The Fox Grand Traverse Collection Trailer Delivers another big load of food

The Father Fred Frostbite Food Drive received a record number of donations during this year’s drive to stock its pantry. A total of 58 pallets of food and over $35,000 in cash donations was received!

Fox Grand Traverse, a new donation site for this year’s drive, extended their collection by 3 extra days to make sure the drive reached its goal. Three additional pallets of food were received during this extended period.

“It is very humbling to watch the outpouring of goodwill the drive represents. Everyone at the Foundation wants to say “Thank You.” Over 100 volunteers manned the drop off sites and hundreds of food donors took the time to make a purchase and help the Frostbite reach its goal,” said David Abeel, Development Director.

“On Sunday afternoon, Dave Barr from WTCM and John Cueter from Fox Grand Traverse, huddled and decided 3 more days would put us over the top, and they were right! In fact, a number of very generous cash gifts also came in during those extended days.”

If you missed this year’s drive, donations can still be made at The Father Fred Foundation on Hastings Street in Traverse City. And, for those preferring a more convenient method of giving, a secure online donation can be made any time by going to The Father Fred Foundation Web site at www.fatherfred.org.

The Father Fred Foundation is a non-denominational charity providing food, clothing, household goods and financial assistance to families and individuals in crisis who live in the five county Grand Traverse region. The Foundation pantry saw a 40% increase in pantry requests last year. The Frostbite Food Drive restocks pantry shelves at the Foundation. In 2009, the pantry packed grocery bags for 3,000 families, supporting over 5,000 children.

Beth Baillie Father Fred volunteer.

Beth Baille, volunteer coordinator for this project, recapped her experience as follows:

We were able to provide toys for 819 children ages 0-17 this year, from 320 families. When we had officially closed registration, we had 620 children signed up…almost 200 children were served because of the Foundation’s willingness to accept late registrations. Thank you to the intake volunteers who gladly accepted this additional task.

There were over 80 volunteers who helped out from registration, decorating, unpacking and delivering toys to families.

We had 20 Meijer gift cards that came to us just as our supply of toys for teens was running low.

We’ve had a great supply of toys overall. I was able to call Maggie Kent twice to ask for more gifts for teens. She was able to go out the same evening of my request and purchase items for teens with Toys for Tots money that she had on hand.

Of our ‘extra’ toys, we are providing 2 toys for each child aged 10 and under who are living at the Women’s Resource Center. The rest will go back to Toys for Tots to be redistributed to other agencies who are still doing distribution.

We were able to provide immeasurable hope and assistance to families experiencing hardship for any number of reasons. Of them:

• Toys for a single father of three girls under the age of 3. Dad was an engineer and lost his job for GM, moved up to TC to take a successful job in sales which ended without notice last month. He has been frantically looking for a job without success.
• Toys for a woman with 2 children and a nephew who had just moved in to live with her family. They were in the middle of custody proceedings, had no official documentation for her nephew but were able to provide toys and a gift card to buy gloves and a hat for the nephew.
• Countless single moms trying to bring some happiness and joy to their children at Christmas
• Countless families who thought they’d never be in the position to have to ask for help and were so grateful that there was some.

I am grateful to all the volunteers who served so willingly and who served our families with happy hearts and genuine smiles.

Thank you so much for this opportunity,
Beth Baillie

Fox Grand Traverse, located on US 31-North, is a donation collection site for this year’s drive. The Homestead Resort, in Glen Arbor, is donating free ski passes as an extra incentive to Frostbite donors who drop their donation at the Fox Grand Traverse location.

“In addition to helping collect food and donations, Fox Grand Traverse will help promote the food drive this year through a number of media outlets,” said David Abeel, Director of Development. “Pantries in northern Michigan have seen big increases in demand this year. The Father Fred pantry, for example, experienced a 40 percent increase in families seeking help. It is our hope that with the additional media support from Fox Grand Traverse more people will know about the food drive and make a donation.”

In addition to the Fox Grand Traverse location, Frostbite donations may be dropped at Garfield Plaza in front of Agave Mexican Grill. Volunteers at both locations will be ready to receive your donations of food and cash from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends during the drive.

For people in the Kalkaska area, donations may be dropped at the Forest Area Credit Union, 782 South Cedar Street, Kalkaska. Proceeds from this location will benefit Kalkaska Area Interfaith Resources.

“Families are hungry and struggling to get through difficult times,” said Martie Manty, Executive Director. “The Frostbite Drive, now in its 16th year, is a great way for all ages in the community to respond to that need. We find the experience of making a gift – weather a gift of food or a donation that will enable us to buy additional food for our pantry – brings a warm feeling to everyone involved. Fill the Pantry / Warm a Heart is our theme for this year’s drive.

I’m sure Father Fred would be thrilled to see how this event has grown and flourished over the years through the generosity of our community.”

For those wanting the convenience of donating from home or office can make a secure donation over the Internet. A list of preferred food or personal care items that are needed most can be found right here. Or, just call the Foundation at 947-2055. Mail should be sent to P.O. Box 2260, Traverse City, MI 49685.

Click to listen to the interview!

The 16th annual Father Fred Frostbite Food Drive will take place January 15-24, 2010. Volunteers will be stationed at the Garfield Plaza in front of Agave Mexican Grill ready to receive you donations of food and cash from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends.

The Foundation pantry has grown rapidly over the years to become the largest food pantry in Northern Michigan. It depends on food drives like the Frostbite each year to feed over 3,000 families supporting over 5,000 children. If you would like to donate from your home or office, visit our online donation page, call us at 947-2055 or mail us at PO Box 2260, Traverse City, MI 40685.

Two Drop Off Locations

FOX Motors Grand Traverse – 3464 N. US 31 South
During business hours

Garfield Plaza
Weekdays – 7 a.m.– 6 p.m.
Weekends – 8 a.m.– 6 p.m.

The 16th Annual Father Fred Frostbite Food Drive got off to a smooth start on Friday.

The 16th Annual Father Fred Frostbite Food Drive got off to a smooth start on Friday.  Tri-Gas, TC-RV, Meijer and WCCW/WTCM all were present and accounted for at Garfield Plaza as the broadcast RV started live broadcasting at 8 AM.  Volunteers were busy all morning preparing for a busy week of food delivery.  Banana boxes and bright new yellow pallets were carefully stacked ready to be filled.  The two Meijer semi truck bodies were also ready to go to work this morning.  They always look cavernous on opening day.  Volunteers are always wondering “how will we ever find enough food to fill such huge spaces,” and every year we are amazed to see them rapidly fill. Meanwhile, on US-31, Fox Grand Traverse officially opened their Frostbite drop site.  Very strong broadcast messages with great scheduling started airing on both TV networks on Monday the 11th. Fox Grand Traverse Staff and Manager John Cueter have done a great job at signage and anticipate a big response this weekend.

Please help the Father Fred Foundation give food, warmth & hope this Holiday season.

Jane Deering, Grace Maxbauer, Father Thome and Father Iakovos dedicate Bill Maxbauer Memorial

Visitors included Bill and Suzie Kuras with daughter Molly, Shirley Debelack, Grace Maxbauer and Jane Deering. Officiating were current and former spiritual directors, Father Iakovos, and Rev. Edwin Thome.

Dedications were held for Bill Maxbauer, Hattie Arnold, John Pearson, Bill Steffes, William Maxbauer, Mike Debelack, and Walter Preiss. Honored at an earlier event in the summer was Alice Megerian.

Many thanks to Linda and Jerry Carlson, Mandy and John Pampu and Vince and Paula Prusick for hosting a wonderful evening of fellowship on September 29th at the Jolly Pumpkin at Bowers Harbor Inn. It was an honor to be with so many supporters whose tenure with Father Fred went back to the Foundation’s 1989 beginning. I am proud to say their wisdom and vision from those formative years continues to thrive today.
• We strive to treat all who come to us with dignity and respect.
• We are non-denominational; volunteers and clients of all religions or no religion are welcome.
• We start every meeting with prayer and reflection on our mission of service to others.
• We continue to build our services around volunteers.
• We accept no Federal or State funding.
• We are listening to the needs of the G. T. area and making every effort to respond.