Hi there, faithful volunteers! Sending along my monthly update to keep you informed and welcome several new volunteers joining our pack.

During our May 26th opening, it was HOT. I want to say an extra thank you to those who came out to volunteer regardless of the weather. I stopped a few times during the day and marveled at how wonderful it is that we have so many dedicated volunteers. We could not support our families as we do if we didn’t have you by our side.

As you may be aware, hunger affects people on many levels. Below is a copy from the blog “3 devastating effects of hunger on the body” by Feeding America.

Hunger affects your mental health

-      Facing hunger can be stressful. Constantly worrying about where your next meal will come from can cause mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and even posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The American Academy of Pediatrics revealed that mothers with school-aged children who face severe hunger are 56.2% more likely to have PTSD and 53.1% more likely to have severe depression. The inability to feed your loved ones can have traumatic effects on a person’s mental health.  

Hunger's Effects on Your Body Impact School Performance

-      It’s hard to concentrate in school when you’re hungry. Roaring stomachs cause children to be cranky, hyperactive, and aggressive. These behavioral issues can distract kids from their school work, leading to developmental delays and learning disabilities. Fifty percent of children facing hunger will need to repeat a grade. And the signs that a child is struggling with hunger can often be hard to spot.

Hunger Increases Your Risk of Chronic Diseases

-      According to the USDA, there is a strong connection between hunger and chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. In fact, 58% of the households that receive food from the Feeding America network have one member with high blood pressure. And 33% have a member with diabetes.

Tomorrow we are receiving our monthly delivery of 12,000 pounds and will be open for Fresh Express on Wednesday. Box packing will be June 21st with our Traditional Opening on June 23rd. During our last Board meeting, we unanimously agreed to continue with two openings a month through the summer. As some of you may know, our numbers usually dip lower during the warmer months, but we are able to be open twice and want to be there for everyone who needs.

Last but not least, we are continuing work on our construction plans at ASCC. It is very exciting to view the plans and imagine where we hope to be in several months. I would like to give a big shout out to our Architect and volunteer, Kristin Guerrero! She has donated much time and effort to put our vision onto paper!

We will share more information with all of you as we progress, but please note this is a large effort and we will be asking each of you to please help us spread the word by sharing our social media posts, talking to your friends and family and promoting our efforts to fundraise for this construction project.

Please stay safe and I hope to see each of you soon.

Regards,

Joyce

201.394.0627