Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado

Introduction 

According to the Food Aid Foundation, millions of individuals across the globe grapple with hunger and poor nutrition. The organization places the number of these people at 795 million (“Hunger Statistics”, n.d). This figure represents a significant portion of the global population. Most of these people are in the developing world where poverty and disease hinder access to quality food. Countries in the developed world also struggle with the challenge of feeding their populations. In the United States, 1 in 7 individuals is not adequately fed (“Feeding America”, n.d). Children are most affected with 20% of American children struggling with hunger. Various organizations have launched initiatives that seek to tackle the challenge of hunger. The Care and Share Food Bank located in Southern Colorado is among the organizations that are committed to ending hunger. This organization states its primary mission as “to bridge the gap between hunger and abundance” (“We have one Belief”, n.d). This organization takes food from those with plenty and feeds hundreds of Americans who would otherwise go hungry. Care and Share Food Bank in Colorado is poised for growth and greater impact. However, it must address the challenges that it faces and develop strategic partnerships with other organizations which share its vision.

Background 

As hinted above, the Care and Share Bank in Southern Colorado is primarily involved in feeding Americans who face the threat of hunger. The organization works with various partners to ensure that no American endures hunger. The organization was established in 1972 (“Mission & History”, n.d). Sister Dominique Pasciotta receives credit for laying the foundations for the organization. At the time of its establishment, the organization operated on a rather small scale. It was only able to deliver food in baskets. Over the years, this organization has registered tremendous growth. In addition to expanding the distribution methods that it uses, the Care and Share Food Bank has also attracted more volunteers. Today, over 7,000 volunteers join the food bank in its mission to tackle hunger (“Mission & History”, n.d).

Community partnerships 

No organization that attends to the needs of a community can achieve success if it functions in isolation. To have significant impact, organizations must join forces with other entities. Strategic partnerships enable organizations to exploit the capacities of their partners for greater impact (Srinivas et al., 2015). The Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado recognizes the need for community partnerships. This organization has partnered with a number of organizations who are also committed to tackling hunger and poor nutrition in the United States. Starbucks is among the companies that the organization has partnered with (“We have one Belief”, n.d). Through this partnership, the Care and Share Food Bank is able to collect leftover food from Starbucks outlets. This partnership has allowed Starbucks to minimize wastage. The Care and Share Food Bank has also benefited as it is able to distribute the food it receives from Starbucks to hundreds of Americans. The organization partners with over 300 corporate sponsors who provide funding and food that enables the organization to achieve its mission (“How we Work”, n.d).

Corporate sponsors are not the only entities that the Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado has partnered with. In addition to these sponsors, the organization has also joined forces with the American government. Thanks to this partnership, it is able to help the government implement programs that seek to end hunger in the country (“Care and Share Food Bank for Southern”, n.d). Food pantries, meal sites and emergency shelters are the other facilities that the Care and Share Food Bank has partnered with. These facilities are involved in the distribution of the food that the food bank collects. The organization also works with volunteers who dedicate their effort and time to ensure that the American people are fed (“How we Work”, n.d). The food bank can expand its partnerships to include more players. It should reach out to more private companies and government agencies to join its effort. Student organizations and other nongovernmental organizations can also be crucial partners.

Cross-cultural challenges and humanitarian considerations 

It is true that millions of Americans struggle in their efforts to secure quality food. It is also true that some communities grapple with the challenge of hunger and poor nutrition more than others. A disproportionate number of members of minority communities in the US grapple with hunger (“Food Insecurity, Children and Race”, n.d). This situation can be blamed on poverty and ineffective food security policies. The high number of hungry people within the minority communities is among the challenges that the Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado could be facing. It is possible that the organization is unable to ensure that it focuses more of its effort on the minority communities. As it carries out its mission, the organization has to make certain humanitarian considerations. The Care and Share Food Bank relies on the contribution of volunteers who are drawn from different social and cultural backgrounds. It is possible that these volunteers are not adequately prepared to address the nutrition needs of the communities that they serve. This could be a challenge for the organization. One of the primary goals that the organization pursues is ensuring that no one goes hungry. To achieve this goal, the organization must be driven by the desire to safeguard human dignity. Hunger robs individuals of their dignity. Organizations such as the Care and Share Food Bank must make the humanitarian consideration to restore this dignity.

Use of volunteers and economic benefits 

The Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado has grown the number of its volunteers to 7,000. This number is significant and it sheds light on the milestones that the organization has achieved. One of the obvious roles that the volunteers play is that they offer free labor that enables the organization to execute its mandate. Apart from this role, the organization also uses the volunteers to organize food and fund drives (“Get Involved”, n.d). These drives enable the organization to acquire the food and financing that it needs to operate. The volunteers may also serve as sponsors where they directly provide food or funds. Another way that volunteers get involved in the organization’s mission is advocacy (“Get Involved”, n.d). Through advocacy, the volunteers are able to speak for the hungry. The roles that the volunteers play have economic benefits. In addition to sparing the organization of the need to hire paid employees, the volunteers also provide the funding that the organization requires to finance its activities.

Roadblocks faced 

The Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado has not made public the roadblocks that it has faced. However, through an examination of the challenges that similar organizations that are involved in the provision of humanitarian assistance face, it is possible to identify the potential roadblocks that the organization could face. Mobilizing resources and personnel are some of the roadblocks that humanitarian organizations face (Ockwell, 1999). These organizations encounter challenges in their efforts to acquire the funds, resources and human effort needed to distribute aid. It is possible that The Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado has faced this challenge or could grapple with it in the future. This challenge can be solved through a broader base of support. Instead of relying on a few individuals and organizations, The Care and Share Food Bank should enter into partnerships with more entities. Ensuring that the resources are not wasted is yet another challenge that humanitarian organizations face (Ockwell, 1999). It can be expected that the Care and Share Food Bank has been forced to dump food after it went bad. To ensure that this does not occur, the organization should make its distribution process more efficient and invest in technologies for preserving food. Inefficiencies in the distribution of aid are another problem that agencies which are involved in humanitarian missions face (Barber, 2015). Despite their best effort, these agencies fail to deliver aid in a timely fashion. Poor infrastructure and lack of adequate support are some of the factors to blame for this situation. To ensure that the inefficiencies do not hold it back, Care and Share Food Bank should enhance its delivery network.

Vision for the future 

For any organization to enter the world of tomorrow from a position of strength, it must have a clearly-defined vision. The Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado understands how important it is to develop a clear roadmap. The organization primary vision for the future is to “end hunger in Southern Colorado” (“Care & Share Food Bank”, n.d) This vision seems rather ambitious given how severe the challenge of hunger is in Southern Colorado. In Colorado, 1 in 7 residents face the threat of hunger in addition to such other challenges as poverty and inadequate access to quality medical services (“5 Facts about Hunger”, n.d). The Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado has a daunting task. However, given the progress that the organization has made, it can be expected that it will be able to achieve its vision of ending hunger in Southern Colorado.

Areas requiring improvement and challenges to be overcome 

The Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado has undoubtedly played a vital role in alleviating the suffering of many who endure hunger and other hardships. However, a number of areas in the organization’s operations require improvement. One area that the organization should work on is how it secures funding. This organization relies heavily on contributions and grants. In the 2015-2016 financial year, 96% of all the income that the organization received was from grants and contributions (“Annual Report & Financials”, 2016). Income from operations constituted less than the organization’s total earnings. Investment income for this year stood at a meager $2,300 (“Annual Report & Financials”, 2016). The organization cannot continue to rely on external parties to provide funding. It must identify new avenues for financing. Another issue that needs improvement is the number of people that the organization is able to reach with its food program. Of the 161,000 people who require food aid in Southern Colorado, the Care and Share Food Bank was only able to meet the food needs of 134,000 (“Annual Report & Financials”, 2016). More needs to be done to ensure that the needs of those that the organization is able to reach are met. So that it remains on course to lifting South Coloradoans from hunger, the organization should brace for various challenges. The challenges include inadequate funding and difficulty in recruiting volunteers.

Potential contribution to organization 

I understand that I can contribute to the efforts of the Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado. I am confident that I can serve as a volunteer. I wish to aid the organization in its quest to ensure that all residents of Southern Colorado are fed. I believe that my personality, skills and attitudes match the demands of volunteering for the organization. I am an individual who possesses excellent communication skills and is able to think critically. Additionally, I have deep respect for diversity and I recognize the importance of professional, ethical and social responsibility. I am also committed to lifelong learning. I am convinced that these traits will enable me to help address the needs of residents of Southern Colorado who desperately wish for food.

Conclusion 

The world is making impressive progress in its mission to eradicate hunger, poverty and disease. This progress is the result of the efforts of individuals and organizations that strive to feed communities. The Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado is among the organizations that have dedicated resources and effort to combating hunger. Through partnerships with hundreds of companies and volunteers, the organization feeds thousands every year. It is true that it has encountered challenges that have hindered its efforts. However, this organization has demonstrated remarkable resilience. As it enters the future, it should revamp its systems and develop more strategic partnerships. It is also important for individuals to support such organizations as the Care and Share Food Bank in Southern Colorado. This is how the problems that the world faces will be fixed.

References

5 Facts about Hunger in Colorado. (2015). Retrieved 2 nd June 2017 from http://denver.cbslocal.com/2015/07/07/5-facts-about-hunger-in-colorado/ 

Annual Report & Financials. (2016). Retrieved 2 nd July 2017 from https://careandshare.org/annualreport/ 

Barber, R. (2015). Humanitarian Aid in 2015: Great Challenges but Greater Opportunities. Retrieved 2 nd July 2017 from http://devpolicy.org/humanitarian-aid-in-2015-great-challenges-but-greater-opportunities-20150819/ 

Care & Share Food Bank. (n.d). Retrieved 2 nd July 2017 from http://www.cnecoloradosprings.org/business-directory/care-share-food-bank/ 

Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado. (n.d). Retrieved 2 nd July 2017 from https://www.coloradogives.org/careandshare/programs 

Feeding America. (n.d). Retrieved 2 nd July 2017 from http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/care-and-share-food-bank.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/ 

Food Insecurity, Children and Race. (n.d). Retrieved 2 nd July 2017 from http://join.nokidhungry.org/site/DocServer/Food_Insecurity_as_it_relates_to_Race_and_Ethnicity.pdf 

Get Involved. (n.d). Retrieved 2 nd July 2017 from https://careandshare.org/get-involved/ 

Hunger Statistics. (n.d). Retrieved 2 nd July 2017 from http://www.foodaidfoundation.org/world-hunger-statistics.html 

Mission & History. (n.d). Retrieved 2 nd July 2017 from https://careandshare.org/about/mission-history/ 

Ockwell, R. (1999). Recurring Challenges in the Provision of Food Assistance in Complex Emergencies. Retrieved 2 nd July 2017 from s https://www.wfp.org/sites/default/files/complexemerg-ockwell.pdf 

Srinivas, T, Meenan, C. E, Drogin, E & DePrince, A. P. (2015). Development of the community impact scale measuring community organization perception of partnerships benefits and costs. Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, (Spring 2015), 5-21.

We have one belief: No one should go Hungry. (n.d). Retrieved 2 nd July 2017 from https://careandshare.org/