June 10, 2008: Kaptur Donates 10,000 Pounds of Potatoes
June 10, 2008
Marcy Kaptur, expressing deep concern over a growing shortage of foodat local pantries and soup kitchens, contributed 10,000 pounds ofOhio-grown potatoes to the Toledo Seagate Food Bank.
Congresswoman Kaptur directed $1,000 from a Congressional pay raiseaccount—which consists of funds from the congressional pay raises thatshe has refused to accept—to purchase the potatoes from Michael Farms,a family-owned business in Champaign County. Kaptur said she was ableto purchase 10,000 pounds of Ohio potatoes for $1,000 (or, $1 per10-pound bag).
Kaptur urged local groups to copy her example and combine their buyingpower to get the most food for their dollar by procuring directly fromOhio’s family farmers.
“Our community has the makings of a food emergency locally,” saidCongresswoman Kaptur. Requests for food assistance have increased 37percent in the past year, while donations have fallen by approximately65 percent.
“We have an obligation to do everything we can. I am making thispersonal donation to the Seagate Food Bank, and frankly I hope it willinspire others to follow suit and make precious food dollars stretch bybulk buying directly from Ohio farmers,” she said.
“Every person and organization can make a difference. Although we livein one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world, manypeople are food short right here in our community. We have to thinkabout creative solutions—how to directly link food pantries and feedingsites to Ohio’s farmers, or to grow the product in the city. Bulkbuying can stretch the food dollar a long way. Spending every fooddollar wisely can get the most food at the best price and through priceand quality through purchasing directly from family farmers.”
Congresswoman Kaptur presented the first bag of potatoes to Debbie Vas,executive director of the Toledo Seagate Food Bank, and challengedcommunity-minded organizations, religious groups and civic-mindedindividuals to follow her example by working with local farmers andgrowers to purchase foodstuffs to help replenish local food pantriesand soup kitchens.
Local organizations that wish to procure foodstuffs for the needy fromOhio farmers should contact the Center for Innovative Food Technologyat 419-535-6000 or 877-668-3472.
Congresswoman Kaptur directed $1,000 from a Congressional pay raiseaccount—which consists of funds from the congressional pay raises thatshe has refused to accept—to purchase the potatoes from Michael Farms,a family-owned business in Champaign County. Kaptur said she was ableto purchase 10,000 pounds of Ohio potatoes for $1,000 (or, $1 per10-pound bag).
Kaptur urged local groups to copy her example and combine their buyingpower to get the most food for their dollar by procuring directly fromOhio’s family farmers.
“Our community has the makings of a food emergency locally,” saidCongresswoman Kaptur. Requests for food assistance have increased 37percent in the past year, while donations have fallen by approximately65 percent.
“We have an obligation to do everything we can. I am making thispersonal donation to the Seagate Food Bank, and frankly I hope it willinspire others to follow suit and make precious food dollars stretch bybulk buying directly from Ohio farmers,” she said.
“Every person and organization can make a difference. Although we livein one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world, manypeople are food short right here in our community. We have to thinkabout creative solutions—how to directly link food pantries and feedingsites to Ohio’s farmers, or to grow the product in the city. Bulkbuying can stretch the food dollar a long way. Spending every fooddollar wisely can get the most food at the best price and through priceand quality through purchasing directly from family farmers.”
Congresswoman Kaptur presented the first bag of potatoes to Debbie Vas,executive director of the Toledo Seagate Food Bank, and challengedcommunity-minded organizations, religious groups and civic-mindedindividuals to follow her example by working with local farmers andgrowers to purchase foodstuffs to help replenish local food pantriesand soup kitchens.
Local organizations that wish to procure foodstuffs for the needy fromOhio farmers should contact the Center for Innovative Food Technologyat 419-535-6000 or 877-668-3472.