Spring 2009

Hunger in America is a top priority for our nation as food resources shrink and demand for affordable food increases. Almost 700,000 children went hungry in America sometime in 2007. Overall, 36.2 million adults and children struggled with hunger in America during 2007. If you find this figure alarming, remember that we now have an economic downturn to add to these figures. Read about what we are doing to provide high quality seafood to America's hungry and find out how you can help.

At least 31 major food banks, within the Feeding America network across the U.S., received fish from SeaShare in 2008. They supply over 7000 agencies, pantries and food kitchens. We sent fish to Alaska, Hawaii, Florida, California, Texas, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Kentucky and many other states in between. Catfish volume surpassed salmon last year, providing additional diversity to the food banks. SeaShare was also pleased to welcome new product donors to our ranks in 2008; Harvest Select Catfish , Whole Foods Select Fish and Pescamax, Inc. Fundraising efforts allowed us to apply $187,000 additional dollars to directly support seafood donations. We also received financial donations from employee sponsored programs at Trident Seafoods, Inc. and Dunn Lumber. Ocean Beauty Seafoods raised money for SeaShare by hosting a golf tournament. Individuals, fishing boats, corporations, foundations and events all comprised our funding for 2008.

Thank you for your help in 2008. Your generosity with both your funds and seafood product is making a difference to millions of Americans.

Pier Fish Donates at Boston Seafood Show

Seafood companies from around the world convened in Boston for the annual Boston Seafood Show in March. This tradeshow is an annual event for the seafood industry and hosts companies involved in all aspects of the industry. SeaShare attended the event to discuss new donation partnerships. As a result, Pier Fish agreed to donate 10,000 lbs of whitefish fillets to the Greater Boston Food Bank by the time the show was over. A second opportunity arose with the vendors that had product booths. They combined their show product for a donation of an additional 12,300 lbs of various retail ready fish products that were delivered to the Greater Boston Food Bank. This donation program was implemented by SeaShare several years ago and continues to be time honored tradition at the show.

Hauling Back

It isn’t possible to thank everyone individually for their efforts to support SeaShare’s work during this time. There are some towers of strength without which our accomplishments would be a fraction of the gains we pride ourselves on today. I feel a deep personal sense of appreciation to those who have given me the guidance and the encouragement to forge ahead. I am especially thankful to SeaShare’s current and past board members who are the strength behind our achievements, and to Jim Harmon, SeaShare’s new Executive Director who has led our operations activity since 2000. There are some outstanding companies whose leadership and generosity paved the way to our success in becoming one of the largest sources of protein for hunger relief in America. Among these are Kraft Foods, Trident Seafoods, American Seafoods Company, Ocean Beauty Seafoods, UniSea, Alyeska Seafoods, all of the members of the At-Sea Processors Association, Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest), Diversified Communications, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the National Fisheries Institute.

It’s been quite a haul, exceeding my wildest expectations. We have landed the best of the best, and I am profoundly grateful. In the current economic climate, there is no question that SeaShare is setting out in choppy seas. More than ever, the people who depend on our products are looking to us to come through for them. Though I will sincerely miss the action, I will continue to provide support from the wings, and do everything in my power to help SeaShare bring in the successes our donors and our recipients have come to expect from us.