News » Food For Thought
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Backpack Program- How it Works!
Our backpack program has been an integral part of Food For Thought since the beginning. It takes time, effort and countless volunteers to cover each step of the backpack program to ensure that 3,000 kids in Okaloosa and Walton counties receive their backpack.
Food insecure children leave school for the weekend knowing that their next meal isn't guaranteed until the next school day. That means nearly 7 meals are missed before they return to school on Monday expected to show up ready to engage with their peers and learn from their teachers. The backpack program alleviates the stress on a hungry children providing a sense of security knowing food is going home with them for the weekend. We are dedicated to empowering children to get the most out of their education and help them develop along with their peers.
Every day of the week has set tasks that are necessary to complete to get the backpacks from FFT to the students!
Monday & Tuesday- Volunteers help the FFT staff count and sort backpacks in the Destin and Santa Rosa Beach pantries. Inventory is taken of food to set up the packing assembly line.
Wednesday- Volunteer groups pack over 1,600 backpacks in the Destin pantry to be distributed to the Okaloosa county schools on Thursday.
Thursday- Volunteers load up the FFT vans, Norma and Betty, or their vehicle to distribute backpacks to Okaloosa schools. The Santa Rosa Beach pantry is busy with volunteer groups packing over 1,200 bags to be distributed to Walton county schools on Friday.
Friday- Volunteers load up Norma and Betty or their vehicle to distribute backpacks to Walton county schools. By Friday afternoon 3,000 backpacks have been delivered to 32 schools to ensure kids don't go hungry through the weekend.
Our mission to fight child hunger is supported by dedicated volunteers and donors. If you're interested in getting involved with the backpack program check out our website for more information or contact us at volunteer@fftfl.org
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Show Your Support with New FFT Sandals!
Support Food For Thought by wearing these FFT sandals by UBIX! We have partnered with this amazing local shoe company whose mission is to create quality, customized footwear while making a difference in our community. UBIX is donating 50% of the proceeds of each pair purchased. Click the photo below to shop!
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Meet the FFT Team
As we begin the 2018-2019 school year we would like to introduce you to the team! We look forward to working with everyone involved with FFT or interested in getting involved!
Tiffanie Nelson - Founder of Food For Thought
Meet the Founder of Food For Thought Outreach, Tiffanie Nelson. Food For Thought began in 2010 after Tiffanie learned that students in her own children's school were hungry and missing meals when they were away from school-provided meals. What began as a project that Tiffanie and her children did at home, helping 6 kids per week, grew into the organization that is Food For Thought Outreach, and Tiffanie began working full-time at FFT in 2014 as the Executive Director. Currently, she lives in Santa Rosa Beach with her 3 children and husband, Darren Nelson. Tiffanie is dedicated to the growth and sustainability of the programs at FFT to ensure our organization is here to support children in need for years to come. When she is not working, she is usually outside enjoying time with her family as much as possible.
Erin Perry - Operations Manager
Meet our Operations Manager, Erin Perry! Erin started at Food For Thought in May 2017 after working for 10 years as a Project and Localization Manager in the translation industry. In her previous career, she was responsible for coordinating and overseeing projects such as the translation of websites into over 30 languages for international companies. Erin's family has lived in the area for over 15 years, so she's lived here off and on, but has spent most of that time living in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Paris. Erin's time in Paris allowed her to practice her French and to satisfy her serious case of wanderlust, as she was able to travel to many countries throughout Europe and beyond! As the Operations Manager, Erin has been able to employ her project management skills, and she's also really enjoying the hands-on aspect of the position delivering backpacks to schools and working in the pantry. She even brought home a piece of the pantry with her, when a kitten, now named Ragu, wandered into the pantry during Christmas services.
Dinelle Putman - Programs Manager
Meet our Program Manager, Dinelle Putman! Dinelle is from Childersburg, Alabama and moved to Santa Rosa Beach in 2016. She joined Food For Thought in April 2018 after working in the banking industry for 15 years. Dinelle learned about FFT during a volunteer experience in the pantry, after which she decided to contact us about a job opportunity. Dinelle enjoys spending time with her family and friends and takes advantage of living at the beach as much as possible.
Nicole Lande - Special Programs Coordinator
Meet our Specials Programs Coordinators, Nicole Lande! Nicole joined the Food For Thought team in August 2017. She grew up in Colorado and traded snow in for the beach when she moved to Destin in middle school. She attended Niceville High School, and graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2017 with a degree in Event Management. Nicole’s favorite part of the week is cooking with the kids from AMI and Walton Academy in the Emeril Lagasse Full Circle Kitchen. She’s also an avid reader, so on Sundays you can usually find her at her book club with her mom. Nicole never fails to make you laugh or smile, so if you see a someone doing a goofy dance in the pantry, that’s likely her!
Stephanie Groves - Operations Coordinator
Meet our Operations Coordinator, Stephanie Groves! Stephanie joined Food For Thought in March 2018 and is thrilled to be a part of the team. She lives in Destin with her soon-to-be husband and her lab puppy. She attended Choctaw High School and is a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in Sociology. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys spending time outside with her fiancé, family and friends, eating ice cream, and listening to her new favorite podcast with Dax Shepard.
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Join us for Volunteer Outreach
132 Market Street, Santa Rosa Beach:August 16th 8:30aSeptember 13th at 4:30- 6p
908 Airport Road, Destin:August 17th 8:30aAugust 28th at 4:30- 6pWe are looking to add new volunteers to our organization! Join us at our volunteer outreach sessions to learn about the various volunteer opportunities! We will be set up to answer new volunteer questions, fill out volunteer paperwork and schedule training shifts.Current volunteers are encouraged to attend to learn new details about volunteer opportunities, give scheduling updates and get started with the new school year schedule. If you have any questions please contact us volunteer@fftfl.org.
We look forward to working with you all in the 2018-2019 school year! #YouCanHelp
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Meet our 2018-19 Board of Directors at FFT
Tiffanie Nelson- Chairman & Founder of FFT
Meet the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Founder of Food For Thought Outreach, Tiffanie Nelson. Tiffanie started Food For Thought 2010 after learning that students in her own children's school were hungry and missing meals when they were away from school-provided meals. What began as a project that Tiffanie and her children did at home, helping 6 kids per week, grew into the organization that is Food For Thought Outreach, and Tiffanie began working full-time at FFT in 2014 as the Executive Director. Currently, she lives in Santa Rosa Beach with her 3 children and husband, Darren Nelson. Tiffanie is dedicated to the growth and sustainability of the programs at FFT to ensure our organization is here to support children in need for years to come.Hilary Farnum Fasth- Vice Chairman
Meet the Vice Chairman of Food For Thought Outreach, Hilary Farnum Fasth. Hilary is the owner and broker of Beachy Beach 30a real estate. She has worked in the real estate profession for over 20 years along the Emerald Coast and loves helping find their perfect beach home. She lives here with her two children, Faith and Ben and husband Christoffer. Hilary is passionate about helping to stop the cycle of poverty in our community for generations to come by helping these children at a young age, and she serves Food for Thought because she wants to personally and professionally give back to the community where she lives and works.Penny Jackson- Secretary
Meet the Secretary of Food For Thought Outreach, Penny Jackson. Penny grew up in Alabama and is a graduate of Auburn University. She truly believes there is no better place to live than the Emerald Coast and has called it her home for almost 20 years. She is a Realtor with Scenic Sotheby's and currently lives in Sandestin with her husband, Judd, and two sons. As a firm believer in community engagement, she has served on the Board of Directors of Food For Thought for the past 5 years. She loves the fact that Food For Thought serves children in our own backyard and enables volunteers of any age to contribute.Tania Koehler- Treasurer
Meet the Treasurer of Food For Thought Outreach, Tania Koehler. Born and raised in Ecuador, Tania came to the United States at 21 years of age to study Hospitality and graduated from the University of New Orleans with a degree in Hospitality Management. Tania is currently the Director of Hotels for all of Howard Hospitality. Tania currently resides in Santa Rosa Beach with her husband, Tim, and their two children Alexander and Ariana. She has been a part of FFT for 4 years and has a heart for Food for Thought because she wants to ensure that the kids of the future have an opportunity to be great.Jacob Watkins- Board Member
Meet Jacob Watkins, who has served on the Food For Thought Outreach Board of Directors since 2015. Jacob grew up in Fairhope, Alabama, graduated from Auburn University, and moved to the area from Atlanta after spending 3 years with Ernst & Young as a financial performance improvement consultant. Jacob is now a Managing Partner at Rent Gear Here as well as a licensed Florida Realtor with Mainsail Realty Company. Jacob and his wife, Devan, enjoy boating, fishing, spending time on the beach, and Auburn football. Jacob chooses to spend his time serving Food for Thought because of the impact the organization is making on the future of our community.Leah Hayes- Board Member
Meet Leah Hayes, who has served on the Food For Thought Outreach Board of Directors for the past year. Leah Broussard Hayes graduated in business management from Tulane University in 1999 and the University of Georgia School of Law in 2002. She is a member of the bar and licensed in all state and federal courts in Louisiana and Mississippi and was engaged in insurance defense practice until recently relocating with her family to the Emerald Coast. Currently she is focusing on engaging in non-profit work while supporting her husband’s medical practice and raising their three daughters. Leah was drawn to Food for Thought after personally witnessing food shortages among her daughter’s classmates and learning of the stellar program Food For Thought had already put into place to fill this void.
