Jeffie's Choice: Tragedy Creates Opportunity for Houston Food Bank

Last week the Houston Food Bank had a tragedy at the worst possible time.  The ammonia-based refrigeration system that keeps foods cold had a leak, contaminating all of the non-profit’s refrigerated food forcing them to throw away 62 truckloads of produce, dairy and perishable items totaling 1.8 million pounds, a week before thanksgiving.  Yes, this is tragic, but it also created an opportunity for help. 

As part of Mariner Finance’s 2019 initiative to give back and make a difference in the communities they serve, Mariner Finance joined with Jeffie’s Choice to make a combined donation of $7,500 to the Houston Food Bank.  This donation equates to 22,500 meals for their community.

Pictured left to right: Marcela Alvarez (BM Pasadena), Yolanda Webb from Houston Food Bank, Ariadna Zurita (BM Spring) and Kenny Poirrier (AVP Houston)

Jeffie's Choice: Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley on November 14th, 2019.

The Food Bank has grown to become the 28th largest in the nation and 4th largest in Texas based on distribution. We are proudly affiliated with Feeding America and the Feeding Texas. The Food Bank serves Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron counties.

Pictured left to right: Julian Mora (District Supervisor 883) Dulce Sosa (Branch Manager Mission); Martha Garcia (Branch Manager Mcallen); Phillip Farias Rgv Food Bank Rep; Salvador Villarreal (Branch Manager Alamo)

Jeffie's Choice: Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee on November 8th, 2019.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee is one of the largest and most comprehensive of more than 200 food banks and food distribution centers nationwide. During FY18, Second Harvest distributed more than 30 million pounds of food to more than 460 Partner Agencies, providing more than 28 million meals to hungry children, families, and seniors throughout our 46-county service area

Jeffie’s Choice: Feeding America Eastern WI

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500 to Feeding America Eastern WI on October 9th, 2019.

Feeding America Eastern WI has a network of about 600 member organizations and provides food to nearly 400,000 people in 36 counties, including 124,000 children and 41,000 seniors. Improving access to healthy and nutritious food for those facing hunger remains the foundation of thier work.

Pictured left: Blake Schabowski (BM) in Greendale, WI

Jeffie’s Choice: Feeding the Valley

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to Feeding the Valley on October 9th, 2019.

Feeding the Valley collaborates with more than 275 partner agencies (churches, non-profit organizations, emergency food pantries, after school programs, youth programs, senior centers, homeless shelters and others) that shop in their warehouse and then distribute to families in need and considered “food insecure” within their neighborhoods and communities.

Left: Judy Davis (BM)

Jeffie’s Choice: Central Illinois Foodbank

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to the Central Illinois Foodbank on October 3rd, 2019.

Since Central Illinois Foodbank first opened its doors, its mission remains essential: to provide food, and develop awareness of and creative solutions for food insecurity. In FY18, their volunteer hours nearly tripled to over 12,000 volunteer hours logged.

Pictured: Janice Williams (BM for 7403) and Brittany Geist (AVP District 365)

Jeffie's Choice: Food Bank of Central New York

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to the Food Bank of Central New York on October 3rd, 2019.

Food Bank of Central New York serves as the main food distribution hub for hundreds of partner agencies that comprise the emergency food network in our eleven county service region across central and northern New York. The Food Bank provides more than 14 million pounds of food – the equivalent of 12.1 million meals – to hungry families, children, and elderly every year.

Pictured: Chris Schultze (BM- Syracuse branch) and Eric Foss (AVP- District 100)

Jeffie’s Choice - Fulfill Monmouth & Ocean Food Bank

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500 to Fulfill Monmouth & Ocean Food Bank on October 3rd, 2019.

Fulfill’s mission is to alleviate hunger and build food security in Monmouth & Ocean Counties and to make sure that all people at all times have access to enough nutritious food to maintain an active and healthy life. Fulfill works closely with over 300 food pantries and soup kitchens.

Pictured: Ashley Watson, (C) BM of Brick, NJ branch

Jeffie’s Choice: West Ohio Food Bank

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to the West Ohio Food Bank on October 2nd, 2019.

West Ohio Food Bank is addressing hunger by increasing awareness and educating the public about hunger; connecting clients with federal benefits; collaborating with charitable partners at the local level to increase client stability; and, advocating for federal and state programs and policies that support low-income individuals.

Pictured L to R: Bryan Honaker, BM Lima, OH branch, Linda Hamilton, CEO West Ohio Food Bank, and Rod Coffey, AVP

Jeffie's Choice: Food Bank of DE

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to the Food Bank of DE on October 2nd, 2019.

Food Bank of DE’s mission is to provide nutritious foods to Delawareans in need and facilitate long-term solutions to the problems of hunger and poverty through community education and advocacy. They are the only facility in Delaware with the equipment, warehouse and staff to collect donations from all sectors of the food industry and safely and efficiently redistribute them to those who need it most.

Pictured: Darnell Garland (R), BM of Bear, DE branch

Jeffie’s Choice: Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank on October 2nd, 2019.

Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank’s mission is to feed the hungry in Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes by providing food and educational outreach through faith-based and other community partners. With community support, they have served the hungry in their 11 parish service area for more than 30 years.

Pictured: James Hartranft, AVP and Kellie Tunnard, BM (center)

Jeffie's Choice: Second Harvest Food Bank of NW NC

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to the Second Harvest Food Bank of NW NC on October 2nd, 2019.

Every day, Second Harvest Food Bank of NW NC moves 37 tons of food through their warehouses and out to their network of 460+ partner programs, many of which rely on them for the majority of the food they provide. Together, with people like you, they work to make sure that any resident who needs help to feed themselves or their family can access the healthy food they need to live healthy, productive lives.

Pictured L to R - Bryan Honaker, BM Lima, OH branch, Linda Hamilton, CEO West Ohio Food Bank, and Rod Coffey, AVP

Jeffie's Choice: Madison Presbyterian Church

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $220.00 to the Madison Presbyterian Church on August 12th, 2019.

Thank you Billy Spencer for the tickets that were raffled to raise the funds

Jeffie's Choice: Cumberland County Animal Shelter

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to the Cumberland County Animal Shelter on July 30th, 2019.

The mission of the Cumberland County Animal Control Department is to protect their citizens by active enforcement of state and local laws, provide for the humane sheltering and outcome of stray and unwanted animals, and promote responsible pet ownership. The primary objective of Animal Control employees is to provide excellent service to the citizens, while dedicating themselves to improving the welfare of animals and humans.

Pictured: Alyssa Pederson

Jeffie's Choice: Trinity Cafe

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to Trinity Cafe on July 23rd, 2019.

The mission of Trinity Cafe is to restore a sense of dignity to the homeless and hungry by serving a nutritious meal. They have served a million meals and counting.

Pictured right to left: AVP Sean McCullough, Trinity Cafe Manager Mandy, Tampa West BM Jhonny Vidal, Tampa East BM Maria Peralta Heredia, VP Sal Scaffidi.

Jeffie's Choice: Mishawaka Food Pantry

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500 to Mishawaka Food Pantry on July 17th, 2019.

The Mishawaka Food Pantry, Inc. is a service dedicated to serving those in need. They provide individuals with food, clothing, hot lunches, family development, toiletries, transportation solutions, and most importantly, a sense of community.

Pictured: Rachel Grove (R) BM in Mishawaka, IN

Jeffie's Choice: Mid-Ohio Food Bank

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to Mid-Ohio Food Bank on July 16th, 2019.

Mid-Ohio Food Bank distributed just 205,200 pounds of food in their first year and now handles more than 66 million pounds annually. Through their 680 agency partnerships, they provide more than 140,000 meals every day to hungry people across central and eastern Ohio.

Pictured: Heather Himmelspach (L) ABM in Reynoldsburg, OH and Joseph Askins (R) DM,

Jeffie's Choice: Sword of Truth

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500 to Sword of Truth on July 14th, 2019.

Pictured: Dexter McRae (R)

Jeffie's Choice: Moveable Feast

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to Moveable Feast on July 12th, 2019.

The mission of Moveable Feast is to foster a community that cares for men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses by preparing and delivering nutritious meals and groceries and providing nutritional counseling and other services.

Pictured: Michelle Alkire (second from the right)

Jeffie's Choice: Boys & Girls Clubs of North Carolina

Jeffie’s Choice, Inc., through Mariner Finance, donated $1,500.00 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Carolina on July 12th.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of North Carolina mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. We envision a future in which the Boys & Girls Club Movement is a catalyst for an age in which success is within reach of every child, and whole generations of children are inspired to a level of civic engagement not seen since the founding of our nation.

Pictured L to R: Michelle Miller, AVP, Tiffany Blackwell, NLE, Kristine Serfozo, VP and Victoria Bridges, AVP