An important update on referrals, summer food safety, an interview & more!
An important update on referrals, summer food safety, an interview & more!
June 2016
Mobile Pantry Newsletter
An Important Notice Regarding Public Availability of Information
As mentioned in May's newsletter, beginning in early June the Mobile Pantry Schedule will be available for clients to view on Feeding America West Michigan's website. The clients will be able to see the dates and times for all the Mobile Pantries Feeding America West Michigan is operating that month. We encourage you to check your listing for accuracy on Monday June 6.
If you have questions or concerns regarding this change, please do not hestiate to contact our office.
A Message from Our Manager
How Issued Credits Work
Lately we have received several questions relating to how and when we issue credit for bad product received on one of our Mobile Pantries. We generally don’t issue financial credit for bad produce or other product. That's because extra pounds are already loaded onto each truck to compensate for any spoiled product. We do this to ensure that every Mobile Pantry contains at least as much good product to meet the ordered weight.
There is always a possibility of finding unusable product when you're dealing with fresh produce. An acceptable loss rate on a Mobile Pantry is between 1 and 2 percent. If for some reason the amount of extra product doesn’t cover the loss amount on your Mobile Pantry, and you report that loss to us seeking compensation, we will add extra pounds onto your next truck to offset the deficit from your previous truck. We only issue credit in extraordinary situations.
If you have questions relating to credit for unusable product, please reach out to me at RyanV@FeedWM.org.
Thank you for your continued support and hard work in defeating hunger in our communities. 
~ Ryan VanMaldegen, Programs Manager
Tips and Tricks: Keeping Food Safe In Warmer Months
Now that the summer months are approaching, it's important to ensure that the food you are serving to clients is kept at the correct temperature so iy will still be safe to eat after your clients take it home. Below are several suggestions for keeping food cold when the weather is warm:
  • Keep Food Out of Direct Sunlight: Leave dairy products and other temperature-sensitive products on the truck or stage them on the shaded side of the truck.
  • Do Not Display All Cold Product: For larger loads, when you get multiple pallets of one cold product, such as yogurt, ask the driver to keep one pallet on the truck and only take it off when needed. Within a single pallet, leave the product stacked as long as possible to reduce the opportunity for exposure to warm air.
  • Use Freezer Blankets: Cover the temperature-sensitive food with freezer blankets provided by the driver.
Also, keep your eye out for "red flags" that the food maybe overheating, such as extreme condensation or wilting produce. If at any time you feel the food is unsafe to hand out, please set it aside and let the driver know. The safety of our clients is our priority. 
Our Values: Integrity
How It's Defined: "We will always act with integrity by being honest and open, and always delivering on our commitments."
What It Means to Us: This value is very simple, yet extremely important. We take this to mean that we will set clear expectations and seek to encourage and foster open and honest communications between our organization and yours. If we give you information, it will be the most accurate information available to us and we will live up to our obligations and to our promises.
How It Looks In Practice: A great way to show integrity to your clients is to start your mobile pantry distribution at the same time each month. People get used to coming to you and it shows that you value and respect their time as well as your own. Another good example of showing integrity is to encourage clients to ask questions and set clear expectations of what is required of them. Conduct your distribution in a way that is consistent each month and make yourself available to assist with questions and concerns of newcomers.
Get To Know Us: Staff Member Profile
Josh Jannereth
Q: What is your full name, job title and job description? 
A: I'm the Mobile Pantry Coordinator at Feeding America West Michigan. I help run the Mobile Pantry program by building the loads of product, organizing the shipments of Mobile Pantries to agencies and various other tasks. 
Q: Where did you attend college and what did you study?
A: I went to Grand Rapids Community College and then Davenport University, where I studied accounting.
Q: What brought you to Feeding America West Michigan?
A: A guy I was working with at a previous job had been volunteering at Feeding America West Michigan and was offered a position that he ended up not being able to take, so he suggested I apply. I thought it sounded like a good opportunity and a way to do something more meaningful that made a difference. 
Q: What is your favorite thing about your job?
A: I enjoy getting the feedback from our agencies, drivers, and families we serve. Even when we get less than positive feedback, I like using that to try to improve things within our program.
Q: Do you have any hobbies?
A: When I'm not working, I like to play basketball, hike and go kayaking.
Q: What is one place you would like to visit that you've never been?
A: I would like to visit Australia and the Redwood Forest in California.
Q: What is your favorite sport/sport's team? 
A: My favorite sport is football and my favorite team is the University of Michigan Wolverines. 
Contact Information:
Shay Krick: School Pantry Assistant 616.432.6966 // shayk@FeedWM.org
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