Break the Chain. Spread the Surplus.
FREE the NEED.
FREE the NEED.Copyright © 1989 - 2008 FREE the NEED.
Newsletter
Free the Need
2009
What was lucky for me was that when United Way gave me the address to pick up food, they had accidentally given me the location where they put the boxes together I had the opportunity to meet those whom volunteer behind the scene at Free the Need, and was eventually encouraged to volunteer.
Since then, volunteering at Free the Need on Fridays is one of the events of my week I most look forward to. The people I interact with there are some of the greatest people I've come across. I've never forgotten how fortunate I am to have become involved with Free the Need. Our objective of distributing healthy, quality food to those whom would otherwise not be able to afford it is inspiring and unmatched by nothing else I've ever seen.
Thank You.
I have always enjoyed giving to others, it gives me a feeling I can't get from anything else. Free the Need volunteers and donors give directly to people, they have even helped my own family.
Seeing everyone work so well together and visiting with the other volunteers also make it an enjoyable experience. It's always so amazing to me to see so many food boxes go out to people in the community.
~ Debra Mannhalter, Siskiyou County
This is dedicated to the memory one of the “original” and hardest working Free the Need volunteers, MARIE M. MOORE. Marie will always be with us.
My name is Joslyn Goldberg and I have been a Free the Need Volunteer since October 30, 1992. I was introduced by a long time friend, Marie Moore, who was just passing down the street and saw a few Free the Need volunteers processing food boxes in the front yard of their house. Marie came and got me and asked if I wanted to come with her to get a “free” box of food. Since I was on disability, I jumped at the chance for some “free” food.
When the volunteers told us that we could participate, we returned the following week to help out. Both of us were really eager to volunteer, especially when we found out exactly how the program worked. Over the next 6 months Marie and I dove in the program full force. We not only collected and processed surplus food, but we also involved in creating several fundraisers and gathered up solicitations for more donations.
We saw Free the Need grow and grow.
The main satisfaction I get from volunteering for Free the Need is the look of thanks on the faces of so many people when they get a box of food. Seeing people who are truly grateful for the assistance just overwhelms me with joy. The fact that there is so much surplus food available blows me away. The fact that you can just ask and receive is unbelievable. I find it astronomical how many tons of food that Free the Need has collected and given away over the 17 years I have been a volunteer. Sometimes people want to help but just don’t know what to do. Free the Need provides an avenue for people to give and feel good about it.
Thanksgiving has always been our biggest day for food giveaways. I have seen Free the Need go from giving away a modest 25 turkeys to over 400 turkeys with all the trimmings. For the last 17 Thanksgivings, whether it’s rain or shine, I have felt very good knowing that so many families are enjoying a healthy Thanksgiving meal that they would not have been able to enjoy without Free the Need.
It brings me and my family great joy to be able to volunteer with a group that is really freeing the need of so many. I have always believed that when people have enough to eat they see the world in a better light and are able to lead happier and healthier lives.
An Avenue for People to Give and Feel Good About It
By Joslyn
Volunteering has also helped my family realize that not everyone is as fortunate as they are. It has shown my children that there is a need out there that they can physically do something about. Over the last 17 years, my 2 daughters have grown up with and participated in various tasks with Free the Need. All three of us have very strong beliefs in this program.
Free the Need doesn’t ask questions or require forms or anything. All we ask is that you take a box and enjoy it. That’s the main thing I like about this program…it doesn’t ask questions, eliminate anyone or judge anyone, it just gives people what they need.
There is nothing like the feeling every Friday when all the volunteers come together (rain or shine) to process those boxes and pass them out to the many families. It shows that people can come together in harmony and pass on their surplus to those with less.
The Story of Surplus: Sustainable Giving
Your Contributions Make it Possible
Join the Team: Donate Your Surplus
I originally came to Free the Need a little over a year ago as a recipient. It was right after I had arrived in the city, and hadn't set down enough roots yet to ensure I'd even have enough food to eat most days of the week. A friend suggested that I call 211 (United Way information hotline for human services) and find a food bank in my area. That was the first time I'd gone to Free the Need.
Right away it was obvious that this wasn't a food bank where I'd get home and find unhealthy things in my box, just to subsist on. The things I found in my box week after week were healthy, often organic, and widely varied. And at a time when I was struggling, and questioning whether or not I could 'make it', going home and emptying my box onto the kitchen table and seeing what looked sometimes like the cover of an Andrew Weil’s Guide-To-Healthy-Living book (I'd even end up with salmon, quinoa bread, tofu burgers, and much more) made me feel blessed... and honestly, renewed my hope.
- Photo -
Marie
Thank Goodness It's Friday
By Todd
I just wanted to take a moment to tell all of you thank you for providing Klamath River and other Siskiyou County towns with clothing, food and school supplies. In this hard time we all need a little help, and for years you have been assisting my family and grandchildren put food and clothing in our homes. We really appreciate all of your generous time and effort for our community and families. Thanks again.
~ Siskiyou County Family
Free the Need is made up of people like you who donate their surplus time, money and resources to families in need. It was started in 1989 by a group of friends who wanted to improve the welfare of families and children in their area. Founded on the idea that there is enough to go around, volunteers began collecting surplus food and clothing from local vendors and distributing it for use through out the Bay Area.
Free the Need is an ALL volunteer program and is a model for sustainable giving. Operating entirely on surplus volunteers distribute fresh and healthy food, that would have otherwise become landfill, for just 4 1/2 cents per pound. As our volunteer and donor base grew, so did our programs. Holiday Food Boxes were added along with fundraising for the purchase of turkeys and hams, followed by the distribution of surplus clothing. In the last 8 years volunteers have gathered in Siskiyou and Del Norte County in Northern California and Jackson County in Southern Oregon to collect and distribute surplus food and clothing. This year volunteers and donors celebrated the 7th annual Back-to-School Giveaway which has provided clothing, shoes, coats, backpacks, school supplies and personal care items to over 1500 students.
The best told story of spreading surplus can be heard from the recipients, volunteers and donors themselves. They and we are what make the success of Free the Need possible. We hope you enjoy the 2009 newsletter edition: The Story of Surplus.
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Through out the year, volunteer raise money for specific items such as the turkeys and hams for holiday food boxes, school supplies, back packs, and socks for the Back-to-School Giveaway, and operational costs such as phones and postage, as well as gas and vehicle maintenance.
Currently volunteers are raising funds for the purchase of a new vehicle which is expected to cost $30,000, which will make it possible to distribute surplus food and clothing for the next 10 years.
Free the Need volunteers also have the goal of providing all new clothing at the
8th annual Back-to-School Giveaway.
3 Ways You Can Give
1) Send a check or money order to:
FREE the NEED
827 Joost Ave
San Francisco, CA 94127
2) Use your credit card or pay pal:
3) In Kind Donations:
You can also make donations of non-perishable food, new and nearly new condition clothing & shoes,
personal care and household items. To arrange a drop off/pick up, email us at ftn@freetheneed.org
Give Until it Feels Good
This year Free the Need reached hundreds of families each week providing the basics of food, clothing, school supplies and more. Thank you to everyone who donated their surplus time by volunteering, your surplus money by making cash donations and surplus resources by giving in-kind donations. Because of you, the Free the Need Food Program was able to giveaway over 5,600 food boxes created from nearly 200,000 pounds of surplus food. Literally thousands of healthy meals were provided to families in Northern California, while the Clothing Program distributed over 10,000 pounds of clothing, both gently used and new.
