the cost breakdown and they bring me their checks the following Sunday. At the end of the year, I send them all a spreadsheet with their total expenditure for tax purposes.

How long have you been supporting MOM with the group's donations? The Pastor at Gateway, Pastor Dick Sisson, and I started this venture about 3 years ago with just he and I involved. We now have 9 members.How many pounds of food have you donated? We donated 3,170 pounds of food for the MOM Pantry in 2009!

Interested in getting in touch with Mike to find out more on how you can start a Food Group? Contact Cheri, Distribution Center Manager.

Hot Tips for a Successful Food Drive: an interview with CPM Marketing Group

2010-03-09T09:06:00.000-08:00

What does CPM Marketing do and how many employees do you have in the Madison-area? We are the market leader for healthcare customer relationship management (CRM) and strategic marketing solutions. All of our operations are run from our corporate office building in Madison Wisconsin. We also have a print services and call center in Middleton Wisconsin to support our end-to-end marketing capabilities. We currently have 140+ employees and we are still growing. Our 2009 food drive was our third annual food drive with MOM.

How do you promote the food drive amongst your employees? We have a committee of employees that determines the activities we do, including the MOM food drive. With that committee we engage the employees through email and company announcements, along with encouragement from our Vice Presidents and Directors.

What are the ground rules for the competition? The ground rules are pretty basic. Each item that an employee brings in counts as one point and those items from MOM’s top-ten list count as two points. This year, we added another point bracket to help increase donation for one of MOM’s most needed items: All items considered to be a “meal in a can” count as three points. Employees are divided into teams or department groups and assigned a sticker color. When an employee brings in an item, s/he marks it with their team’s color. At the end of the food drive, CPM tallies all of the points to determine the winning team. As a reward, CPM provides a catered lunch to the winning team: although, most would say the satisfaction in winning is about the bragging rights, not the free lunch.

Any funny stories from past drives? This year, one our groups purchased 392 boxes of Jell-O - a top ten item. To figure out the best point scenario, the team sat on the floor of the grocery store and counted out each individual box. In the process of collecting their mass quantity of boxes they received a lot of stares and odd comments! They soon learned to just mutter "food drive"!

How much food have you raised in your drives? In our first year, 2007, we collected just under 400 pounds of food. In 2008, we nearly tripled 2007’s contributions, by collecting 1,158 lbs. This past year, 2009, we are happy to say we increased contributions again by collecting 1,691 lbs of food! We hope to go well over one ton next year.

Catch the Buzz at the MOM Distribution Center

2010-02-16T12:42:00.000-08:00

You've been hearing about the excitement at the MOM Distribution Center, but come see for yourself! If you've never visited or if it's been awhile, mark your calendars to attend one of two open houses that will be held at the Distribution Center. MOM volunteers will be on hand to take visitors on tours. You'll also get to speak with the pantry manager, Cheri Farha and the Interim Executive Director, Bob Mohelnizky. Join us!

The Bright Side

2010-01-29T07:49:00.000-08:00

Bad luck is the only way to describe what's happened to Mary in the past month. Fist she had to buy new tires. Then her pet was injured, requiring a visit to the vet. Since she was short on money she postponed paying her auto insurance bill, then she was in an accident in which her car was totalled! Despite all this Mary was looking on the bright side when a neighbor brought her to the MOM office to register for the food pantry.

Mary works full time in a restaurant and since her income is modest the rent on her small apartment is two-thirds of her take home pay, even so Mary has not needed to ask for help until now. She's grateful to have a job, and to have a little help from MOM.

New Food Pantry will give Relief

2010-01-28T15:09:00.000-08:00

"Pat" is disabled, living on a fixed income, with Medicaid coverage. At the beginning of every year Pat has to pay copays for medications until a certain limit is reached. This really strains his budget the first three months of the year. Since he only receives $14 from the Food Share program (food stamps), paying for food is a big issue. Pat came in to sign up for the food pantry and was so pleased to hear about the switch to an "as needed" basis. "It's a relief to know it's there if I need it."

Pat hopes not to need to use the food pantry much. Right now he volunteers as a peer helper with others who suffer from the same conditions he's had. It is possible that a part time job may result. He obviously loves helping others, giving back from what he's received. Pat's hopefulness inspired me!

-Laurie, Case Manager

Art benefits area families in need

2009-10-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, October 8, Food Concepts, Inc. hosted the 2^nd Annual Art Show and Auction to benefit Middleton Outreach Ministry.

For three hours, over 350 guests viewed and bid on 200 pieces of art, all donated by generous community members. Guests sampled hors d'oeuvres provided by Carr Valley Cheese and Cub Foods, as well as wine from the Blue Spoon and Beer from the Capital Brewery. Art sales surpassed $9,000!

Many thanks to the committee members (Brad Duesler, FCI; Ruth Dumesic, SVA; Cindy Ramlet, Cindy Ramlet Advertising and Marketing; Becky Miltimore, FCI; and Shari Gress, Mortenson Investment Group) and to the event’s sponsors (LaBella Vita Gallery, Bindley Collection Gallery, Capital Brewery, MIG, SVA, Fast Frame, Kramer Printing, Cub Foods, Carr Valley Cheese, Blue Spoon, J.J. Findorff & Sons, Inc., and Associated Bank.)

2009-10-20T13:59:00.000-07:00

Blackhawk Church recently organized a food drive - In total, the congregation received 1262 bags of groceries that they distributed to 12 different food pantries, including to Middleton Outreach Ministry. Their hope is that these types of events will catalyze service in the community.

When asked for their purpose for doing this specific drive, Lauren Carpenter, Global and Local Impact Assistant at Blackhawk, shared with us a portion of the newsletter that they shared with their congregation regarding the event:

Kelly needed power.

2009-10-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

Kelly walked into Middleton Outreach distraught and upset that her power had been turned off on her and her one year old child. Due to slowly falling behind throughout the summer because of a lack of sufficient income she owed the utility company a sufficient amount of money that she could not pay on her own. During our appointment a payment plan was arranged that allowed Kelly to pay a portion of her bill, get assistance from other collaborating agencies, and help from MOM, which allowed her to get her power turned back on the next day. Kelly left MOM relieved that would be able to keep her family warm during these cool fall nights.

Community Conversation with United Way

2009-10-13T11:03:00.001-07:00

Everyone loves to bake cookies during the holiday season!

2009-10-08T11:42:00.000-07:00

Put together these fun kits for our families. Feel free to be creative: include your favorite Christmas Cookie recipe and all of the ingredients and tools needed to bake them! You can bring them to the Distribution Center during their regular business hours.

Baking Kit Ideas :

Holiday cookie cutters

Sugar

Flour

Canned Frosting or

tube icing

Holiday sprinkles

Sugar cookie or

Gingerbread mix (or

premade dough)

Eggs

Butter

Rolling Pins

Baking Sheets

Hot pads

A backpack made a difference for Rosie

2009-10-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

Making a Difference

So far, 2009 has been a very busy year for MOM. Due to the current economic situation we have had large increases in the need for the services we provide. Our food pantry has provided 30% more food than over the same period last year; our clothing closet has provided 42% more clothing; our rent and utility assistance programs have increased 32%, and recently we distributed almost 600 backpacks as part of our school supply program.

More than ever people in our community need our help. In the next few months, we’ll be giving you an opportunity through our Annual Holiday Appeal to make an increased and important impact in people’s lives. But what does that help really mean to those we assist? Here is an email from a student who recieved a backpack:

"Hello,

My name is Rosie and you have helped my family with so much this summer. I very much enjoyed coming home from babysitting to a new back pack filled with supplies. I know it may sound nerdy, but I really do like school and you helping my family, and it meant the world to me. Both my parents not being able to find a job this summer sort of stressed me out, and to come home to see food in the fridge and all sorts of things and knowing I don’t have to move again is a great feeling.

...Again I want to thank you, and to let you know that what you have done is greatly appreciated and I will now be able to go to school with a fresh new backpack (the old one got a little ripped).

Thank you and please let me know if there’s any thing I can do,

Rosie :) (student at a local High School) "

What did MOM give Rosie? Was it just a new backpack full of school supplies? There was something else, we gave her hope! I am fortunate to see that every day as people come to MOM looking for help they leave with a sense of hope for a better future. The good work that MOM does really can have a powerful impact on people’s lives.

We are able to make a positive difference with so many families and individuals because of the strong support that we receive from you and the rest of the community. Our strongest blessing is that so many people care about those around them and are willing to so something --whether it is taking time to drive a senior to an appointment, drop some food in a food drive barrel or provide financial support, we all are doing something to make a difference. This holiday season, you can help through MOM programs, many of which are highlighted on our website.

THANK YOU for what you do to assist MOM in its mission to provide a sense of hope in the lives of people like Rosie.

– David Miller, Executive Director

It never hurts to ask!

2009-09-11T14:25:00.000-07:00

Due to a transition in jobs which caused him to miss some work Joe came to MOM the other day with a shut off notice and not a lot of cash. He didn't think we could help, but he thought he would ask. His power was scheduled to be shut off in 2 days. Joe provided us all the information we needed to qualify him for our Utility Assistance program and we contacted his Utility Company. After a few minutes we were able to arrange a payment plan that allows him to keep his power on, and upon completion of this payment plan MOM will assist with a portion of his bill. I guess it never hurts to ask.

Families Stand Together

2009-09-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

Last night I turned the TV on, and since PBS is a regularily watched TV show in my house of small children, I wasn't surprised to see Elmo on the screen. But I was surprised to see Elmo and his buddies talking about the recession and the importance of families standing together. The hour long show revolved around a Community Market which was being held to help families sell items (to make extra money for the family) and to buy items (in order to get things that they need that their budget could afford) - a community garage sale, if you will. Elmo's family had recently been having tough times since his mother was laid off from her job, and he had a lot of questions for other families going through similar things.

Knowing so many families who are gowing through tough times, I was thankful to have something I could show my kids that they could understand and explain things to them where they are at, and to also have experts who could give advice on how to help families through these tough economic and emotional times. You can read more about the project and all of the cool things that they are doing to help families, including providing online resources.

And, thank goodness for the internet, you can watch the whole thing online!

Movie night!

-Ellen

Welcome, Sharon!

2009-09-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

My name is Sharon Murphy. I am the new intern joining the staff of Middleton Outreach Ministry. I am a senior at the University of Madison, Wisconsin, and upon completion of my undergraduate degree I will be pursuing my Masters. I want to earn a certificate in Gerontology. I was inspired to earn a BSW by the many kind and compassionate people I met during my husband’s illness. I chose to intern at MOM because of the people I met on my first visit and the array of services they provide. My favorite pastime is to curl up with my two dogs and a good book. I also enjoy most kinds of music, gardening and cooking. I look forward to meeting all of the people that enjoy MOM’s services.

Welcome, Sharon!

A family in need

2009-09-03T15:02:00.001-07:00

A professional man was out of work but was mostly making ends meet with Unemployment and his wife's school-year-only job. Then in June, just when his wife's work ended there was a snafu with the Unemployment. This family of 5 was without any income at all for several months this summer. As you can imagine, the bills piled up and they were faced with eviction.

Through MOM's partnership with Community Action Coalition, and a landlord who was willing to negotiate, we were able to keep the family in their home. Now the mom is back to work, the dad is working part time with a line on a couple of full time job possibilities. The landlord is a small businessman who was having to borrow money to make mortgage payments every time the family was late with rent, so by helping pay the rent, MOM actually helped TWO area families!

-Laurie

Good Deals through City-Scrip benefit MOM

2009-08-25T10:55:00.000-07:00

Do you know about City-Scrip? It's a great new program from our friends at Simplified SCRIP, where you earn money for charities with gift card purchases! Purchase gift cards to use instead of cash (or to give as gifts) and designate Middleton Outreach Ministry, and we will earn a donation with each purchase.

Now City-Scrip is taken it one step further! City-Scrip is a community focused program assisting charities through partnerships with local businesses. Local Madison merchants offer great savings to you on their gift certificates, which are 50% off their retail value! You support the local businesses and they support the community.

So where are these great deals for? Just this week they were promoting places like Wild Child and Twigs. A quick perusal through the website and I found Middleton and West Madison establishments like Louisiannes, Burrachos, Elements Therapeutic Massage and Barriques. There are even hotel and other service oriented places such as the HIlton Monona Terrace.

Check it out, and benefit MOM!

Our FIRST First Tuesday: September 1, 2009

2009-08-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

Seeking Art for the 2nd Annual FCI Art Show and Auction

2009-08-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

Save the date for the

FCI 2nd Annual Art show

proceeds benefitting Middleton Outreach Ministry.

October 8, 2009
6-9pm

Food Concepts Inc.

2551 Parmenter St., Middleton WI

Featured Artist: Stephen Udvari

BRING US SOME ART!

Are you an artist 0r a craftsperson?

Please, consider making a donation of your creative work.

Phone FCI at (608) 830-5000 or drop by their reception.

Pieces of work do not need to be framed for donation.

Grab a Rake and Pitch in!

2009-08-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

by Diane Bright, Middleton Outreach Ministry POP Coordinator

MOM’s Project for Older People, POP Program, is planning for Fall Clean-Up Days for the seniors in our community. Fall brings a variety of challenges to our independent home owners. Many of these challenges are beyond the capacity of an individual living alone. Therefore, we ask you, our community neighbors, to pitch in and offer your time and talents during the months of September and October for the following home chores:

Can you CLIMB A LADDER? Assist with WINDOW WASHING inside and out.

Do you LOVE TO WORK IN THE GARDEN? Assist with cleaning out flower beds.

Do you own a HEDGE TRIMMER? Assist with trimming back bushes and shrubs.

Do you love to RAKE UP A PILE OF LEAVES? Assist with yard work.

Do you like to GO THROUGH CLOTHING? Assist with putting away summer items and bring out fall & winter wear.

Seniors love to be involved in multi-generation activities. This would be a great opportunity for parents & children to share in the community spirit of .helping our Neighbors for Good! Times and dates are flexible. To learn more about the POP program or how you can get involved, contact Diane Bright, POP Coordinator 826-3410 or diane@mompop.org to volunteer your time.

MOM is recipient of $30,000 Walmart Grant

2009-08-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

MADISON, Wis., Aug. 12, 2009 – Walmart Foundation is awarding $150,000 in special grants to provide hunger relief and address the need for access to nutritious food for Wisconsin residents. Food banks and social service agencies throughout the state, including several in the Madison area, are being awarded grants to assist with meals and food distribution programs.

Grants for $100,000 were presented today in Madison to three organizations offering hunger relief to families in southern and western Wisconsin. These include a $35,000 grant to Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin in Madison; a $30,000 grant to Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM); and a $35,000 grant to Feed My People based in Eau Claire. Representatives from the three organizations accepted the grants from Walmart’s Lisa B. Nelson, senior manager of public affairs, in ceremonies on the loading dock area of the Walmart Supercenter in Monona.

“Walmart is very pleased to be supporting these organizations and those in need in the communities where we serve,” Ms. Nelson said. “Hunger relief is a cause that enables our company’s strengths to work for the greater good. We are committed to doing all we can to help end hunger for our nation’s children, parents, homeless and all who have found themselves in need.”

Middleton Outreach Ministry’s grant will be used for food pantry purchases, dairy, meat and other staples. The pantry, located at the organization’s distribution center, 8710-12 Montclair Dr., serves more than 1,000 families per year, providing people with the opportunity to take home food items for their households once a month.

“We are extremely thankful for Wal-Mart’s generosity in providing $30,000 to help support our food pantry operations. We have been experiencing a dramatic 30% increase in pantry usage this year and Wal-Mart’s support is critical in helping us meet that escalating need.

“These difficult economic times are a double test for organizations like MOM; the demands for services greatly increase while community support becomes more challenged. We applaud Wal-Mart for their community leadership in addressing hunger relief across country,” said David Miller, Executive Director of Middleton Outreach Ministry.

Each of the grants was made possible through the Walmart Foundation’s Wisconsin State Giving Program (SGP). Through this program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better. The Walmart Foundation State Giving Program strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.

2009-08-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

The Middleton Gators Swim Club helped make waves to end hunger in the Dane County area. Through their participation in the recent Madison All-City swim meet, they helped raise nearly $4,000 in donations and 668 pounds of food, all to be donated to the Middleton Outreach Ministry Food Pantry and Distribution Center.

The donations were part of a competition between area teams and were presented to Second Harvest Food Bank, which in turn will make them available to MOM.

Way to go Gators!!!

2009-08-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

One of our fabulous volunteers, Judy, and her church, St. Martin's, in Cross Plains, held a food drive at the local Piggly Wiggly this past weekend.

In just a few hours, they gathered nearly 800 lbs. of food and over $100 in donations! They handed

out lists of MOM's most needed items and wow, lots of great stuff!
Because Judy wanted to deliver the items directly to the food pantry after the food drive, we decided to put some produce items on the list. We chose items that are sturdier like potatoes, carrots, onions and bell peppers. Our fridges are now full of pre-cut bags of carrot, onions and peppers. We also have tons of bags of potatoes. One man at the food drive even went back home to his farm and dug up two big bags of potatoes and two gorgeous heads of cabbage!!!

Our families will be thrilled with the selection of fresh veggies for their families!

- Cheri

2009-07-30T13:10:00.000-07:00

The Food Pantry is seeking extra produce you might have from your garden, CSA or Farmers Market to pass along to its clients.

We can't keep enough of it in stock as the clients love receiving fresh veggies and fruits. Thanks for helping us provide nutritious food to clients! Click here for a map and the hours at the Distribution Center.

2009-07-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

Our database provider, CTK, recently notified us of a fun grant award program that provides one selected organization with a $10,000 cash award! All that we needed to do is submit a 4-8 line poem about the work that we do. The winning poem would also receive a professionally written and produced song by the Grammy Award-Winning recording group, Los Lonely Boys!

We received the following poem submissions, written by volunteers, donors and clients of the organization. Do you have a favorite? Do you want to write a poem? The deadline has been extended until August 10th - Send us your comments and submissions now!

Poem #1

Middleton Outreach Ministry:

Neighbors helping neighbors in need

Food, clothing, shelter or warmth -

A touch of human kindness is the seed.

Middleton Outreach Ministry:

Neighbors helping neighbors in need

Mowing my lawn or shoveling my walk -

A touch of human kindness is the seed.

written by Karen Bestor

Poem #2

The world is connected

By links far and near

Whether posting on Facebook

Or finding friends here.

We reach out to neighbors

When they're feeling low

And as we help others,

We reap what we sow.

written by Kathy El-Assal

Poem #3

If God asked me to lend a hand; I wonder what I'd do.

Woul I hear the hopeless cry of those whose hearts are blue?

Would I fill a grocery bag or plant some garden seeds?

Would I try do do my best to meet the hungry's needs?

Would I help to rake a yard or mend a broken fence?

Would I take the time to help those who can't recompense?

If each of us would hear God's call to reach out to each other

Then we would find we truly love our sisters and our brothers.

written by Leona Hall

Poem #4

How do you spell MOM?

A Mother... lovingling shortened to the endearment of "Mom".

She dries our tears when we skin our knees.

She is help, hope and compassion when we are in need.

She reminds us to give back, pay it forward, pass it on. Our personal cheerleader.

MOM (Middleton Outreach Ministry) quietly working among us for our neighbors' in need.

Hleping seniors to stay in their homes, providing many with transportation,

facilitating holiday gifts, keeping familifes fed, inspiring communication.

Giving back, paying it forward, passing it on. Our community cheerleader.

written by Toni Dallwig

2009-07-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

Hello from the new Distribution Center Manager!

It’s Cheri Farha here and it’s Week 3 for me on the job. I have had the pleasure of meeting most of our Food Pantry and Clothing Closet volunteers and I have to thank them all for giving me such a wonderful welcome! It’s pretty obvious to me that the volunteers are the heart and soul of the Distribution Center - Their great attitudes and the compassion they show to our clients is very impressive!

I am new to the Food Pantry business after spending the bulk of my career in corporate communications. I was also a chef for five years and most recently, I have coached track and field on the youth and college levels. We moved here a year ago from Atlanta, where we lived for 15 years. I have done a ton of volunteer work through the years and I know just how important volunteers are to the success of any organization. My heart is always with helping others, especially those that are hungry, and I'm excited about the opportunity that this position provides me to work every day in an area where I am most passionate.

-Cheri