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Susan Goodell, Executive Director at Forgotten Harvest tells what Forgotten Harvest (FH) is going to do next. How this food bank is growing, and finding ways to fulfill needs in three counties.

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Filed under: Forgotten Harvest | Oak Park, MI

FH’s innovative plans for the future include a partnership with Rock City to develop a community kitchen in FH’s current Distribution Center (DC). This community kitchen would fill a unique niche in the soup kitchen market by taking foods that are not easily recognized or familiar, where preparation is unknown by most people. Examples of these kinds of foods include acorn squash, kiwi, star fruit, zucchini, etc. These foods are highly nutritious, so it is especially important that they be converted into a readily usable product.

FH’s community kitchen is still in the early stages. The Health Department has a pilot up and running, and FH is looking into getting running water in that portion of the DC where the soup kitchen will be. Another important function of this community kitchen will be canning, especially during the couple months when vitamin rich tomatoes are brought in, and canned so they can be used later on for tomato, spaghetti, and pizza sauce, as well as other tomato based foods. Rock City is also planning to start a repack program.

Goodell also pointed out that food rescue programs will be growing in popularity, and provided an article from the New York Times about how much food is wasted in the United States.

Part 2 of this interview is about recent innovations and efforts that have helped Forgotten Harvest (FH) to accomplish more and grow. Find out how mobile data tracking units have changed FH.

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Filed under: Forgotten Harvest

The most valuable devices to work their way into Forgotten Harvest (FH) operations are mobile data tracking units. Because of this new technology, FH can keep track of where food comes from and where it goes, faster and easier than ever before. This use to be done manually, with pen and paper, and as FH grew, daily receipts were accumulated into large piles. For example, each driver would have around 20 handwritten receipts at the end of the day. And, of course, there were accuracy and legibility issues. Naturally, it did not take long for the FH people to notice that UPS deliverers carried handheld devices used to track packages, that would also work well for tracking food. However, the main problem was that these devices had proprietary software, nothing viable. Additionally, the software was not affordable, especially for FH with limited funds.

As FH grew, they realized how much they needed tracking devices to keep up. They were lucky enough that when they met with Kettering University, they found an intern, Donald, as well as other possible interns in the engineering program who were required to spend 3 months in class, then 3 months working their field. In addition to this, FH formed a partnership with C & C Logistics partner, Tom Cihonski for support.

Here is Part 1 of my interview with Susan Goodell, Executive Director of Crain's Best-Managed Non Profit, Forgotten Harvest. Some of the information in this blog is from an article in Crain's Detroit Business.

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Filed under: Forgotten Harvest | People | Susan Goodell

Key reasons Forgotten Harvest (FH) is Crain’s Best-Managed Nonprofit:

• The FH operating model makes it easier for grocery stores and restaurants to donate food. FH truck drivers do daily pickups where they load the truck with food from donor agencies that work well with the donors’ schedules, and in the same day, take the food to soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters, etc. Additionally, the donors don’t have the throw the food away, resulting in reduced dumpster fees. This is also environmentally friendly, since space for garbage is running out.
• Forgotten Harvest knows how to staff their operation effectively. If you visit their offices, everyone is busy working intently and with purpose. People are extra conscientious of not wasting resources, and using what resources they have to their full advantage to help FH help those in need.
• FH also focuses on utilizing the talents and expertise of “its board members and other volunteers”
• Operates “on a cash budget”, so there are no finance charges.