Donate. Volunteer. Advocate.

Did you know,

28% of the people receiving emergency food are children?

Learn more about hunger and poverty in your own community,

and how you can help!

Visit http://www.communitystorehouseofmhc.org/ today!

2011 Feinstein $1 Million Challenge

From March 1 to April 30 all contributions to the Community Storehouse will be partially, proportionally matched by the Feinstein Foundation.

For the 14th year, the Feinstein Foundation is offering $1,000,000 to be spread among poverty-fighting organizations who participate in the Feinstein Challenge. The more money we raise during March & April, the more of the $1 million we receive from the Feinstein Foundation.

Now is the time to give!

Will you help us reach our goal? Remember - the greater your gift amount, the greater the Feinstein contribution to the Community Storehouse. Help us get as much of the $1 million as possible.

Make your tax-deductible donation today!
www.communitystorehouseofmhc.org/money

September 1, 2010 is Lunch Money Day

Nobody in our community should ever go hungry; especially when every $10 donated can provide 20 fresh and nutritious meals for someone in need. You can help us provide life-changing food support for local families simply by donating the equivalent of your lunch money for a day. For many, spending an average of $5 - $10 a day on lunch is not unusual, or a strain on their finances. We support many of whom providing a simple, healthy meal for themselves and their families is an everyday challenge. Brown bag it and donate to make a difference!

Stuff the Bus 2010

Community Storehouse will host the second annual Stuff the Bus event on August 20 & 21 at Wal-Mart in Martinsville. Volunteers will be setup at the entrances to collect school supplies and food to benefit needy children in Martinsville & Henry County. This event is the kickoff for the agency's Food for Kids: School Backpack Program, which plans to serve 1,000 students this year. Stop by Wal-Mart between 9am and 6pm & help us STUFF THE BUS!

This year's Food for Kids thank you

The loyal support of our Backpack Buddies combined with the generosity of Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County employees, the Martinsville Area Community Foundation, numerous churches and civic groups, has accomplished a great deal in the lives of our community's impoverished youth. Again, this year backpack program participants expressed their thanks through cards and drawings - all of which will be mailed to top donors. Thank you for your generosity.

The Harvest Foundation & MARC Workshop team to fill backpacks

Harvest Foundation staff, as well as the director and participants of MARC Workshop gathered today to assist the Food for Kids program - an initiative of Community Storehouse - to fill backpacks. The Food for Kids program makes a difference in the lives of impoverished children by providing kids identified by teachers, counselors, and school nurses with discrete backpacks, filled with nutritious, child-friendly foods to utilize on weekends and holidays, when other resources - such as school breakfast and lunch programs - aren't available. The program is designed to meet the needs of children who rely on these resources as their only, or only reliable, source of food.

Every week, over 800 bags of food go out to impoverished youth in Martinsville and Henry County who rely on the nutrition they provide. Community Storehouse would like to thank the Harvest Foundation and MARC Workshop for their involvement with accomplishing this worthwhile task.

Brandon's Story

Brandon's parents have a familiar story to tell. They both worked at a local factory, and both are now unemployed. Their unemployment benefits have run out, and they're left with some difficult decisions to make.

His dad started working part-time at a fast food chain, but that barely pays the house and car payments. "I never thought I'd find myself in this mess," he said.

Brandon tells us, "most of the time there's something at home to eat... most of the time." He goes on to explain, there's almost always not enough.

His parents go without a lot of the time, and he notices that.

Brandon says, the only 'real' meals he receives are at school. We know, balanced meals and nutrition aren't a priority when you're struggling to put food in the table in the first place.

Brandon receives a backpack each week, filled with enough child-friendly, nutritious food to last him weekends away from school. His teachers tell us, he's more attentive in class, and from his test scores, is retaining more knowledge. His parents have one less thing to worry about right now. He says, very simply, "the backpacks rock!"

Over half the children living in Martinsville and Henry County are classified as living in poverty. Won't you help Brandon, and the children struggling just like him, in our community?

Take a moment to read more about what the Food for Kids program is doing in the lives of children in our area, www.communitystorehouseofmhc.org/ffk.

It's not just food for today; it's hope for our tomorrow.