Helping parents help children

Weld County Foster Parent Association

When in doubt ask your shopper.

Rules to shop by

Hello, Everyone -

 

I wanted to contact all of you with some reminders regarding Association Membership rules and Food Bank rules.  I really don't think any of this is new - I just don't see some of you at meetings, and I feel like there are some things we need reminded of every so often.

 

As you know, you all have an assigned shopper, and this person is your link to the Food Bank.  Your Shopper works hard to get you the items that you want, but you do need to remember that this is not like taking a list to Safeway.  Availability can change in the time you send your order to your Shopper and the time she submits that order to the Food Bank.  In handling orders for several families in one trip it's very easy to omit something that you may have wanted from the front, or even to  miss something on your list that has to be pulled from the back.  Please be patient when this happens.  Your Shopper spends hours every week to get you food - most of it for 18 cents a pound - and I find it difficult to understand when I hear complaints about petty things;  the wrong size package, the wrong brand, etc.  I know how much money I save monthly by being able to utilize the Weld Food Bank, and we need to remember what an amazing benefit it is to our members.

 

As I mentioned, your Shopper is your link to the Food Bank.  If you do have a problem that needs addressed your Shopper is the first person you will contact.  If the two of you are not able to work out a problem, whatever it may be, you and/or your Shopper needs to contact me.  Your membership in the Association does not buy you an audience with anyone in the Food Bank, from Selena on up.  Nor may you go in the Food Bank, except in the event you are being a helper to your Shopper on a given day.  At no time are you allowed to go in the Food Bank with a problem, or call the Food Bank.  You will call your Shopper, your Shopper will contact me, and I will talk to Selena, Bob, or Nicole when you have a problem, depending on what the problem is.  Let me stress at this point - I did not make this rule- this is the protocol used by the Food Bank, and we abide by their rules with no exceptions.

 

I need to insert here that the Executive Board of the Weld County Foster Parent Association does have the authority to deny membership to anyone (with a good reason), and also to remove a member from the Association, if that person causes problems within the Association or at the Food Bank.  This is not an action that we would like to take, but I do want you to understand that is possible, and that your dues are not refundable in the event this does happen.  (The WCFPA application also states that dues are non-refundable).

 

If for some reason you are not pleased with the person who is shopping for you, I am the person you need to contact.  Any other Board Member will refer your call to me. and I will get in touch with you.  Conflicts arising between you and your Shopper will be dealt with, but this is not a method to be used if you simply want to change Shoppers.  We, as the Board, consider each new member who joins and match them with a Shopper according to location, number of openings on a Shoppers list of families, etc.  You may not "swap" Shoppers just because you want someone else.  Your Shopper will have her own schedule, which you are required to adhere to.  You will be required to find a way to pick up your food in a timely fashion from your Shopper's chosen location - she is not required to refrigerate or freeze your food until you have time to get it,  nor is she required to store food for you.  She needs to let you know when she will have the food ready for pick-up, and you or someone you have to help you will need to be available to move the food.  Any arrangements that the two of you may make are certainly  acceptable, but if there is spoilage because you did not get your food in time, your Shopper is not responsible; you will still be expected to pay for it (ice cream that melts, etc.).

 

Please remember also that your Shopper will go on vacation, will get sick sometimes, or have unexpected situations arise that could prohibit a shopping day, or alter the time of that shopping trip.  Again - please be patient when these things happen.  I have asked my Shoppers to make sure that you always get to shop on Unlimited Pounds day.  If a problem arises on that day, another Shopper will try to step in and help.

 

The Food Bank has become very conscience of stock-piling.  This is not a new rule, but it certainly seems it is being enforced much more strictly that it ever has before.  I believe we have all been guilty of "grabbing" certain products (laundry detergent, hamburger, etc.) which I discussed with Nicole Hurt several months ago, resulting on the limitations put on those items.  I do believe  this is more fair, as we can all get those things now, rather that the first person who sees it on the list getting all of it  or most of it.  In addition to those items that are actually limited, the Food Bank is now asking us to only buy what we can use in a month or two.  Amounts that seem extreme will be questioned.  I understand that this rule being enforced is to avoid problems when Second Harvest audits the Weld Food Bank.  Also, be reminded that the products you are purchasing from the Food Bank are to be used for the Foster kids in your home - and, yes - we can all sit down at the table and eat the same food.  But if you do not have an infant in your care (a Foster Child)  do not buy baby formula or diapers when it is on the list. 

 

If for any reason all the Foster children are removed from your home, you must stop using the Food Bank immediately.  Dues are not refundable in this situation.  If children are again placed in your home you may use the Food Bank again; however, if it is time to renew your membership you will be required to do so - your dues cannot carry over from one year to the next.

 

And finally - each Shopper has her own system for placing orders, distributing food, and every other aspect of this job.  As I mentioned before, your Shopper works very hard to supply you with this important service.  It is important that you understand that if you are not agreeable and compliant with the rules that we're talking about (going over on you pounds and all the other rules for the Food Bank!) the Board of Directors has the authority to deny your shopping privileges.  If any member, by breaking these, or any other Food Bank rules, puts the Association in jeopardy of being suspended from Food Bank privileges, that membership will be cancelled without refund of dues.  Your Shopper will do most of her work on-line, so it is your responsibility to have access to a computer to place an order with your Shopper.  You will need to work with your Shopper to learn how she wants your order formatted - please be very conscientious about this.  It's not as difficult as it sounds, and there Is help available to teach you how to read the list that Scott makes available on our web-page www.wcfpa.org and to format your order properly.   Please allow me to repeat - if you are unable to cooperate with your Shopper and comply with the Food Bank rules, we will not be able to shop for you.

 

Thank you for your time and attention - let's all work together to maintain this awesome benefit!

 

Cindy Almond

President, WCFPA

To contact us:

PO Box 653

Greeley, CO 80632