HAIGHT ASHBURY FOOD PROGRAM
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Mission Statement
The Haight Ashbury Food Program is neighborhood-based, volunteer-run, and funded by individuals who care for their neighbors in need. We are committed to a program based on compassion, respect and empowerment. The Haight Ashbury Food Program (HAFP) was founded in San Francisco in 1983 as a neighborhood response to hunger. HAFP's mission is to support the principle that freedom from hunger is a right, not a privilege. We exist to provide meals and referral services to those in need while fostering a sense of belonging and self worth for all involved.
About This Cause
Since early March, and the declaration of shelter in place, the Haight Ashbury Food Program, deemed an ESSENTIAL SERVICE, has been learning, adjusting our standard practices for virus safety, and procuring safety equipment for staff and volunteers. This allows us to remain open for food distribution at this critical time of need for many of our neighbors. We have also moved our entire food sorting and distribution operation to the parking lot of our shared facility, to enable social distancing, and made many adjustments to how we do this, so volunteers can work solo, in small groups, and distant from one another. For details, please see our website COVID19 page. We are so proud of our work and our volunteers, but this has been costly for a grassroots, volunteer-run agency. Our Board has applied for several types of government assistance to cover what currently is over $10,000 in equipment expense, but has received no word from anyone. Individuals, however, are stepping up, aware that we have very little cash reserve left. But as incomes decrease, continuing increase in our client load is anticipated, so WE WILL REMAIN OPEN! The Haight Ashbury Food Program operates a weekly Pantry, open each Saturday. We are one of few small, neighborhood based and neighborhood centered, food programs in the City of San Francisco and the only food program in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood. This year (2014) we will serve over 35,000 meals to people going through tough times. And we will do so for less than $1.00 a meal. Our support comes mostly from individuals. For the last three fiscal years, over 90% of our operating budget came from individual gifts, mostly small, mostly from the Haight Ashbury neighborhood. We receive no government funding. We are almost entirely volunteer-run, with one paid staff person: a part-time Program Director who once was a client. Our Board functions as executive staff. About a dozen volunteers, mostly former clients, work brilliantly together; everyone’s morale is very high. We are proud of how much we accomplish with so little. We invite you to visit. Farmer’s Market-style distribution allows clients to select foods that best meet their families´ needs; each receives much-needed foods that are otherwise not affordable. We make a special effort to provide nutritious fare, and items that can be used by those without permanent homes or cooking facilities. Our largest client group is disabled people; seniors are our fastest growing group. We also serve families, youth, and homeless persons. This year we will give thousands of boxes of food to hungry women, men, and children; but those requiring services steadily increase. So far we barely are able to meet demand. We have accelerated free food appeals; already we solicit a great amount of free food from local groups and businesses, at least 2,000 pounds each week. In 2011 we made a commitment to serve nutritious food; we accept few donations high in sugar, or highly processed, and avoid trans fat whenever possible. We purchase only fresh vegetables, grains, beans, dairy and eggs, some meat and healthy snacks. There is a great deal of unhealthy, low-cost foodstuff given to poor people – we emphatically refuse to do so. Still, this remains an ongoing challenge, especially when funds are limited. We provide healthy staples for those who have kitchens, along with nutritious recipes. But we must also supply healthy foods for those who have no place to prepare meals or store staples, which can be complicated. The number of persons we feed each year continues to increase, while our budget remains roughly the same. Any gift, no matter how small is deeply appreciated. Please give. You will feel good when you do. Thank you so much, in advance, for your help. Thank you so much.