In order to accomplish our goals, Land of Promise (LOP) has written documents called a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Agreement (MOA). These documents describe a cooperative relationship between two parties wishing to work together to meet an agreed upon goal. The parties that Land of Promise deals with are the schools, the food banks, the parents and the children. However, when your clients are children this becomes a Promise, not a document agreed on. The children depend on LOP to provide food e...

During the beginning of the school year, we often receive donations of schools supplies.  Community residents and organizations understand that our children are in need of basic resources and they want to invest in their future.  Land of Promise (LOP) has access to the children through our Nourish the Need Food Backpack Program and we link the resources to the schools we serve.  This school year we received school supply donations directly from a community member and indirectly from another community...

During the academic year, the schools that participate in our Nourish the Need Food Backpack Program host a food drive on behalf of the program.  This year there was a significant increase in food donations, to a point that, I started asking why.  Ms. Dixon, an administrator at Seaborn Lee Elementary, confirmed that their students are learning to give.  A lightbulb went off in my head, “Ms. Dixon is right, we can teach giving!” When we teach children the spirit of giving they learn the importance of...

The last day of school is an exciting time of year for students in anticipation of summer fun activities. My summer fun included playing kickball with friends, a family road trip, vacation bible school, amusement parks, swimming pool sports, family reunions and simply eating a slice of sweet watermelon. For some children, the excitement of summer is short lived because when school meals are not available to them, there is little or no food to eat.

Since 1975, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), al...

Earth Day is an annual celebration in April designated to promoting concern for the environment by raising our awareness of things we can do to protect our environment and preserve our planet. One way we can protect and preserve is by addressing the food contaminants in our environment.  Despite our efforts to make the world a better place through our own actions, food contamination is still prevalent.  There are many scenarios that might cause food contamination, but most are one of four categories:...

Measuring non-profit outcomes is not just about attracting resources to our nonprofit; it's about the mission. The mission of Land of Promise (LOP) is to bring awareness, inspire hope and develop programs to address food inequities nationally and internationally.  We know how to evaluate our performance but identifying and communicating impacts are also important activities for LOP. This is the performance area where I need your help and it will only cost you a few moments of your time and your hones...

Dominating the headlines is the Trump Administration’s FY2019 budget proposal to dramatically alter the nation’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).  This proposal removes SNAP benefits for low-income families to purchase groceries and replaces these benefits with a monthly box of prepackaged food chosen by the government.  This prepackaged food is known as “America’s Harvest Box”.  Despite the myriad of emotions I experienced concerning this proposal, it is this kind of cruelty I have...

Collaborating with our schools and community partners is paramount for the success of our Nourish the Need Food Backpack program.  According to Feeding America, in our service area 1 of 4 children are food insecure; nationwide 13 million children face hunger.  The need is great.  One option that our partners utilize to enhance our program is hosting annual food drives.  Seven (7) of our partners hosted food drives during the first semester of the 2017 – 2018 school year.

Special thanks...

At Land of Promise (LOP) food donations and requests to serve increase during the holiday season. There are many reasons why this is the most wonderful time of the year for me. However, witnessing the generosity of others is at the top of my list.  Whether you want to make an impact in your community with your children or connect with a group, there are many ways to share your generosity and give back to the community and those in need. 

Serve locally:

1. Serve in a soup kitchen or donate to a foo...

The holiday season in America runs from late November to early January and it is associated with shopping, gifts, family meetings, parties and religious services.  During the holidays, the retail companies coined “Black Friday”, the day after Thanksgiving for shoppers to take advantage of bargains.  “Cyber Monday” was created by marketing companies in 2005 to persuade people to shop online the Monday after Thanksgiving.   In 2012 “Giving Tuesday” was established as a movement that cele...