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Q:
What is The Outreach Farm and what is its mission?
A:
The Outreach Farm is a 501 3 C non-profit organization
established for the purpose of feeding the hungry. Our mission is to
raise beef cattle and provide high quality beef and produce, at no
cost, to the non-profit organizations that feed the hungry. It is the
only organization of its kind in the United States.
Q:
Who founded The Outreach Farm?
A: The Outreach
Farm was the brain child of Mr. Michael LoVullo. Mike is a local
home builder and native New Yorker who came to South Carolina via
Vermont (hence the cows!). For years, Mike volunteered his time as a
cook at a Homeless Mission in Vermont. When he moved to South
Carolina, he saw how protein, a much needed staple, was in short
supply at the local Georgetown organizations the feed the hungry.
Q:
Why have this type of non-profit organization?
A: Based on a
2005 survey by the United States Department of Agriculture, over 6% of
households in South Carolina have “very low food security”. That means
these families were unable to sustain normal eating patterns. This
percentage is the highest in the nation – well above the U.S. average
of 3.8%. Furthermore, sources of protein are typically expensive and
are more often absent from a limited diet. The Outreach Farm
ground beef product includes all prime cuts of the cow for the best
quality possible.
Q: What is
the history of The Outreach Farms?
A: The farm was
formed in late 2003 and started with 3 cows. With contribution of
funds from a variety of sources including grants, personal gifts and
fund raising activities, the farm was able to purchase more cows and
essential farming equipment. With dedicated breeding, the farm now
has over 100 head of cattle.
Q:
Who does the farm feed and how many people have been fed so far?
A: Our growth
rate has been rapid and our 3 Year Business Plan forecasts our growth
will continue so that we can feed even more people.
Non-profit
organizations now receiving beef from The Outreach Farm include:
-
Friendship Place
– a soup kitchen at St. Cyprian’s Church in Georgetown
-
Teach My People
– a community center in Pawleys Island
-
Tara Hall – a
residence for boys near Hemingway, SC
-
Myrtle Beach
Community Kitchen – a soup kitchen feeding the needy
-
Waccamaw Youth
Center – a community center for youth in Conway
-
Crisis
Ministries – a soup kitchen in Charleston
-
Father Pat’s
Soup Kitchen – at Precious Blood Catholic Church in Pawleys Island
-
Mt Olive
Missionary Baptist Century 21 community center
-
Street Reach
Christian Homeless Shelter and Recovery Center in Myrtle Beach
Q:
What % of The Outreach Farm income goes to feed the hungry?
A: The
Outreach Farm has only 1 paid employee who works full time on the
farm. All additional farm and administrative work is done by 75 or
more volunteers. The 15 members of the Board of Directors also serve
as volunteers in specific Outreach Farm staff capacities including
keeping the books, writing for grant money and holding fund raising
activities. So all the funds raised go directly toward
providing the food to the hungry. It is neighbors helping neighbors.
In 2008, the Secretary of State for South
Carolina presented the Angel Award to The Outreach Farm as one
of the top ten best run charities in the state.
Q: Where is the
farm located?
A: The main farm
consisting of 65 acres is located in Hemmingway, SC on Route 512 –
about 1 mile west of Route 41. In addition, we have leased an
additional 107 acres near the Hemmingway farm for production of hay
and grazing for a total of 172 acres.
Q:
How big is The Outreach Farm’s budget?
A: The budget
for 2008 requires revenue of $ 148,000. Our books have been audited
by the firm of McIntyre, Zeigler & Hodges. These funds are raised
through fund raising projects, grant requests and personal donations.
One of our major fund raising events is a 5K race that occurs on the
second Saturday in November. As with the growth of the farm, so grows
the need for more and more revenue.
Q: Where can
people send donations to The Outreach Farm?
A: The Outreach
Farm - PO Box 644 - Pawleys Island, SC 29585. All donations are tax
deductible.
Q: If I want
to personally contact The Outreach Farm who can I call?
A: Stephen
Lowe, President – Board of Directors at (843) 235-6967. www.outreachfarm.org
with lots of additional information and photos. |
