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What Needs Have Been Identified:
The Southeast Alaska Food Bank (SEAFB) is a 503(c) non-profit providing healthy and nutritious food to local non-profit organizations and families who face challenges providing food for themselves. Food insecurity has increased in recent years due to inflation and increased cost of living as well as due to challenges in the State of Alaska's food assistance program. This has increased SE Alaska communities' reliance on the regional food bank and local food pantries to assist residents in meeting their food security needs. As a regional food bank, SEAFB's services help small communities, particularly in northern SE Alaska, in addition to Juneau. These small communities, like Pelican and Hoonah, do not have local Rotary clubs.
SEAFB is currently building a new warehouse on-site in Juneau to open in September 2024. The increased storage space will allow the regional food bank to purchase food in bulk orders for less cost and introduce federal grant programs not being offered in SE Alaska. SEAFB does not currently have resources in its warehouse project to procure and install a large, walk-in freezer in the new warehouse. Adequate on-site freezer space is needed to allow them to take the most advantage of their new warehouse space as it will allow them to procure in bulk and store additional proteins and frozen items for distribution to non-profits and families in the region.
How the Project Will Meet Those Needs:
The four Rotary Clubs of Juneau will collaborate on a group project that will harness our resources, strengthen club engagement, and enhance Rotary's overall visibility and impact in the community and region. The clubs will provide funding through this project to the SEAFB for procuring an affordable new or used commercial freezer and any associated necessary parts. SEAFB is currently working to identify an adequate and affordable freezer, either new or used, that will meet their needs. Sourcing a used or new freezer at an economic price point is a key focus for this project with the goal of best leveraging available funding and partnerships. The four clubs will also provide volunteer hours (if possible) to assist with installation of the freezer in the new SEAFB warehouse. The addition of a commercial, walk-in freezer to the warehouse will allow the SEAFB to store frozen meats/fish/poultry and other products that are critically important to meeting food security needs within the region. In addition, the four clubs will team up to hold at least three food drives during the next year to raise awareness of food insecurity and help fill critical food needs in the local community and surrounding region.
Each of the Juneau area Rotary clubs will contribute financially and take a leadership role to ensure success of the project. The Juneau Gastineau Rotary Club will initiate project organization, serve as liaison between the project partners, and provide grant management. Juneau, Glacier Valley, and 58◦ Innovators will each help with overall project advancement and organizing the volunteer work force for freezer installation (if possible) and community food drives. We will also reach out to our high school Interact club leaders for potential participation in our food drive efforts.
Timeline for Project:
We plan to provide available funding to the SEAFB to procure the freezer and any associated parts upon grant award in the July-August 2024 timeframe. Installation of the freezer would likely occur in September or October 2024 after SEAFB completes its warehouse build this summer. If there are any schedule delays with completion of the building, the freezer installation timeline would likely slip, but the work would ultimately be completed no later than May 2025.
April 20, 2024 Apply for District Grant
June 2024 Hold a Summer Food Drive
July - August 2024 Procure used commercial freezer and any associated parts
September - October 2024 Install freezer in new warehouse (anticipated)
October -November 2024 Hold a Fall/Winter Food Drive
February - April 2025 Hold a Winter/Spring Food Drive
May 2025 Project Complete
How Many Club Members Will Be Involved:
We propose 30% club membership from each club. Club members will help by assisting SEAFB with the installation of the freezer, coordinating/promoting food drives, and holding the food drives at local stores throughout the year.
Project Revenue & Expense:
Revenue
Juneau Gastineau Rotary Club: $5,000
Juneau Glacier Valley Rotary Club: $5,000
Juneau Rotary Club: $5,000
Juneau 58◦ Innovators Rotary Club: $3,000
Rotary District Grant: $18,000
Other: $14,000 (through fundraising or other interested partner organizations)
Total: $50,000
Expenses
Commercial Freezer and Associated Parts/Installation
Total: $50,000
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