FNB meeting notes synopsis:
8/8/19
Meeting at 830, Bernard's home, with delicious Ratatouille dinner. In attendance: Bernard, Heather Haskins, Lisa Gonzalez, Roger Guerrero, and Sara Zalek. To discuss next steps for changeX donation.
The temple has now offered their storage shed in the back of their building for the community fridge. We plan to upgrade and prepare the space and bring at least 2 fridges over there once the new fridge is installed in the garage on Cortland. Bernard will contact Neil, a good handyman, to consult on materials, labor, and cost. Materials will be purchased with credit card, Heather or Randy can use.
The new fridge is arriving between 10a-2p on Monday, we have reached out to FNB community to help tilt and out castors on it. Bernard, Heather and Sara will clean the garage on Monday morning at 10a.
Unlocking the remaining $1500 means collecting data ASAP.
The pastor on the south side we have been in touch with has offered to host community fridge at his church, Heather will call him to confirm. He will need to collect simple data on how much food is being delivered, consumed, (40-50Lbs of food per box, how many boxes per week)
Should we also collect type of food? This could be a simple form as well, but maybe overkill.
The van in the temple parking lot needs to be dealt with. We need a mechanic ( Toran) to look at it and assess what needs to be done to get it running.
Community fridge name suggestion, "Les fridges du Cœur" all present in the meeting in favor of name and decision to become IL non profit which is a simple 1 page form and $50 fee.
Signage needs to be created for fridge areas, with basic information, the team will create a shared document to create. Locations so far are in the front on the gate, welcome sign for the shed door, please respect space and cleanliness inside. Signs in several languages: Spanish, Vietnamese and Polish and English. Flyers also will be made to post in community locations, reading " free lunch" " grab and go" for example.
A few side notes:
No meat at Temple fridge, meat can go to the Southside location or to drivers.
The FNB garage needs to stay cleaner.
Need a gatekeeper to unlock and lock the temple gate daily.
THREE BIG UPDATES!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!
1) This morning we submitted payment for the new refrigerator. It will arrive in 4-5 business days. We searched and searched, and finally found the right refrigerator at the right price.
2) We are moving forward with plans to set up our program at Chua Lien Hoa Buddhist Temple. Next steps are to configure the shed platform and purchase the shed. After that we will order the banner for outside and circulate flyers.
3) Bernard, Leo and Heather joined our partners at Midwest Workers Association for their 23rd annual dinner. Here is a picture of the three of us with Ezra, who comes to Humboldt Park every Saturday to take food to their members. While we were there, we met a pastor who expressed interest in hosting a south side location for our program, which would double our impact! We will be following up with him and keeping everyone updated.
Fantastic News! Received today from Katie @ ChangeX:
Hi Bernard,
Thanks for letting us know the plan. It's ok to use the Golden Hill Foods bank account, just make sure to keep your own budget related to the funding you receive from ChangeX, and receipts to go with any purchases made.
The data you will be asked for is about how many people have benefited from the project, and as you mentioned, photos of the new fridge in action!
We will process your funding today so it should reach you in approx. 3 working days.
Best of luck with it all, we can't wait to hear how it goes!
All the best,
Katie
Last Friday, Heather and her husband Roger, came to my place and we had applied for the transfer of the funds on his company's checking account. This is the confirmation that it has been authorized.
I think we need to have another meeting soon. I can think of several items that needs immediate attention:
Search for the "right" fridge at the best price possible.
Design a sign for the front gate and advertise the service (food pantries and free meals bulletin boards)
Get the title change on the van that the temple would let us use; talk about the cost of gas and insurance sharing with them.
Clear the items occupying the space and move them to a temple storage place.
Build platform for a plane surface to install the fridge on it (floor is slanting)
Pursue effort to have another fridge with our partners on the south side.
Means of recording data (table, notebook where people would simply enter what they took and how many people to be fed with it)
Let's talk about a date!
Heather & Bernard met yesterday with Master Thich Hai Tin, head monk at Liên Hoa Buddhist temple and Dieu Tinh, director of the temple board and helpful interpreter. What was to be a first contact meeting to introduce the idea of the communal fridge turned into the most welcomed and supportive agreement by the temple, so much in line with their compassionate commitment to the needs of the unprivileged in their surrounding community. Master Thich Hai Tin took us in the back and offered that covered space after removal of the items occupying it at the moment. This is such an ideal location. We discussed having a display sign in front on the gate explaining the program and the management of the keys for the front and back gates. So it looks like we have found the location for our first community fridge; next, to follow-up with our partners on the south side. I think time has come for us to claim the award!
Next Saturday, June 29, Heather & Bernard will meet with the head monk of the Buddhist temple that let us use their premises in winter.
They've always been very motivated to support the community around the temple in the past and, upon first conversation, seriously consider hosting the fridge in the parking on the back of the temple. This location would be ideal, centered around our core of volunteers.
Will let you know the outcome of the meeting. It'll be recorded (if agreed by all participants) for possible material in the production of a podcast.
Bernard
Present were Sara Zalek, Leo Lara, Toran McCoy, Lisa Gruber, Bernard Graham-Betend, Martin Bailon and Heather Haskins.
Being all regular volunteers for a free-food distribution organization, we went straight into the logistic for having the fridge available to all during part of the day and with whom could we partner with to host the community fridge. See minutes.
These are the meeting notes, lmk if I should upload them somewhere else or post any other way.
Hello ! Testing Sara Zalek
